Cape Coral Weekend Breeze

Council continues on demolition track

Consultant to develop plans, specs for bids for ‘deconstructive preservation’ of historic Yacht Club Ballroom

By CJ HADDAD cjhaddad@breezenewspapers com

Cape Coral City Council voted 6-1 on Wednesday to move forward with seeking bids to demolish the historic Cape Coral Yacht Club

“You can’t just send it down the road And you don’t have to You can do what you want with the rest of that site, just rehab and bring up to code You can have it both ways; preserve the building, history, and recognize the commitment and people who made this city what it is today ”

former mayor Joe Mazurkiewicz

After Resolution 152-23 was pulled from the Consent Agenda by District 3 Councilmember Tom Hayden (the only vote against) following impassioned public comment, the amendment to the resolution

‘PERFECT STORM’ National study shows alarming statistic for pets

By CJ HADDAD cjhaddad@breezenewspapers com

Anational study has shown an alarming statistic for pets, including four-legged friends that call Southwest Florida home

Newly released data from Shelter Animals Count, a national database that compiles information from municipal and private shelters throughout the country found that dog euthanasia rates in shelters has nearly doubled (5 6% to 10%) when comparing the first quarter of 2021 to 2023 Cat intake has remained steady, however, many shelters are unable to take in cats, which results in an increase in the feral cat population

Officials with the Cape Coral Animal Shelter, a non-kill shelter, said they are seeing a large increase in requests from pet owners to

See STUDY, page 18

This is Firelight He was adopted from as a puppy but given little training or p r o p e r s o c i a l i z a t i o n R e t u r n e d a n d adopted again to a wonderful family who wanted him very much but were not allowed to have him because of his breed and his size / CCAS

was passed

The vote approved Amendment #2 to the agreement between the city and Kimley Horn and Associates, Inc to provide additional design phase services at the Yacht Club in the amount of $262,743 50 Part of the resolution includes the demolition of

See YACHT CLUB, page 20

Investigator: Cummings did not reside in district

By VALARIE HARRING vharring@breezenewspapers

com

Using what she called a “preponderance of evidence standard,” the administrative investigator hired by the city of Cape Coral has found that Councilmember Patty Cummings was not a resident of her district when she ran and she did not reside there until March of this year

In the investigative report prepared by Vicki L Sproat of Boy Agnew Potanovic Miller, Sproat’s findings state that “Cummings was not a full time or part time resident” of the home she listed on Palm Tree Boulevard during the relevant period and that “Cummings did not reside in District 4 until March 22, 2023 ”

Sproat also found that “Cummings failed to cooperate in the investigation,” citing what she called “the greater weight of the evidence ” Council called for the investigation in March after a Cape Coral resident claiming whistleblower anonymity sent a complaint to various officials alleging that Cummings “fraudulently represented herself as living in District 4” in violation of a city charter provision that requires candidates to reside

See CUMMINGS, page 9

Patty Cummings

Council member calls report ‘ a web of lies’

Reactions to Trump criminal indictment varied

Breeze Staff Repor t

news@breezenewspapers com

Local reaction to the 37-count criminal indictment of former President Donald Trump fell largely along political lines this week

Trump, who appeared in federal court in Miami on Tuesday and pleaded not guilty to all counts related to the willful retention of classified documents and obstruction of the government’s attempts to retrieve them, said on Truth Social that he’s an innocent man who has done nothing wrong and that the charges are politically motivated

Tara Jenner, vice chair Lee GOP, provided her viewpoint

“First and foremost in our country, we are innocent until proven guilty,” she said in a telephone interview “A grand jury only ever hears the prosecution’s side of the story and never gets exculpatory information provided to them ”

She read from a prior resolution of the Republican Party of Florida that she said is also on point here

“‘The Republican Party of Florida condemns the unlawful and corrupt prosecution of Donald J Trump, and demands that all Republican members of Florida’s congressional delegation and state government use all legal means necessary to prevent and impede it,’” the resolution reads

“What we are witnessing is election interference at its worse (again) “Democrats, the federal bureaucracy, and the media hope to distract the American people with Trump, Trump, Trump in hopes they forget about the abysmal mess and incompetence of Biden.

“This is a man who falls up the stairs, can't remember what he ate for breakfast, caused unprecedented economic hardships, opened the border, failed our military, held back our children, and has weaponized the government against its opposition

“This is a dark time in the U S A ”

Congressman Byron Donalds (R), via Twitter

“I think that the stance is this is nothing short of direct election interference when a sitting president uses the judiciary to target his opponents It may be Trump today but it may next be you or I who could have the same type of political abuse of the judicial system used against us ” Jenner said “I mean where does it end.

"This looks like a total witch hunt,” she added “It’s clear it is for political expediency to take him or out of the race, or try to ”

Various polls have put Trump at the head of a rapidly expanding roster of Republican candidates for the presidential primary

“Libertarians view the Espionage Act as a hoary leftover from the Red Scare right after World War One,” said Cape Coral resident Larry Gillis, a former director-at-large of the Libertarian Party of Florida and a former vice chair of the local affiliate, via email “It has a long history of abuse by the government, to shut people up Speaking for myself, I think

you still should give back Top-Secret papers relating to nuclear war strategy when you are no longer in office and you certainly should not be discussing them with people who do not have security clearances or with foreign diplomats The Big Guy was an arrogant slob in handling these materials Historically, military personnel have been held to account and have had their careers destroyed; he should be, too The stakes here are too high to handle it any other way No one is above the law As to the Republicans, they should worry that their nominee might well be running the country from prison That will not play well with the rest of us ”

Democratic Party of Lee County referred comment to the state level saying, “The Democratic Party of Lee County has no official response to the indictments that were filed as a result of Grand Jury findings ”

Congressman Byron Donalds (R) on Tuesday night shared his thoughts via social media, Tweeting: “What we are witnessing is election interference at its worse (again)

“Democrats, the federal bureaucracy, and the media hope to distract the American people with Trump, Trump, Trump in hopes they forget about the abysmal mess and incompetence of Biden

“This is a man who falls up the stairs, can't remember what he ate for breakfast, caused unprecedented economic hardships, opened the border, failed our military, held back our children, and has weaponized the government against its opposition

“This is a dark time in the U S A ”

City selectes DCG Corplan Consulting LLC to prepare Economic Development Strategic Plan

T h e C i t y o f C a p e C o r a l h a s s e l e c t e d D C G C o r p l a n C o n s u l t i n g L L C t o p r e p a r e a n E c o n o m i c D e v e l o p m e n t S t r a t e g i c P l a n T h e N e w J e r s e y ‐ b a s e d c o n s u l t i n g f i r m w i l l l e a d a t e a m o f s u b - c o n s u l t a n t s t o e v a l u a t e t h e s t r e n g t h s o f t h e C i t y o f C a p e C o r a l a n d d e t e r m i n e a m e a n s o f u t i l i z i n g t h o s e a d v a n t a g e s t o s p u r e c o n o m i c g r o w t h F o l l o w i n g a r e v i e w o f c o m p e t i n g p r o p o s a l s , D C G

C o r p l a n w a s d e t e r m i n e d t o h a v e t h e b a c k g r o u n d q u a l i f ic a t i o n s a n d e x p e r i e n c e d e v e l o p e d f r o m m a n y s i m i l a r a s s i g n m e n t s t h r o u g h o u t F l o r i d a , i n c l u d i n g a r e c e n t a n a l y s i s o f N o r t h F o r t M y e r s T h e s t u d y w i l l b e c o mp l e t e d w i t h i n a o n e ‐ y e a r t i m e f r a m e . J o i n i n g D C G C o r p l a n o n t h i s a s s i g n m e n t w i l l b e t h r e e s u b - c o n s u l t a n t s : P a r t e r I n t e r n a t i o n a l , I n c , a t o u r i s m c o n s u l t a n t f r o m L a r c h m o n t , N Y ; F o r g e y P l a n n i n g , a n u r b a n p l a nn i n g f i r m f r o m C a p e C o r a l , F L ; a n d D ‐ H & A s s o c i a t e s C o n s u l t i n g , L L C , a b u s i n e s s p l a n n i n g c o m p a n y f r o m K e y W e s t D C G C o r p l a n i s a n a t i o n a l l e a d e r i n s t r a t e g i c p l a n n i n g , e c o n o m i c d e v e lo p m e n t , c o r p o r a t e s i t e s e l e c t i o n , r e a l e s t a t e d e v e lo p m e n t f e a s i b i l i t y , s t u d i e s , a n d m a r k e t a n a l y s e s T h e c o m p a n y p r o v i d e s s t r a t eg i c g u i d a n c e o n l o c a t i o n a n d d e v e l o p m e n t i s s u e s t i e d t o e c o n o m i c g e o g r ap h y

OPINIONS

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

Make way for the American Dream

The Lee County Homeless Coalition released its “Point in Time Homeless Snapshot” for 2023 earlier this month

As expected, the count, conducted Jan 23-28, four months after Hurricane Ian showed Southwest Floridians how easy it could be to find one’s self among the numbers showed an increase in those who were without permanent shelter

An unprecedented increase of nearly 47 percent, which the Lee County Homeless Coalition attributes largely to “the current housing crisis, soaring rents and the aftermath of Hurricane Ian ”

This year, teams counted 820 individuals who were homeless in Lee County as of Jan 28, including 556 who were unsheltered The other 264, deemed sheltered, were living in a homeless encampment, an RV or another type of vehicle or place not meant for habitation

They were, they are us

224 seniors

109 children

86 veterans, “a large increase over last year ”

56 domestic abuse survivors

286 with health-related issues

Among them, 197 met the HUD definition of chronically homeless.

The reason for the annual count is to “get an understanding of who and how many are experiencing homelessness in Lee County,” according to coalition officials

The numbers are presented to the U S Department of Housing and Urban Development and the Department of Children and Families and is also used to “gather the information that allows local service providers to target services to meet the specific needs of those experiencing homelessness in our communities ”

The count also helps Lee County secure money, including Continuum of Care funds from HUD

“Lee County was awarded funding to sustain existing programs and begin new programs that provide housing and services to persons experiencing homelessness,” a release from the coalition states “These programs are operated by Lee County Human and Veterans Services, Community Assisted and Supported Living, Catholic Charities, and Southwest Florida Connect SSO-CE The total awarded amount was

$2,012,619 ”

Well and good “well” as our reaction to a number that doesn’t touch the need, and “good” as in the efforts of the Lee County Homeless Coalition and sister agencies and efforts

The challenge, as those in the field tell us, is preventing homelessness in an area where so many of us are just a few paychecks away from falling behind in the rent in a housing market so tight and so expensive that we may not be able to find another much less cheaper place to live

Consider:

The Charlotte Community Foundation, Collaboratory and Collier County Foundation released the results of their joint On the Table SWFL 2023 Community Conversations report Thursday morning

The No 1 social issue marked as “most urgent” throughout Southwest Florida and individually by county in Lee, Charlotte, Collier, Hendry and Glades, was affordable housing and homelessness Across the board Seventy percent of the 4,000-plus taking part in the multiple “conversations” held on March 30 and the related survey listed this as a basic human need essential for communities to thrive

Local governments do understand the need and have begun

Save the Yacht Club

To the editor:

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

In a past episode of the original Magnum P I TV show, M a g n u m , a n d H i g g i n s w o r k t o s a v e t h e K i n g Kamehameha Club from being sabotaged and bulldozed Their club was created to be a public beach club much like our own Cape Coral Yacht Club.

The Cape Yacht Club was created by this city founders

It is of mid-century design and many of us have fond memories of weddings, parties, and civic events there I remember as a young girl looking in the windows after my baton lessons to see the entire ballroom filled with women and men dressed up and dancing every Saturday night years ago It is the heart of our community

We need to preserve this city's history and not let it disappear like the Rose Garden Many years ago we had a beautiful rose garden with a waltzing waters show Hundreds of people would go there every night to see the beautiful light show and sit around the gardens to watch

Be like Magnum Save the Yacht Club

C A Hughes, MSW Cape Coral

Restore Cape’s ‘sunsetted’ committees

To the editor:

Mr Joe Mazurkiewicz is correct Changing the Youth Advisory Board to some fact-finding role is absurd Students learn by getting involved, doing, then learning Ms Bruns, City Clerk mentored this group She is a good role model

Council needs to restore all of the “sunsetted” committees back to boards Since when is the City Council worried about saving 900 hours when they are spending millions of taxpayer dollars on lawsuits outside of the realm of the city attorney?

Can we sunset the City Council as well?

Gover nment transparency has taken a hit in Cape Coral!

To the editor:

Lou Navarra Cape Coral

the salaries Boards foster diversity, collaboration, and give citizens a platform in local governance, so the effort and expense required to support the boards’ existence should not be a consideration when shining a light on the concerns of the community Boards serve as a check-andbalance mechanism, holding council accountable for their decisions and actions An important purpose of advisory boards is to create an environment of transparency which allows citizens to witness and participate in the decisionmaking process The absence of boards can potentially lead to a decline in accountability and leave the council susceptible to making decisions without sufficient public scrutiny

Also concerning is how most of the board members learned of the council’s plan to “sunset” the boards they read about it in the newspaper or via email from a fellow board member who read about it in the newspaper! The council did not bother to thank board members for their service after terminating them. Council’s final vote and pre-determined outcome on the demise of the boards was held in a very long public meeting as the last item on the agenda Was that intentional?

The Cape Coral City Council takes a pledge of civility which states “We will be respectful of each other even when we disagree ” The council denied this pledge by the very way this was conducted because they disrespected the volunteer efforts of every member on every board that was abolished This was handled in an underhanded, seemingly capricious manner with little consideration for the people who have spent their free time on research and input (Thanks to the three council members who voted against abolishing the boards.)

Joette Humphrey Cape Coral

Histor y and progress both have a place

To the editor:

Cape Coral City Council lost some valuable advisors after last Wednesday night’s meeting Their pre-determined, final vote to dissolve many of the city’s advisory boards shows their true colors Council is willing to motor on with their own agendas without expertise and FREE input from some of the most knowledgeable and talented citizens of Cape Coral who generously volunteered their time to enhance our city My husband served as vice-chairman on the Waterways Advisory Board, and I am well aware of how seriously he took this position and the time that he devoted to it

So now the staff of the city council will solicit input from “stakeholders” which makes the staff the arbiters of information It allows the council to choose opinions which will support their stance on controversial issues This is probably not the intent, but the optics are not good for council

And please don’t naively assume that a “town hall” type of forum is the best way for council to receive input on technical and specialty issues Last Wednesday council indicated that they depended on emails more heavily than in-person input because live inputs were overwhelmingly negative The diverse nature of advisory boards tends to be objective and examines differing viewpoints while serving to keep all citizens aware and involved by leveraging community resources.

In my judgement, abolishing the boards is not about saving staff resources or improving communication; it’s more about reducing the transparency in government Especially in today’s political climate, council’s vote smacks of corruption Not saying that the council is corrupt, but this vote sure makes it easier to get there Although the advisory boards have no governing power, their abolishment has a powerful impact on the community’s perception of city council

I understand the layer of bureaucracy that the boards create, but I also know that tax dollars from residents pay

In June 2022 my wife and myself realized a dream by purchasing a home in Cape Coral Florida This was not a spur-of-the-moment decision We travelled all of Florida, down one coast all the way to Key West and up the other coast home We settled in Cape Coral for many reasons: great weather, great people, safe community and we particularly liked the historical area of the Yacht Club and all of its original homes

The more we researched the area the more we were fascinated about its wonderful, unique history Unfortunately much of that history is now gone, but as of today the Yacht Club area remains really the last historic area left that helps people not only visualize the history of Cape Coral but also feel the history of this wonderful city

Working as an architectural designer for over 20 years I believe in the power of buildings to create more than just shelters they create anchors for the way a city expresses itself to its inhabitants and guests alike, and provide a very unique historical experience that cannot be experienced anywhere else

It is up to the town council and the mayor, and hopefully the people, to decide the fate of this area Many municipal governments have been in this situation before between history and progress the Art Deco District in South Beach, St Augustine’s large historic area, Duval Street Area in Key West, just to name a few

While progress is necessary, so is history Please save this unique historic site

Aside: I would be more than willing to volunteer my time and use my architectural experience to participate in any way to help restore this area and save its historical buildings, while also making this a vibrant part of Cape Coral once again

Duncan Awde Cape Coral

Teardown of the Yacht Club a disgrace

To the editor:

I sent the following to members of the Cape Coral City Council and then addressed some of the issues during public comment before Council’s vote on the Yacht Club on

See LETTERS, page 6

From page 4

Wednesday Mayor, Council, DEREK FRAZIER, Dist 5

We all agree that the Yacht Club sustained minimal damage from hurricane Ian This is evident from the pictures you have seen I walked the perimeter of the Bldg on the 30th of May and took the pictures of the roof covering that I sent to council

The dilemma for the City is not damage from the storm, but due to the dilapidated condition of the Yacht Club Ballroom, East Hallway, and the bathrooms

And the dilapidated condition of the Yacht Club Ballroom, East Hallway and the bathrooms are due, wholly or primarily, to the lack of maintance and repair, for whatever reason, by the entity responsible to maintain City Bldgs

And now the estimated cost of non-storm related repair exceeds, or is very close to, the 50% rule Which requires the building to be brought up to current requirements, or knock it down We have no choice!!! The estimated numbers are just (too) much Rats!!

Ah, the ESTIMATED numbers, in the millions of dollars, where did they come from? Who could have possibly come up with all these estimated dollars? But for the darn numbers, we would have no problem at all!

WELL, HERE IS YOUR ANSWER

I worked 18+ yrs for the City in the Facilities Management Division (FM) of the P W Dept Facilities Management is the construction division of the City FM has the responsibility to provide repairs to all city structures through Work Orders submitted by the Department needing service and to look for anything that might need to be addressed to prevent a future problem

I was hired for my carpentry skills, until they realized my expertise in roofing, (25 yrs )

I was 47 when I started with the City. I then became the "city roofer"

FM has Tradeworkers, electricians, AC tech's, and locksmiths, ALL of which have no formal estimating knowledge or skills what so ever

THE PROBLEMS

The Yacht Club roof was installed in 1999, started out with major design flaws I will not go into detail, suffice it to say a City Civil Engineer drew the roof specs form a book

The metal roof covering started failing in 2012 Minor corrosion started at the midlap joint due to a couple of things. The metal roof covering was installed directly in contact with 1x4 pressure treated wood and the "R" panels have an inferior (cheap) finish The corrosion was not going away, but was a simple repair to make and keep the water tight integrity intact I told my superiors that we can keep the bldg water tight, but sooner or later it would require a new roof covering I retired 6 years ago and FM now has no qualified roofer With a minimum of work, a qualified roofer can easily fix the roof leaks, without a tarp

PLUMBING

The plumbing in the Kitchen and east hallway bath-

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

rooms had problems years back The City's Utility Dept (I highly respect these guys) in conjunction with FM performed water line test and drain/sewer line dye test These test discovered major problems with both FM took over the project The walls were torn out and all the plumbing was replaced with cpvc pipes This project included the repipe of the Kitchen, as evidenced by the surface mounted pipes The only other plumbing is in a small bathroom in the front office SO, WHERE IS THE PLUMBING PROBLEM?

ELECTRICAL

I have very little knowledge of the electrical system with the exception of the fixtures hanging from the ceiling The electric for these fixtures is UNDER the roof covering and the conduit is cut into the 2" fiber board insulation on top of the structural deck

AC

There are multiple units, inside and out Depending on which unit, air handler, condensing unit and duct work is being talked about is a moot point The extent of repairs is WELL within the means of the City to FIX!

REFERENCE TO THE EAST HALL CEILING NEED REPLACED

Well folks, that means we have to remove the roof structure! The "wood" exposed is the bottom ply of the roof structure It is comprised of three layers of 5/4" X 6" SYP (southern yellow pine) high pressure laminated in a Tongue & Groove fashion that gives it tremendous structural integrity, same as the Ball Room Building roof

THE DOLLAR NUMBERS

This is where it gets good

The Facilities Management Division provides the estimates on many projects These are put together by the FM personnel who have 0% expertise in this field Myself included.

FACT: The rule of thumb is you NEVER provide an estimate that could possibly be lower than the quotes expected from contractors That way it is ALWAYS "under budget"

This is where the “Millions of Dollars” number came from A “consultant” went through the numbers with the information provided by the FM Dept going back years and came to the conclusion that $3,000,000 00 plus is what it is going to take to repair? the bldg

If Facilities can't maintain the City's buildings, why are you so anxious to accept their “ESTIMATE” for the repairs as the gospel?

This is a disgrace that the City Council could tear down a solid, structural sound Historically important building All because they believed in invalid information Sad

The Cape Coral Yacht Club will not go by the force of Nature

Will it go by the force of Man?

Derek Frazier

40+ year resident of Cape Coral

Council vote on city attor ney candidates questioned

To the editor:

“I would probably reflect at, outside of litigation, where

Editorial: Time for a new housing paradigm

From page 4

efforts to make affording housing a priority, not just a buzz phrase

But “affordable housing,” as in government-funded or subsidized rental complexes, is an answer, not the answer

Housing that seniors, singles, new families and the “workforce” demographic can afford to buy, to invest in, is

This means a critical change in thinking as the market defines a new paradigm for the American Dream

Regulatory thinking mandating minimum home size, ancillary structures and “allowable” housing options and construction

Approach to housing cost add-ons, including taxes, fees and various tax bill levies dubbed assessments Housing has

become a cash cow milked too often and too well

For make no mistake, the Homeless Coalition’s “Point in Time Homeless Snapshot” is just that, an acknowledged picture of a developing housing crisis that has the potential to change the image of Southwest Florida as a place where you can work and raise a family or comfortably retire

Where you can have housing security Where buying a home is an attainable goal Where you can live where you work Where you can enjoy the fruits of your labor, not just labor to live

Housing that’s affordable is the goal

Government’s role is to encourage it, not impede it

Breeze editorial

we I was involved with, in terms of allowing a business to resume operations after it had been shut down by the Code Compliance Department and the Police Department because of certain state law and city law violations, that we allowed them to resume their operations without there being litigation provided there be certain concessions Those concessions are reports and other criteria where the Code and Police were allowed to go in there without any type of Fourth Amendment violation so that we can monitor the situation. This was a nightclub, dance club, where there was little impropriety that was taking place ”

I am very disappointed in the Cape Coral City Council f o r c h o o s i n g A l e k s a n d e r B o k s n e r a s o u r n e w C i t y Attorney During his interview on June 14, Boksner openly admitted to forcing a business to revoke the Fourth Amendment rights of his employees and customers in order to open their doors again Sounds tyrannical, but OK

During the pandemic, many businesses had to shut down Small business owners lost their livelihoods, workers lost work It was a disaster and I thought we admitted this shouldn’t happen again So why hire a City Attorney who would not only do it again, but proudly state it as an example of his legal skill?

Thankfully a contract must still be negotiated so there is time for City Council to reverse their decision I believe Mark Moriarty has the experience, seeing as he is currently our Assistant City Attorney He clearly knows our city and knows his role as employee of the City Council

This meeting happened moments after five of these Councilmembers: Steinke, Long, Cummings, Welsh, and Mayor Gunter, attended the inaugural Flag Day celebration The flag is the symbol of freedom and liberty here around the world

So why would the City Council go from that ceremony to choosing a City Attorney who openly admits to negotiating away constitutional rights, as if it was a good thing? Government should never try to infringe on the constitutional rights of citizens If Boksner is to be approved, he would need to clarify that will protect the liberties of Cape Coral citizens and businesses Right now, I have no confidence that our city attorney, and therefore our City Government, will defend our freedoms

Sean Hartman

The Cape Coral Watchdog Cape Coral

This week’s poll question:

As Ron DeSantis launches his presidential bid, how is he doing as Florida’s governor?

∫ He continues to lead, and perform his duties, well

∫ I don’t perceive much difference

∫ If anything, he’s doing a better job.

∫ I was never happy with his performance

∫ Other

Previous poll question

Are you prepared for hurricane season?

∫ Yes 58%

∫ We gear up with the first warning 15%

∫ We don’t prepare, we evacuate 14%

∫ We play it by ear.14%

Poll results are not scientific and represent only the opinions of Internet users who have chosen to participate Vote at capecoralbreeze com

; o pi ni o ns pri nte d o n thi s pag e do no t ne c e s s ari l y re f l e c t the v i e w s o f thi s ne w s pape r. Oppo s i ng v i e w s are w e l c o me . Le tte rs to the e di to r o r g ue s t c o l umns may be e - mai l e d to v harri ng @ bre e z e ne w s pape rs . c o m. A l l l e tte rs and g ue s t o pi ni o ns mus t be s i g ne d and mus t i nc l ude a pho ne numbe r f o r v e ri f i c ati o n purpo s e s . Re ade rs are al s o i nv i te d to c o mme nt o n any l e tte r o r e di to ri al o pi ni o n o nl i ne at: c ape c o ral bre e z e . c o m.

Planned changes to Land Development Code imperil Captiva and Sanibel

In the aftermath of Hurricane Ian many discussions on how to rebuild our communities have centered around the idea of resilience

Our communities in Southwest Florida must determine how best to ensure that the places where we work, live, and play are rebuilt in a way that prepares us for increasingly powerful storms

The islands of Sanibel and Captiva have long existed as sanctuary islands, protecting both wildlife and the natural environments on the islands. After protecting nature for years, our islands protected us during the storm Despite the damage, the islands’ natural wetlands, dunes, and mangrove systems bore the brunt of the winds and waves

James Evans Guest Commentary

Certainly, Sanibel and Captiva were not unscathed following Ian, but without the current protections in place, the islands would be much worse off than they are now Our islands are demonstrating their resilience as businesses begin to open, tourists return to our beaches, and the native plants turn the islands green in the summer rains

The nature of the islands is no accident

Careful planning by island leaders has reduced density, protected natural spaces, and enforced height and development restrictions that have resulted in the unique islands as we know them Two-story buildings serve to protect the natural beauty of Captiva and provide a barrier from storm winds by allowing native vegetation to intermingle with buildings, providing a barrier from storm winds

Density limitations help Captiva retain its small-town feel and allow for evacuation from the island’s single road safely While Sanibel has codified these protections in the Sanibel Plan, Captiva sits in a more precarious position

Captiva has no municipal governance structure, instead relying on Lee County for their comprehensive plan and zoning decisions However, even within the Lee Plan, Captiva has specific protections that allow for density and height restrictions, as well as input from the Captiva Community Panel, an

advisory board of local Captiva residents and stakeholders

The citizens of Captiva were shocked to be informed that, with no community input, the county was initiating sweeping changes to the height restrictions on Captiva and opening the door to increasing density at the South Seas Island Resort

The county argues that the height restrictions within the Lee Plan are too complicated because they lack standardization. But it is due to the distinctive nature of our barrier islands that attempting a onesize-fits-all solution will not work Standardization would remove the ability for our islands to be resilient and responsive to the pressures we face

The proposed changes to the Land Development Code and Lee Plan clear the way for South Seas to increase its allowable density and erode our islands’ resilience The proposed changes will stress the infrastructure of Sanibel and Captiva, impede storm evacuations, negatively impact water and wildlife, jeopardize Captiva joining Sanibel’s sewer system, and lower the quality of life on both islands

These decisions are being made quickly, under the guise of rebuilding from Ian without the necessary public outreach, and none of the engagement that one would expect from a member of an island community poised to have a massive impact on its neighbors

Please voice your concerns to the Board of County Commissioners Visit SCCF org to find contact information for the commissioners as well as talking points to use in your emails and phone calls Additionally, please attend the Board of County Commissioner meetings at the Old Court House in Fort Myers at 9:30 a m on Tuesday, June 20, and Wednesday, June 21

James Evans is chief executive officer for the Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation Founded in 1967, the SCCF’s mission is to protect and care for Southwest Florida’s coastal ecosystems For more information, visit www sccf org

SCCF PHOTO

An aerial view of Blind Pass between Captiva and Sanibel islands The photo was taken early in March of this year

City to focus on fleet management, facility

By CHUCK BALLARO news@breezenewspapers com

For years, the city of Cape Coral has talked about building a new fleet facility to replace the old, outdated one currently in use.

Talk is cheap, the Cape Coral City Council determined, and at the council retreat Thursday at the Mercola Market, the board decided it was finally time to take action

While the city has utilized best practices and maintained one of the top fleets in the country, the time has come to bring its facilities into the present and plan for the future as the population increases along with its needs

Ron Hall, fleet manager for the city, told the City Council the city will have to build a new fleet facility and bring in more mechanics if it wants to remain a top-tier fleet

The current fleet building on Everest Parkway was built in 1960 and has only 13 bays and 13 mechanics, which is barely adequate for what it has now and will

“With a 63-year-old building, you need to replace it We need more bays and to anticipate the growth of the city and have the city accommodate that growth It's way past due to get a new facility It's been talked about for many years, and now we're finally progressing ”

Councilmember Tom Hayden

ponents, you can put them in.”

Hall also discussed the possibility of using electric vehicles, which would require increased infrastructure such as Level 2 charging stations at the facility and downtown, which he said would be the greatest cost, not the cars themselves

only get worse, officials said The building also does not meet codes for fire, flooding or ventilation, and doesn't have the overhead clearance to do the work on heavy duty trucks like fire engines

Hall said the city needs as many as 19 mechanics, though it can get by with 16, and as many as 30 work bays and 20 mechanics by 2045 and 40 bays and 26 mechanics by the year 2070

The cost for a building set to serve the city to 2045 is about $40 7 million A building for 2070 would cost almost $50 million, with numerous funding mechanisms to pay for the facility, which would be planned to go where the North Government Complex is near the RO plant

“With a 63-year-old building, you need to replace it We need more bays and to anticipate the growth of the city and have the city accommodate that growth,” Councilmember Tom Hayden said “It's way past due to get a new facility It's been talked about for many years, and now we're finally progressing ”

Council members decided the city needed to get to work on the new facility and build one that could keep up with the city over the next 50 years, with the ability to expand as needed

“We need the flexibility to add more bays and more workers and accommodate the expansion we're going to need,” Hayden said “When you need those com-

Hall recommended testing the use of two electric vehicles in the short term to see how things go

As for funding the vehicles, City Manager Michael Ilczyszyn and Finance Director Mark Mason said the city should consider using a revolving fund rather than spend from the General Fund Most cities use revolving funds to “right-size” their fleets

Mayor John Gunter agreed that the cost of buying new vehicles needs to be better spread out, adding that the city was put in the situation when it didn't replace capital assets during the recession, forcing the city to play catch-up when city manager John Szerlag came in and started a replacement plan in 2014

Cape Council selects new city attorney

Aleksandr Boksner selected as top choice; contract negotiations next step in the process

By ED ZUMAR news@breezenewspapers com

In a unanimous vote, the Cape Coral City Council has chosen its candidate to become Cape Coral’s next city attorney.

Aleksandr Boksner was selected from among three finalists to fill the position left vacant after long- time city attorney

Delores Menendez passed away recently Boksner, currently the deputy county attorney for Sarasota County, was selected during a special session interview with the city council Wednesday

Following its decision, Council decided to reconvene on June 26 at 4 p m to discuss contract details Council members

“To be a successful city attorney requires an ability to be straight forward and direct I bring integrity, self-respect, knowledge and an ability to listen to this role. I tell it like it is; I think that is important.”

Aleksandr Boksner, about the characteristics needed for him to be successful

will use the next week to do due diligence on what should be included in the contract offer Council will seek input from the Mayor’s Office, the legal department and the search firm used to attract candidates in crafting a contract Once that is finalized, Mayor John Gunter will meet with Boksner to begin contract negotiations The hope is the negotiations will be complete in a few weeks time from the June 26 meeting Boksner’s resume includes more than 20 years practicing municipal law In addition to his current role in Sarasota County, he previously served as chief litig a t i o n a t t o r n e y f o r C h a r l o t t e C o u n t y , chief assistant attorney for Marion County and chief deputy city attorney and general council for Miami Beach

“ T o b e a s u c c e s s f u l c i t y a t t o r n e y requires an ability to be straight forward and direct I bring integrity, self-respect, knowledge and an ability to listen to this role I tell it like it is; I think that is impor tant” Boksner said about the characteristics that make him successful

Other candidates were Mark Moriarty and Jennifer Cockcroft

Moriarty has served as assistant city attorney for the City of Cape Coral for the past five years He has 26 years experience largely in municipal law

Cockcroft has 25 years experience, primarily in municipal government She currently serves as a Land Use and Local Government attorney for Lacey, Lyons and Rezanka, Brevard County.

Cape Council holds summer retreat

By CHUCK BALLARO news@breezenewspapers com

Since the Great Recession 15 years ago, the city of Cape Coral has been playing catch up on everything from road paving to how much to assess residents regarding solid waste pickup It is finally time for the city to start to do something about it

That is what Interim City Manager Michael Ilczyszyn told members of the Cape Coral City Council during its summer retreat Thursday at Mercola Market

The retreat was the last meeting/workshop before the summer hiatus, where city staff and council discussed a variety of topics so staff has direction when it crafts its 2024 budget, which needs to be created by the next council meeting on Wednesday, July 12

And one of the things Ilczyszyn stressed is that with inflation, the city might have to raise the amount of funding used for things such as median improvements, paving and sidewalks

Former city manager John Szerlag in 2014 started a road paving program The city put aside $6 5 million per year to pave city roads that had reached the point of being unusable

That number has not changed, however, and that money today will barely pay for half of what it did when the program started

Ilczyszyn said that not increasing funding will result in the city chasing potholes and roads degrading over time.

As for sidewalks, the city has paid $2 5 million, with the help of grants, and Ilczyszyn said basically the same thing, that they are not getting the bang for their buck like they used to

Mayor John Gunter said that maybe the city shouldn’t be footing the bill for everything within two miles from a school

“These schools are not city schools, the schools are from the county I think they need to come and help us pay for these sidewalks,” Gunter said. “This city pays so much to the county ”

Another priority is beautification of the city medians and the planting of more trees Increased costs have resulted in the city not being able to get more of that done

“Residents want to see beautification like more trees and improved medians You want that ‘wow’ factor when you come into the city,” Councilmember Patty Cummings said

Another item the city discussed was the assessment on solid waste The city pays one of the lowest, if not the lowest solid waste fees in the area The rate is currently $152 28 while the average regionally is $264 per year

With the city’s contract with Waste Pro set to expire in 2027, Finance Mark Mason said he didn’t want to hit the residents with a huge spike (of $100 per year or more) in solid waste fees for what he expects to be a sharp increase in costs when the next contract comes up Mason suggested gradually increasing rates over the next four years to cushion the residents from such a spike

The current rates are expected to increase from $166 08 in 2024, $172 06 in 2025, $176 19 in 2026 and $181 48 in 2027

Mason wants to raise the annual rate to $198 84 for 2024, $231 61 in 2025, $264 37 in 2026 and $297 13 for 2027 when the contract expires to bring rates more in line with the rest of the region

Ilczyszyn said he was pleased by how the retreat went, considering they got everything done in a relatively short period of time

“In light of the discussions we’ve had regarding deferred maintenance, it was appropriate to let them know everything that’s being requested was unsuccessful being funded,” Ilczyszyn said “Whenever there’s a recession, those have real impacts on people as well as the government There’s only so much funding to go around I didn’t want to repeat what was done in the past and not have council be aware of the needs out there.”

Cummings: Report states council member did not reside in her district

From page 1

in the district they seek to represent and has been interpreted as it requires they live within their district while they serve

Reached via text late Thursday afternoon, Cummings, who has steadfastly denied the allegation, called the report, “A web of lies,” saying the person she believes filed the complaint should be the party investigated

She previously said she cooperated with the investigation by providing documents

which the report confirms included a drivers license and a document from Lee Vote showing the Palm Tree address, a written statement from Cummings attesting to her residency, and a document from the Palm Street address homeowner Sproat requested additional, specific documents, though, that were not provided and so used other documents voluntarily obtained or a matter of public record

She also interviewed, or attempted to interview a number of individuals with “information pertinent to Cummings resi-

dency in District 4 during the relevant period ”

Cummings was among those who declined or did not respond to requests for an interview as was Councilmember Dan Sheppard, who voted against the investigation

Sproat listed the methodology used to make her findings in the Factual Finding section of the report

“This Section of the report contains Sproats’ factual findings concerning Cummings’ residency during the relevant

period Some of the matters described in this section are undisputed However, where matters were disputed, Sproat resolved factual disputes using a ‘preponderance of the evidence standard. This standard of proof is less exacting than the ‘beyond a reasonable doubt’ standard used in criminal proceedings ”

Cummings’ attorney, Jay P Lechner, could not immediately be reached for comment

New role for popular Breeze photographer

After more than 30 years with community’s paper, Michael Pistella turns the page

By CJ HADDAD cjhaddad@breezenewspapers com

A beloved member of the Cape Coral Breeze newsroom is starting a new chapter after a medical emergency in early 2022 nearly cost him his life

Long-time photographer, editor, and jack-of-all-trades, Michael Pistella will be moving to Minnesota with fiance éSharon Mooney at the end of the month Their place in Fort Myers is being sold, and the decision to relocate makes the most sense for the couple.

“We are moving to Minnesota to be closer to our family,” Pistella said “It has been all on Sharon since this happened and it will be a relief to have people who love us helping me with the everyday things I need help with ”

Pistella will continue working with The Breeze, as the option to work remotely has allowed him to continue his role as a major contributor to the company

“Michael has been an integral part of The Breeze for the past three decades and we’re thankful the technology that’s evolved over that time will allow him to remain a part of our operation and of Southwest Florida while working from afar,” Breeze Newspapers Publisher Ray Eckenrode said

On Jan 31, 2022, a normal Monday morning quickly became the antithesis of ordinary Pistella, an avid runner, decided to not go for a run that morning because it was too cold, and he didn’t have thermal running pants

He got out of bed feeling perfectly fine,

but all of a sudden, things changed Pistella suffered an aortic tear from the tip of his aorta all the way down to his right leg Mooney said they were told less than 2% of people survive that level of tear

In what can be described as the only fortunate circumstance in the situation for Pistella, Mooney had just recently moved in with him If she had not been there, he might not be here

“Sharon literally saved my life,” Pistella said “If I was by myself, I would have gone back to bed She has been with me every single step since the beginning of my journey I wouldn’t have recovered as far as I have if it wasn’t for her ”

Pistella spent six months in three different hospitals, going from Health Park, to Select Specialty Hospital, to Encompass Health Rehabilitation Hospital He’s had pneumonia, kidney failure, and amputations that were caused by the 6-1/2 hour surgery and medications on which he was put to save his life. Since being out of the hospital, he has undergone several other surgeries and requires a wheelchair for mobility

While the last year and a half has been a battle for Pistella, he’s come far in his recovery and has aspirations to continue to climb the hill, both literally and figuratively

“Fighting through the considerable nerve pain and challenges of not being able to walk right now have been the hardest things to cope with,” Pistella said “Being in Minnesota with our family and their truly unconditional love and support will give me the strength I need to continue getting better

“I’m hoping to get back on my feet, literally, in the next year or so, so that I can get back to hiking and running I ran a half marathon in 2019 and my goal before my tear was to run my first marathon When I get to do that, it will be an even better story ”

Better yet, he’s still the same fun-loving and witty person he’s always been, and is sorely missed by his colleagues and those in the community who have known Pistella as a dedicated and talented master of his craft

“While Michael has been working with us remotely since recovering from his medical emergency, and thankfully will continue to do so, I really miss his presence in our

office, and his photography, which served, for so long, as the anchor artwork for our news and sports pages,” said Breeze Newspapers Editor Chris Strine “He’s a truly gifted artist with that special eye that only the best of photographers possess ” Breeze Newspapers Executive Editor Valarie Harring said Pistella’s newsroom contributions have long gone beyond the visible efforts of his award-winning photography

“Michael is that rare team member, a talented utility player with a multi-faceted skill set,” she said “We are pleased that he will continue in his role as a graphic designer, photo editor and copy editor, and I’ll go so far as to make our readers a promise: You are going to be wowed by his current project the design and editing of our hard-cover photo book marking the anniversary of Hurricane Ian.”

Pistella has worn many hats with the Breeze Newspapers over the years, starting his tenure in 1994 working with the Gulf Coast Weeklies He was hired on as a fulltime reporter in July of that year and became editor of the Palm City Press in August In January of ’95, Pistella worked as editor of the Beach Bulletin on Fort Myers Beach, and transitioned back to staff reporter and photographer with the Beach Bulletin and Island Reporter on Sanibel In 2005, Pistella became the photographer for The Breeze and has continued in a multifaceted role there remotely

“I can honestly say I loved my job,”

Michael Pistella

Photographer: Move to Minnesota will bring him closer to family

From page 12

Pistella said “I love the people I work with and I love the community I really loved taking photos of youth sports in the Cape these past couple decades The kids were always so kind, and I knew they appreciated me and my work It was a joy to see the kids grow up before my eyes and camera, but sometimes they made me feel old, especially when the kids became coaches ”

Pistella's love and passion for sport being an avid Pittsburgh supporter shows in his award-winning photography He’s been a staple on the sidelines of countless athletic events during his time, capturing the feel of the game

“I think the student-athletes of the West Zone summed up Michael’s tenure as The Breeze photographer the best they, and their family members, gave him a standing ovation at our recent Athlete of the Year awards breakfast,” Harring said “His was a familiar face along the sidelines of not only games and championships, but at virtually all of the Cape’s memory-making events and milestones. He will be missed and there is no better legacy than that ”

“I feel blessed to have worked with so many wonderful people both at the Breeze and in the community,” Pistella said “My Breeze and Ogden Newspapers family have been so kind and supportive of me through this journey I will always be thankful for them ”

With being in the hospital for six months and having numerous surgeries and procedures, Pistella’s medical debt is substantial despite insurance coverage

“One of the things we learned, unfortunately too late, is that you can put a note on your hospital door saying that if a health provider isn’t in your insurance network, that they don’t come in your room,” he said

Now incurring moving expenses to a location nearly 2,000 miles away, Mooney has created a GoFundMe, Michael’s Journey, to help offset their costs

Those who wish to donate can visit https://gofund me/6d000e77

PHOTO PROVIDED

Long-time photographer and graphic designer Michael Pistella will be moving to Minnesota with fiancee Sharon Mooney at the end of the month He will continue to work for The Breeze remotely

REAL ESTATE

Rising insurance costs and Federal Reserve are wildcards

Dear Mr. Feichthaler,

My husband and I moved here 12 years ago for our r e t i r e m e n t a n d h a v e h a d a w o n d e r f u l l i f e h e r e Unfortunately, Bill died two months ago after a short battle with lymphoma Bill always wanted to move to Florida, and he felt buying back in 2011 would be good value. Well, he was right, and now our house is worth a lot more than we paid for it I plan to sell the house and move back to Michigan to be nearer my kids and grandchildren, but I am really worried about the tax consequences of selling Will I owe the IRS a lot of money?

Jane L

A couple of the big issues still playing out that could continue to impact our local real estate market this year deal with the Federal Reserve’s decisions on the direction of interest rates and their influence on the U S economy, along with the more local issue of the rising cost of homeowners and flood insurance in Florida

Dear Jane,

First, my sympathies f o r y o u r l o s s C a n c e r c o n t i n u e s t o b r i n g s o much grief to so many, and I am sorry Bill’s life was shortened because of it It sounds like you had a wonderful retirement here, and I trust you have a lot of fond memories

Bill was right about buying at the right time Prices have seen a steady climb over the past 10 years, and those gains have accelerated over the past three years The IRS t y p i c a l l y t a x e s a l l income, including gains o n r e a l e s t a t e , o n a worldwide basis In the case of primary residence, the IRS allows for an exclusion of $250,000 of gains per person on the sale of homestead That amount increases to $500,000 for a married couple The question will be how high your gains are, and how much of an exception is available to you with the passing of Bill

Happy to report a bit of good news in that regard If you sell your house within two years of Bill’s death, you will be eligible to take the exclusion for both you and Bill, leading to an exclusion of $500,000 of gains. Remember, this is an exclusion on the profit on the sale of the property, not the sales price itself As an example, if you were fortunate enough to buy a house in 2011 for $200,000, and it now worth and you sell it for $650,000, you would have a profit of $450,000 The entire amount of profit would be excluded, and you would pay no federal income tax on the sale

I hope this provides you with some good news during a very difficult time Your decision to purchase here when you did was a fortuitous one, and I wish you the best as you spend more time with your family

Eric P. Feichthaler has lived in Cape Coral for over 35 years and graduated from Mariner High School in Cape Coral After completing law school at Georgetown University in Washington, D C , he returned to Southwest Florida to practice law and raise a family He served as mayor of Cape Coral from 2005-2008, and continues his service to the community through the Cape Coral Caring Center, Cape Coral Museum of History, and Cape Coral Kiwanis He has been married to his wife, Mary, for over 20 years, and they have four children together He earned his board certification in Real Estate Law from the Florida Bar He is AV Preeminent rated by Martindale-Hubbell for professional ethics and legal ability, and is a Supreme Court Certified Circuit Civil Mediator He can be reached at eric@capecoralattorney com, or 239-542-4733

This article is general in nature and not intended as legal advice to anyone Individuals should seek legal counsel before acting on any matter of legal rights and obligations

Since we are writing this column p r i o r t o t h e F e d ’ s b i g i n t e r e s t r a t e announcement Wednesday of this week, we will hold our judgment on that topic except to say it is widely expected that the Fed is done with raising interest rates However, the remaining wildcard question will likely continue to revolve around exactly when the Fed will be forced to start slashing interest rates Some “expert” pundits expect interest rate cuts to begin sometime this year, while others believe lower interest rates will not occur until sometime in 2024 If the Fed holds interest rates higher for longer, some fear it will act like a governor controlling the speed of the economic engine, resulting in slow to no economic growth Others believe if the Fed starts cutting interest rates too soon, inflation will rage out of control again and hurt the economy The hope is that the Fed will be able to engineer a not too hot and not too cold “Goldilocks” soft landing in the economy along the lines of what we have been experiencing in our real estate market so far this year

and Geri Quinn Homing

Citizens that are primary residences with “ m u l t i - p e r i l p o l i c i e s , ” w h i c h a r e t h e most common type of coverage But it gets even better! It was noted that rate increases could be dramatically higher for homes covered by Citizens that are not maintained as a primary residence based on a new state law that allows increases of up to 50% for those properties All of this will be on top of a new requirement by Citizens mandating that all of its policyholders will be required to carry flood insurance, including those with homes in Flood Zone X. This has been a developing problem that has occurred over many years and is rapidly coming to a head

Insurance, on the other hand, continues to be a big problem in Florida, as well as in places like California, with rising premiums for homeowners, flood and commercial insurance all contradicting the commonly held belief that inflation is abating According to a news release written by Jim Saunders in a Florida Realtors publication that came out last Friday, it was noted that Citizens Property Insurance Corporation, the state of Florida-backed insurer of last resort, has requested a 12% r a t e h i k e t h r o u g h t h e F l o r i d a O f f i c e o f I n s u r a n c e Regulation This request is for all homes covered by

Stevens Construction completes East and Greenwell Insurance in For t Myers

Stevens Construction has completed the construction of a 12,123-square-foot building for East and Greenwell Insurance, located at 10061 University Plaza Drive within Gulf Coast Town Center in Fort Myers, announced Dan A d a m s , e x e c u t i v e v i c e p r e s i d e n t /

Construction, Inc

Offering homeowners flood and an array of insurance coverages, East and Greenwell features a welcoming lobby, 14 private offices and conference rooms To promote collaboration while allowing room for growth, East and Greenwell also houses multiple open concept training and work areas and a spacious employee lounge East and Greenwell provides a modern workplace with dropped ceilings, exposed drywall, reclaimed wood accent walls, quartz countertops and pendant lighting

The remaining 5,536 square feet of the building is situated into four private suites, ranging from 1,200 to 1,460 square feet, of which three are available for lease Contact Trinity Group for additional lease information at 239-3343040

With offices in Fort Myers, Sarasota and Orlando, Stevens Construction specializes in providing construction management, general contracting and consulting services to clients and design professionals Other services include site and design team selection, budgeting, project scheduling, permitting, cost and quality control and warranty service The company builds healthcare, commercial and hos-

In

We will plan to dig deeper into the insurance crisis in future columns This is the type of thing that plays into “the affordable housing” debate, as these costs will ultimately be passed on to the rental market and could ultimately end up hurting home prices

Switching gears, it has been awhile since we checked in on the monthly rankings for the 100 most overvalued housing markets in the country, which is put together by research teams at Florida Atlantic University and Florida International University Basically, they use publicly available data from Zillow and other sources to compile and analyze real estate information pertaining to singlefamily homes, townhomes, condominiums and co-ops in various metro areas Their data goes back to January 1996, with the development of their “expected price trendline ” This established a baseline for prices, which they then compare the current average of sales prices in each metro area to determine if the prices in a given market are selling at a premium or at a discount to that expected price trendline This translates into showing by how much on a percentage basis a particular metro area’s housing market is either overvalued or undervalued You can

See WiLDCARDS, page 15

REAL ESTATE BRIEFS

pitality facilities For information, visit www stevensbuilds.com or call 239-936-9006.

CRE Consultants lists recent transactions

CRE Consultants has announced the following recent real estate transactions:

∫ Jacy T Engelhard purchased a 4,697-square-foot industrial building at 2466 Lafayette St , Fort Myers, from Rafael & Gloria Castillo for $451,500 Fred Kermani, CCIM, AIA of CRE Consultants represented the seller and Clarissa Engelhard of Weichert Realtors Agency One represented the buyer in negotiating the transaction

∫ Florida Department of Health leased a 4,924-squarefoot office space in Fairfax Center at 4210 Metro Parkway, Suite 250, Fort Myers, from WCP Fairfax, LLC Randal Mercer of CRE Consultants represented the lessor and Megan Lawler of Savills represented the lessee in negotiating the transaction

∫ Lutheran Services Florida, Inc leased a 6,275square-foot industrial space at 3860 Colonial Blvd , Suite 1 0 0 , F o r t M y e r s f r o m W i n f i e l d P a r t n e r s I I E n n Luthringer, CCIM of CRE Consultants negotiated the transaction CRE Consultants, which provides a full spectrum of commercial real estate and property management services

Bob

Widow curious how much she will owe IRS when she sells house

Eric P Feichthaler Real Estate Law

Proposed county Land Development Code changes include South Seas Island Resort on Captiva Island

By TIFFANY REPECKI trepecki@breezenewspapers

com

T h e L e e C o u n t y C o m m i s s i o n w i l l address proposed amendments to the Land Development Code at a public hearing Tuesday, June 20, including language related to the South Seas Island Resort on Captiva

At its meeting last week, the county board voted unanimously 5-0 to direct to a public hearing amendments intended to address building height and other development regulations to increase the resiliency of development in flood and storm surge prone areas of unincorporated Lee County

According to reports from county staff, t h e p r o p o s e d a m e n d m e n t s f o r L D C

Chapters 30, 33 and 34 Nonconforming Signs, Building Height, Resiliency Measures, and South Seas will provide for:

■ A one-time relocation of a rebuilt billboard under certain conditions

■ An unilateral measurement of build-

ing height to be applied county-wide

■ Modifications to development regulations intended to increase resilience and reduce vulnerability to flooding and storm surge

■ The ability to address issues specific to the rebuilding of South Seas

Prior to the vote, the commissioners sought clarification about the proposed amendments, more specifically on the language related to South Seas and its impact on height and density limitations

Deputy County Attorney Michael Jacob explained that South Seas currently operates under an administrative interpretation within the LDC that exempts it from the Captiva Community Plan “as long as it's in conformance with that administrative interpretation ” South Seas wants to use the rezoning process for development changes but cannot as long as the interpretation remains in place

The proposed language would remove references to the administrative interpreta-

tion Jacob added that the density limitation on Captiva would not change

“South Seas would like to excepted from the density limitation and go through the public hearing process to request density in accordance with their future land use category,” he said

According to the draft ordinance outlining the proposed amendments, Section 341805 would add “with the exception of the South Seas Island Resort” to the existing language to read as:

“With the exception of the South Seas Island Resort, the maximum permitted density for hotels or motels on Captiva Island may not exceed three units per gross acre T h e r e d e v e l o p m e n t o f n o n c o n f o r m i n g hotels and motels on Captiva Island will be governed by the provisions of section 331628(b) That section will be interpreted to prohibit an increase in the number of rental units and to establish a maximum average unit size of 550 square feet ”

“Nothing in this ordinance addresses density anywhere else,” Jacob said of outside of South Seas

A handful of members from the community spoke during public comment, including Captiva Community Panel Vice P r e s i d e n t D a v i d M i n t z , r e s i d e n t s a n d

Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation

Chief Executive Officer James Evans

They asked for the item to be tabled for further review

The attorneys for South Seas spoke in favor of proceeding with the public hearing

The county meeting will take place at 9 : 3 0 a m a t t h e o l d L e e C o u n t y Courthouse, located at 2120 Main St in Fort Myers

Since last week's meeting, the Captiva Civic Association has initiated an email campaign in opposition to the proposed changes for South Seas

For more information, visit the CCA's page on Facebook

Wildcards: Rising insurance costs, Federal Reserve are the unknowns

From page 14

find their current information, which is updated monthly, by searching for “the 100 most overvalued housing markets ”

Their most current report is through April 30, where they are showing the Cape Coral-Fort Myers metro area as the fifth most overvalued market in the country with an average sales price coming in at $375,453 versus an expected price trendline of $261,913 This translates into our market selling at a premium and being “overvalued” by 43 35% According to this report, our market recently topped out at an overvalued premium of 53 04% back on Aug 31 of last year when the average price was at $394,060 versus the expected price trendline of $257,484 The good news is that we are no longer the most overvalued market in the country as our prices have topped out and have declined, but have not “crashed” as they did during the Great Recession some 15 years ago

An item of interest is that while Atlanta was now the number one most overvalued metro area in the FAU/FIU research, with an average price running 48 5% above

their expected price as of April 30, pop star Mariah Carey hit a flat note with the r ecen t s ale o f h er A tlan ta- ar ea h o me

According to an article by E B Solomont in a Private Properties feature in the June 2, 2023, Mansion Section of the Wall Street Journal, Cary bought her 12,600square-foot, nine-bedroom Colonial-style home on approximately 4 acres with a pool and a tennis court in Sandy Springs, Ga , for $5 65 million in 2021 She then listed the home for sale at $6 5 million in September 2022, with Zillow reporting t h a t t h e a s k i n g p r i c e w a s r e d u c e d t o $4 995 million prior to the home going under contract with a buyer and ultimately selling for $4 3 million So Carey ended up selling her home for $2 2 million less, or 33 8% below her initial list price and for $1 35 million, or 23 9% less than she paid for the home about two years ago, not including any expenses to get the home sold

Moving back to our market, we continue to see solid, but patient out-of-town buyer interest looking for “reasonablypriced” mostly move-in ready homes in our market as the inventory continues to

REAL ESTATE BRIEFS

From page 14

to property owners, investors, landlords, t e n a n t s a n d d e v e l o p e r s , i s a t 1 2 1 4 0 Carissa Commerce Court, Suite 102, Fort Myers

For additional information, please call 29-481-3800, or visit http://creconsultants com

Wor thington Realty

relocates For t Myers office

Worthington Realty has announced the relocation of its office headquarters in Fort Myers

Now located at 8880 Gladiolus Drive, Suite 102, the 1,300-square-foot office replaces the company’s former space on Summerlin Road, which was damaged due to Hurricane Ian The new location within Avalon Office Park offers close proximity to several major residential communities in Fort Myers as well as the region’s islands and beaches

Founded in 1989, Worthington Realty has a long history in Southwest Florida’s real estate market and has earned a reputat i o n f o r t r u s t w o r t h y l e a d e r s h i p a t Lexington Country Club in Fort Myers and an expanding list of surrounding communities, where its team serves homebuyers, r e n t e r s a n d i n v e s t o r s w i t h s p e c i a l i z e d knowledge and expertise in residential sales, rentals and development

L e d b y p r i n c i p a l s M i c h a e l D a v i s , S u s a n a D a v i s a n d B r i a n R o d g e r s , Worthington Realty includes a growing team of successful brokerage and sales p r o f e s s i o n a l s T h e c o m p a n y i s i n t h e process of developing a new digital infrastructure to accommodate the continued expansion of market and service capabilities and is currently hiring for select positions across the region, including real estate agents and property managers

For more information, call 239-4373334, email info@worthingtonrealty com or visit Worthington Realty com

rise As of Tuesday, June 13, there were 1,676 active listings in the MLS for Cape Coral single-family homes at list prices ranging from $269,900 to $3 995 million

T h e m e d i a n l i s t p r i c e r e m a i n e d a t $525,000 based on our weekly market s n a p s h o t s u r v e y , w i t h a t o t a l o f 6 1 9 homes, or 36 9% of the active listings in the Cape priced at $450,000 and under, including 18 of these homes priced below $300,000 At the other end of the Cape’s price spectrum, 222 homes were listed for sale at $1 million and above, equaling 13 2% of the active home listings, and down slightly from 227 such listings a week ago

T h e n u m b e r o f C a p e C o r a l h o m e s under contract with buyers as pending sales as of June 13 edged back higher from 761 pending sales a week ago to 797 pending sales in the pipeline this week Prices on the current pending sales ranged from a low of $215,000 to a high of $4 15 million, with the second lowest priced at $249,900 and the second highest at $3 45 million, and quickly dropping to $2 3 million for the third highest priced home under contract The median pending sales price was up slightly to $406,990 this week from $403,900 on June 6. Of the homes under contract earlier this week, 63% of them or 502 of the total of 797

h o m e s w e r e p r i c e d a t $ 4 5 0 , 0 0 0 a n d u n d e r , i n c l u d i n g 2 5 h o m e s b e l o w

$300,000 At the other end of the spectrum, there were 37 homes under contract at $1 million and above, equalling 4 6% of the currently pending home sales in Cape Coral

The sales data for this article was o b t a i n e d f r o m t h e F l o r i d a R e a l t o r s Multiple Listing Service Matrix for Lee County, Fla , as of June 13, 2023, unless otherwise noted. It was compiled by Bob and Geri Quinn and it includes information specifically for Cape Coral singlefamily homes, and does not include condominiums, short sales or foreclosures The data and statistics are believed to be reliable, however, they could be updated and revised periodically, and are subject to change without notice The Quinn’s are a husband and wife real estate team with the RE/MAX Realty Team office in Cape Coral They have lived in Cape Coral for over 43-years Geri has been a full-time Realtor since 2005, and Bob joined Geri as a full-time Realtor in 2014 Their real estate practice is mainly focused on Cape Coral residential property and vacant lots.

SalusCare celebrates 10 years of care for local community

More garden myths

By CATHY DUNN news@breezenewspapers com

Last month we explored some common garden myths that the University of Florida/Institute of Food and Agricultural Services (UF/IFAS) has identified as among the most common “tall tales” that they encounter through their extension services These myths are generally inspired by a grain of truth and passed along among gardeners, sometimes becoming “established fact” promoting gardening practices that are not based on actual science

By discussing some of these better-known myths, I hope that you will be prompted to think about some of the advice you’ve followed and to question the validity of the rationale behind the practice.

GARDEN CLUB OF CAPE CORAL

The myth that seems to be in the back of my mind as I garden is that snakes are aggressive Even after years of education and exposure, I am still petrified of snakes and my first reaction upon encountering a snake in the garden is that it is out to get me And I know better; one entire session of our Master Gardener training was on snakes and trust me, I really wanted to skip that particular class because we had live snakes in the room with us!

Science tells us that even snakes that are surprised are rarely aggressive, and they are an important contributor to the Florida ecology But it’s hard to remember that when you suddenly see a garter snake wriggling in your garden! You should, of course, exercise caution when you’re working in areas that provide hiding places for snakes, and never approach any snake that you come across That’s never a problem for me because I’m usually running in the house either screeching or speechless!

U F / I F A S h a s l o t s o f i n f o r m a t i o n o n l i n e a b o u t s n a k e s , a n d i f y o u n e e d assistance in identifying a snake, you should contact a p r o f e s s i o n a l ; t h e F l o r i d a F i s h a n d W i l d l i f e

C o n s e r v a t i o n C o m m i s s i o n has a list of professionals you can consult on its website

You may have heard one of many myths concerning fire ants and how to control them; stories circulate about using grits, soap, soda water, diesel fuel or citrus peels to deter these garden pests Some of these methods may encourage fire ants to relocate, but they rarely move far from their original mounds The unfortunate truth is that there is no known method to permanently eliminate fire ants from an area UF/IFAS recommends using boiling water and employing garden-specific baits and contact pesticides only as needed. The best advice is to call your local extension service office for help; the Lee County office can be reached from 9 a m to 5 p m , Monday through Friday, at 239-533-4327

There are many myths about methods that can be used to deter moles Vibrating devices that emit "mole repelling sonic vibrations" are touted as the perfect, nontoxic remedy for eliminating moles UF/IFAS scientists have studied these devices and found that they are not effective, pointing out that mole tunnels located next to highways with vibrations from heavy traffic suggest that v i b r a t i o n s a r e n o t e f f e c t i v e i n c o n t r o l l i n g m o l e s Mothballs are often employed to deter moles (and other

See MORE GARDEN MYTHS, page 39

SalusCare celebrates 10 years since it was created after a merger between two long-standing mental and behavioral health agencies, Southwest Florida Addition Services and Lee Mental Health The merger created the largest nonprofit mental health and substance abuse treatment agency in Southwest Florida

Ten years later, SalusCare, named for Latin roots of “Salus,” (pronounced “Sail-us”) meaning health, prosperity and safety, continues to reflect that focus, while moving forward to meet the needs of the community

“We offer the full continuum of behavioral health services,” says Stacey Cook, who had been with Lee Mental Health for 18 years before becoming the CEO of Salus Care in 2016 “It’s a huge win for the community to have all services truly connected ”

SalusCare is working to address the growing need for mental, behavioral and addiction services, which has been on the rise in the past few years Cook says she expects the need to triple in the next five to 10 years

Today, SalusCare employs more than 300 people who bring hope and recovery to nearly 16,000 adults and children with outpatient psychiatry and therapy, residential programs, recovery residences, emergency/crisis services, detox and community-based services from six locations in Lee County, improving care for children and adults

Strategic planning currently underway includes envisioning ways to reduce the physical footprint by embracing technology

“With technology and telehealth, there are ways to better use resources and expand our reach,” Cook said This year, texting for appointments was added

Going forward, SalusCare wants to remain agile and at the forefront of promising treatments, such as transcranial magnetic stimulation, a non-invasive treatment that uses magnetic pulses to stimulate nerve cells in the brain asso-

ciated with major depression “It has been found to work where traditional medicine has not,” Cook says SalusCare is licensed and partially funded in part through contracts by the Florida Department of Children and Families through the Central Florida Behavioral Health Network, Inc , Lee County, third-party payers, insurance, patient fees, donations and as a United Way partner agency To learn about or support SalusCare’s mental and behavioral health programs, visit saluscareflorida org

About SalusCare

SalusCare is a Fort Myers-based, not-for-profit mental health and substance abuse service provider incorporated in 2013 after the merger of Lee Mental Health Center and S o u t h w e s t F l o r i d a A d d i c t i o n S e r v i c e s t o u l t i m a t e l y improve care for children and adults by utilizing one seamless system of care “Salus” means health, prosperity and safety, reflecting the focus of the organization A United Way partner agency, SalusCare has six locations with more than 300 employees throughout Southwest Florida, bringing hope and recovery to nearly 16,000 adults and children each year All substance abuse programs and most m e n t a l h e a l t h s e r v i c e s a r e a c c r e d i t e d b y C A R F International, an independent, nonprofit accreditor of health and human services

For additional information, visit saluscareflorida org or call 239-275-3222

Farmer Joe’s announces 4th of July event

Farmer Joe’s, Cape Coral’s Fresh Market, recently announced on its social media pages that it will be hosting a 4th of July Customer Appreciation Day in its parking lot

“We are beyond thrilled to celebrate the 4th of July with our incredible customers This Customer Appreciation Day is an opportunity for us to show our gratitude for the support we have received from the community. We invite everyone to join us for a day of family-friendly activities and free hamburgers and hot dogs for everyone It's our way of saying ‘Happy Independence Day,’” said owner Lee Snyder

This complimentary event is expected to be the biggest one Farmer Joe’s has hosted since they first open their doors for business in January of 2022 Families can look forward to bounce houses, face painting and much more Everyone will be able to enjoy free hamburgers and hot dogs Additionally, customers can take advantage of a blowout sale on select items throughout the store

In addition to activities and food provided by Farmer

Joe's, this event will also include booths from select businesses and organizations in the community For example, the Lee County Sheriff’s Department will be on-site, with its famous Ice Cream Response Unit Deputies will be giving out ice cream and other goodies

This event is open to the public, and everyone is invited to join in the festivities. The store is located at 1401 S W Pine Island Rd, Cape Coral, FL 33991

For more information about Farmer Joe's events, please visit the store's website (farmerjoes com) or Facebook page https://www facebook com/farmerjoesofficial

About Farmer Joe’s

Farmer Joe’s is an independent grocery store, located in Cape Coral It is known for a large produce section, which the store sources directly from local farms as much as possible It also has a wide variety of specialty products, quality meat, seafood, prepared foods and much more Learn more at their website, FarmerJoes com

Four centers now providing road tests for driver licenses

As of June 8, the Lee County Tax Collector is doubling the number of service centers providing road tests for those wishing to obtain their Florida driver license Currently road tests are offered at the North Fort Myers and South Fort Myers service centers, now they are being offered in Bonita Springs and Cape Coral as well

“We started the push with the Florida Department of Highway Safety (FLHSMV) last fall to have more service centers offer road tests,” explains Lee County Tax Collector Noelle Branning “At that time, we were experiencing heightened demand caused by a growing population, and we knew that would continue ”

Prior to implementing a road test course, the FLHSMV must review and approve all plans.

“Road tests require candidates to complete certain maneuvers and we have to show that the locations we are proposing meet those requirements,” said Branning “Both our Cape Coral and Bonita Springs locations did that, and

Lee County Tax Collector Road Test locations:

■ Bonita Springs, 25987 Tamiami Trail, S

■ Cape Coral, 1039 SE Ninth Ave

■ North Fort Myers, 15201 North Cleveland Ave

■ South Fort Myers, 15680 Pine Ridge Road

we are thrilled to be able to provide our customers with more opportunities to test for their Florida driver licenses ”

who need to take a road test should make

will be offered on a 5-day rolling basis; meaning if you want an appointment on Tuesday, July 11, you can book starting on Wednesday, July 5

Fire ant mounds are found all across Southwest Florida UF/IFAS PHOTO

Moles can be troublesome UF/IFAS

Tickets on sale for Red, White & Brew Trolley event

By CJ HADDAD cjhaddad@breezenewspapers com

Those looking to get a head start on their Independence Day celebration can hop aboard a trolley in the South Cape next weekend and enjoy one of America’s favorite pastimes: a nice cold beer

T h e S o u t h C a p e H o s p i t a l i t y & Entertainment Association’s 11th annual Red, White & Brew Trolley event on Saturday, June 24, will parade patrons to some of the city’s best spots for Americanmade beer and appetizer samples from 711 p m

“We always look forward to our holid a y - t h e m e d e v e n t s , ” s a i d S C H E A spokesperson Shannon Quinn “We love the patriotism and spirit of attendees It’s always a very exciting event and we expect to see many new faces this year ” South Cape establishments welcome the party, as they get to become a bit creative and concoct creations to fit the theme Trolley trivia will make for some fun along the way, as guests can answer questions for

The South Cape Hospitality & Entertainment Association’s 11th annual Red, White & Brew Trolley event on Saturday, June 24, will parade patrons to some of the city’s best spots for American-made beer and appetizer samples from 7-11 p.m.

the eligibility to win prizes

include:

■ BackStreets Sports Bar - Yuengling & TBD

■ BIG8 BBQ - TBD & Pork Sliders

■ Cruisers - Budweiser & Hot Dogs w/ Ketchup & Mustard

■ The Dive - TBD

■ Dixie Roadhouse - PBR & TBD

■ The Monkey Bar - Coors Light & Cheddar Cheese Curds

■ Rack’em Spirits & Times - Busch Light & Goldfish

■ Ralph’s Place - Shocktop & TBD

■ Rusty’s Raw Bar & Grill - Summer Shandy & Mini Corn Dogs

■ Tiki Bar - Miller Lite & Potstickers

Tickets for Red, White & Brew are $22

in advance on Eventbrite (plus fees) and include a beer and appetizer sample at each location, patriotic gift at check-in, wristband to board the trolleys, a passport of locations and access to the official photo booth at the South Cape Hub (where tickets are also available) Day-of tickets are $27 and designated driver tickets are $17

Quinn said the event is a great way to get a kick start on Independence Day festivities

“It’s a great prelude for 4th of July just in the theme,” Quinn said

“ T h e e v e n t c e n t e r s o n p a t r i o t i s m , American-made beer, and appetizers We love kicking off the holidays a weekend or two early ”

Make sure to get your passport stamped at every location for a chance to win the

grand prize: a patriotic themed gift basket courtesy of Pabst Blue Ribbon Fully stamped passports must be filled out and submitted at the end of the night Patrons are encouraged to dress in festive garb and show their patriotism

“As always, we expect a lot of red, white and blue,” Quinn said “But we do enjoy the occasional attendee that dresses up as a beer, hotdog, hamburger, ketchup and mustard There’s nothing like the spirit of a good cookout, but in outfits ”

A photo booth memory at the South Cape Hub could score you four tickets to SCHEA’s next trolley event Bacon Fest as a winning photo will be chosen for the prize Guests can check in from 6 to 7:30 p m at Big John’s Plaza and Dolphin Key Resort Late check-in runs until 10 p m under the front entry awning of the Dolphin Key Resort (1502 Miramar St ) The event is 21-plus and photo I D must be presented at check-in For more i n f o r m a t i o n a n d t i c k e t s , v i s i t www SouthCapeEntertainment com

Councilman Steinke Graduates from Institute for Elected Municipal Officials Course

Municipal Officials (IEMO), a course from the Florida League of Cities’ premier educational program designed specifically for Florida’s elected municipal officials

Steinke completed the first level of IEMO training, which is specially designed for newly elected officials and those with less than one term in office The comprehensive 16-hour course provides participants with an intensive academic program focusing on the numerous

aspects of municipal government Topics of the course include municipal government structure, revenue components and governmental accounting for cities as well as intergovernmental relations and council relationships

Bill Steinke

Beta as a puppy (far left) in September of 2021 and now as an adult (left) in 2023. He was adopted in September 2021, returned in May 2022, been waiting over a year for his new forever home Overlooked because of his size He’s a good dog.

Study: Alarming statistics for pets

From page 1

surrender their animals while adoptions, especially for larger breeds, have decreased due to housing issues

“There is a ‘perfect storm’ of problems happening that is threatening to undo all the work so many great organizations like ours have done over the years,” said CCAS Executive Director Liz McCauley “The biggest challenge facing our community is the housing crisis, inflation, increased cost of living, and the fact that so many HOAs and apartments do not allow animals at all, or do not allow animals of a certain size or breed ”

She added many people have been displaced since Hurricane Ian, and had to surrender their animals because their new place of residence does not allow pets

“It's heartbreaking when an animal that is loved and cared for by their family must surrender them in their most desperate time of need,” McCauley said

Other contributing factors, McCauley said, include “backyard” or “hobby” breeders who can’t sell or care for their animals, many times abandoning them with already overburdened shelters, or giving them away without being spayed or neutered

“Or worse,” she said

The lack of resources for low-cost spay and neuter also plays a role in overpopulation, which McCauley said is a direct result of a shortage of veterinarians and veterinarian technicians globally She said a recent study showed 75 million pets in the U S could be without healthcare by 2030, but that fortunately, Florida lawmakers are trying to help by introducing bills that can help alleviate these issues

A t L e e C o u n t y D o m e s t i c A n i m a l Services, a low-kill shelter, officials said there has been a 19% increase in owner surrenders of dogs comparing the past six months to that of a year ago For felines, there has actually been a 14% decrease in surrenders of cats in the same time

As for why owners are surrendering, Karen Frick with LCDAS said, “Reasons vary, but some that come up are the owners are moving and can’t take pets with them, or their housing or health situation has

changed and they can no longer care for their pets ”

When asked if euthanasia rates have increased at LCDAS, Frick said numbers fluctuate each month due to the “various reasons for intake ”

“Our staff works diligently to assess pets and get them adopted, and we work with dozens of rescue organizations around the state to find forever homes,” Frick said “We also have a robust fostering program ”

The key to successfully welcoming a new member of the family to your home?

“Make sure you and your family are ready for the responsibility before taking it on,” Frick said “Adopting from shelters is so important because it helps with the homeless pet population You also have the opportunity to get a pet that has training and already has grown into its personality At DAS you can take part in our foster-toadopt program and be sure your pet is a perfect fit ”

At Gulf Coast Humane Society in Fort Myers, Community Relations Coordinator Brian Wierma said surrenders have been on the rise

"We have seen an increase of owner surrender applicants over the course of the last year, especially months after Hurricane Ian," Wierma said "GCHS is not an open intake shelter We can intake owner surrenders based on the space in kennels, otherwise the applicant will be added to a waiting list, which has been the case over the last year "

The most common reasons for people surrendering their animals? "The pet owner is moving and their new residence has r e s t r i c t i o n s o n p e t s A n o t h e r r e a s o n includes the family is expecting a child and s p a c e c o n s i d e r a t i o n s a r e t h e r e a s o n s Allergies also play a part in reasons people owner surrender their pet, since someone in their family is allergic to the pet "

H e s a i d a f t e r I a n , o w n e r - s u r r e n d e r application spiked due to people losing their homes

Wierma added, "The first aspect of owning a pet is commitment. Accepting the pet as being a part of the family and not a p o s s e s s i o n w i l l d e f i n i t e l y l o w e r t h e

Other Lee County Animal Shelters

There also are other shelters in Lee County including:

∫ Gulf Coast Humane Society, whose “mission is to provide humane care for surrendered animals by offering refuge, providing medical care, and facilitating an adoptive home ” Each year they take in more than 3,000 animals

GCHS, a no-kill shelter, also has a spay and neuter clinic, which hit a major milestone in May its 50,000th surgery

For more information, including pets available for adoption, visit www gulfcoasthumanesociety org or, for information on the clinic, www.gulfcoasthumanesociety org/spay-neuter-clinic

chances of owner surrendering their pet. Doing what's best for your pet and exhausting every option to keep them should be done, the shelter should be the last option in the process

He said before adopting a pet, considerations should include your financial situat i o n , s p a c e i n t h e h o m e a n d i f y o u r

r e n t a l / H O A h a s p e t r e s t r i c t i o n s

Researching the cost of annual veterinary visits for vaccinations, heartworm preventative treatments, the cost of feeding your pet and amenities such as toys, treats and beds/kennels, is highly recommended

"Be prepared to commit to your pet for 12-15 years," Wierma said "It will be well worth it, because your pet will give so much love and repay you fourfold "

While many new pet owners gravitate towards younger animals, often times adult and senior pets get overlooked McCauley s a i d p u p p i e s r e q u i r e a l o t o f w o r k , patience, time, and training She added that

∫ Animal Refuge Center ARC is S o u t h w e s t F l o r i d a ’ s l a r g e s t n o - k i l l shelter Its philosophy “avows that once an animal is accepted for adoption, it will not be destroyed to make room for another Our mission is to shelter, adopt and educate ”

For more information, including pets available for adoption, visit http://animalrefugecenter com

All of the shelters welcome donations

no matter how much adoption counselors explain these facts to potential adopters, a few months or even up to a year later, they return the dog to shelters -- no longer a little puppy -- unsocialized, untrained, and now, much harder to find a family for

“It truly is the ‘perfect storm’ of problems,” McCauley said “This crisis is not, in any way the fault of private shelters like ours, or our municipal shelters that provide animal control services All shelters need help now more than ever This is a community problem and it's going to take our community to come up with solutions to solve these problems "

For more information on CCAS, includi n g p e t s a v a i l a b l e f o r a d o p t i o n , v i s i t www capecoralanimalshelter com

The shelter also offers low-cost veterinary services, including spay and neuter

F o r m o r e i n f o r m a t i o n o n L C D A S , including pets available for adoption, visit www leegov com/animalsservices

CCAS

We e k ly B R E E Z E R e c ap

CCPD: Man shot, killed by officers after ‘brandishing’ handgun

By CJ HADDAD cjhaddad@breezenewspapers com

A Cape Coral man was fatally shot in an armed encounter with police Sunday night

Roland Halle, 73, was shot multiple times by officers who were responding to a third call for assistance at a north Cape residence in roughly 24 hours, officials said

Cape Coral Police Chief Anthony Sizemore said in a press conference called Sunday night that the officers responded to a disturbance call of a man and woman arguing around 5:30 p m at 1411 N E 5th Lane

Sizemore said the argument resulted in

Halle destroying his roommate's property, which promoted the call

“It was also reported that the man was heavily intoxicated,” Sizemore said Sizemore said when officers arrived, they were confronted by Halle, who was armed with a handgun Sizemore said officers engaged in de-escalation dialogue, but that "Mr Halle became agitated, was resistant to those efforts and his demeanor became heightened "

Sizemore said Halle became "aggressive" as the conversation between he and officers continued, and he "ultimately picked up a handgun and challenged our officers by brandishing that firearm "

Police then fired at Halle, who was shot “several times ” Sizemore said officers immediately began lifesaving measures, but he was ultimately pronounced dead

According to Sizemore, CCPD had responded to Halle's home on multiple occasions for similar arguments between he and his roommate, including twice on Saturday night

Both officers involved in the incident were unharmed and, per protocol, were placed on administrative leave. Sizemore said he personally reviewed the body-worn camera footage, and is confident his officers reacted properly

“Our officers faced a rapid, complex

and dangerous situation for everyone involved,” Sizemore said “"Our officers followed their training and performed under the most extreme circumstances exactly as they were trained

“I can tell you that our officers performed exemplary under the circumstances ”

Sizemore said the State Attorney's Office is involved in the case, and that CCPD's Major Crimes Unit is investigating the criminal act of Halle. CCPD, per policy, also will investigate the actions of the officers.

This is the first officer-involved shooting for CCPD in 2023

Raso Realty marks golden anniversary

By CJ HADDAD cjhaddad@breezenewspapers com

Family and friends gathered and reminisced Sunday in Cape Coral, as a local business started by a pioneer family celebrated its golden anniversary

Raso Realty, which opened on June 11, 1973 on Cape Coral Street by the late Joe and Grace Raso, commemorated 50 years of serving the community this past weekend The family-owned business (the longest-serving of its kind in the city) was paid tribute to via a video package documenting its history as the lifeblood of Raso Realty looked on with warmth in their eyes Surrounded by loved ones and m e m b e r s o f t h e C a p e C o r a l a n d Southwest Florida community they've impacted, fond memories and hopes for a continued prominent future were in the air at Stone’s Throw restaurant

“It’s pretty monumental,” said Raso Realty's Gloria Tate, one of five daughters of Joe Russo “It's one of those things we've thought about over the last two or three years, but we never really thought it would happen And after (Hurricane Ian), we were sure it wasn't going to happen But we stuck together as a family and decided to move forward, and we've been blessed ”

Joe Raso moved his family to Cape Coral in 1960, and eventually his goal transformed into wanting to open a family-run real estate agency Joe was the first bartender in Cape Coral until he decided to get his real estate license and worked with Gulf American He and Grace were the first president and first lady of the Cape Coral Italian American Club, one of the first organized clubs in the city There were only about 400 people in the city then, but over time, Raso Realty grew into one of the region’s top full-service, independent real estate agencies, helping buyers and sellers locate the perfect property and negotiate some of the best deals in Southwest Florida

“He was what they call a ‘closer,’” Tate said of her father “He would come in, do his thing, and somehow convince (clients) to buy the land He was a salesman. He was the true art of a salesman, and I think that's what inspired me ”

Raso Realty Broker and oldest Raso s i s t e r , C a t h y S a n g i o v a n n i , s a i d h e r father's love of golf prompted him ask if

she'd like to come work at the office

“He wanted to play golf and wanted me to run the office, which I did,” Sangiovanni said with a grin. “So I became the broker here and did that until 1994 when I passed the business on to my son Dennis I knew that he would take it to the next level ”

Tate said Hackworth's vision and leadership has led to Raso Realty's success, saying, “He's transformed what we started in real estate Many a times he said, ‘It's time to re-brand It's time to re-do ’ We know the name and brand are iconic, but there's always something you need to do to step up and keep up with trends, and he's the person that can do that ”

Hackworth said, “My vision is to hopefully continue with the same values we were founded on: customer service, putting the client first -- making sure that's the most important, (and) building relationships That's the way we've built

our business over 50 years, is always having relationships Everybody can get you the same information, but it's about building that connection with people and

staying in touch with those people over the 50 years It's always been about involvement ”

Raso Realty has been a hallmark in the real estate industry and Cape Coral community for decades, always in-tune with city happenings, city government and industry trends

“How you understand the community that you're going to invest in, is what is key to our office,” Tate said

When asked if she'd have ever thought Raso Realty would still be standing 50 years later from the time she was a child, Tate said, “No but as we all stuck together as sisters and planned, it just evolved into what it is today ”

Family is truly at the heart of Raso Realty -- from bloodlines to employees that have come to call each other family.

“It’s like I go from my home, to my other home,” said Linda Biondi, a Realtor with Raso Realty since 1990 “It's different You don't get lost in the shuffle of 150 different agents in one building ”

Tate said, “The agents that we have are family And I think that is what makes the difference You're not just an agent and a number, you're part of a family We treat each other with respect It's not about the dollar, it’s about the positive attitude ”

Tate said those values came from the founders of Raso Realty, her parents

“ O u r p a r e n t s w e r e p e o p l e w h o believed that no one should be alone on a holiday, so many of my clients that moved here for the first year at Christmas that were alone, ended up at our home,” Tate said “And that is what our parents instilled in us And we still do that today ”

B i o n d i a d d e d s h e b e l i e v e s R a s o Realty has found success due to the caring nature of long-time employees and their willingness to see others be successful

“I've learned so much, and Gloria has truly been a mentor,” she said. “To see ( h e r a c t i o n s i n g e t t i n g i n v o l v e d ) , i t inspires me ”

As for what the future holds for Raso Realty, Tate said she's confident in the direction the business is heading

“I believe that we have the next generation (in place),” Tate said “And I have no doubt we'll keep that family tradition and values going ”

CJ HADDAD

Members of Raso Realty and the Raso family, above from left, Gloria Tate, Diane Strack, Donna Jo Cottrell, Cathy Sangiovanni and Ralph Sangiovanni, watch a video tribute honoring Raso Realty’s 50 years in business Sunday in Cape Coral Below is a portrait of Joe Raso, who opened Raso Realty with his wife, Grace, in June 1973

Yacht Club: City to now look at what historic elements can be preserved

From page 1

the Cape Coral Yacht Club The resolution s t a t e s , “ D u e t o d a m a g e c a u s e d b y

Hurricane Ian to existing facilities at the Cape Coral Yacht Club, the City will be demolishing all existing structures and site features onsite ”

An additional Council vote will be required when it comes to the final bid and what the scope of work entails

Council discussion Wednesday centered primary around preserving parts of the Yacht Club, such as a beam or chandelier, not the building itself

The city is calling the process “deconstructive preservation,” and Hayden asked city staff what that meant exactly Director of Capital Improvements for the city, Paul Clinghan, said crews can preserve whatever council decides it wants preserved, that “might be put into new construction ”

Interim City Manager Mike Ilczyszyn said staff have discussed how to go about the process of preserving certain items, but nothing is yet set in stone

“The exact mechanism by which this is going to happen, at this point, we have not nailed that down,” he said, adding there could possibly be a committee formed by residents representing varying decades

He said whatever is designated for preservation would be passed along to the contractor hired

Ilczyszyn said Kimley Horn will put together a “demolition plan” and have varying bids coming in to perform the w o r k u p o n w h i c h C o u n c i l u l t i m a t e l y agrees

“There will be costs to a more surgical deconstruction,” Ilczyszyn said “And the more and more items that get added to that,

The vote approved Amendment #2 to the agreement between the city and Kimley Horn and Associates, Inc. to provide additional design phase services at the Yacht Club in the amount of $262,743 50 Part of the resolution includes the demolition of the Cape Coral Yacht Club

The resolution states, “Due to damage caused by Hurricane Ian to existing facilities at the Cape Coral Yacht Club, the City will be demolishing all existing structures and site features onsite ”

An additional Council vote will be required when it comes to the final bid and what the scope of work entails.

Council discussion Wednesday centered primary around preserving parts of the Yacht Club, such as a beam or chandelier, not the building itself, in an effort to preserve what can be preserved

the costs for all those man hours and specific cranes and equipment (are included)

“(Horn) will put together a list of what we would like to be saved, develop those specifications, and then ultimately, we’re going to bring that to Council "

“And then there will be another discussion as to, ‘Do you want to go forward with ’ It could be upwards of half-a-million dollars to do more surgical work And then we’ll have another discussion on, ‘Is the value there that we really want?’”

In the language of the resolution as of Wednesday night, scope of work assumes that all permitting, application, and similar project fees will be paid directly by the city It also assumes the demolition of the existing structures and site features will be a standalone bid package and will comply with FEMA reimbursement requirements

The demolition plan anticipates the fol-

lowing features will be marked for demolition, but not limited to: the Yacht Club

Ballroom and ancillary structures, Rotini Senior Center and ancillary structures, electrical equipment structure and site lighting, pool restrooms, splashpad pump room, Harbormaster building, lap pool and pool deck, children’s pool and equipment, decorative fountain at ballroom portecochere, handball and racquetball courts, tennis courts, beach restroom, fencing and access control features, hardscape, and landscape

Existing electrical and utility services will be identified for demolition other than those required for the Boathouse restaurant

According to the resolution, Horn will provide construct phase services during the demolition phase of the contract, and it is assumed that demolition will last two

months

Resident since 1960 and community leader Gloria Tate applied for historic designation for the Yacht Club, which she shared with Council last Wednesday, stating the Florida State Historic Preservation Office had begun reviewing her application

A response from Dr Kyra Lucas of the state’s Historic Preservation committee stated the Yacht Club met a number of qualifying categories to make it eligible for the National Registry of Historic Places

Ultimately, it will be up to City Council if the Yacht Club will be deemed an historic landmark

“Council was have to accept or deny the designation,” Tate said

Before the vote, Council is required to hold a public hearing within 60 days of the designation, which falls before the timeline for the demolition

Tate requested a hearing date from Council for a to-be-determined date, and asked Council to “consider the slowdown or complete halt of the demolition of the Cape Coral Yacht Club Ballroom and let the citizens take ownership of the parks and help (Council) maintain what obviously needs help ”

F o r m e r C a p e C o r a l M a y o r J o e Mazurkiewicz said the Yacht Club is the historic heartbeat of the city, calling it “our Independence Hall ”

“You can’t just send it down the road,” he said “And you don’t have to You can do what you want with the rest of that site, just rehab and bring up to code You can have it both ways; preserve the building, history, and recognize the commitment and people who made this city what it is today ”

Public to have opportunities to weigh in on proposed Corridor Vision Plan for Pine Island Road

T h e F l o r i d a D e p a r t m e n t o f Transportation will hold a public meeting for the SR 78 (Pine Island Road) Proposed Corridor Vision Plan in Lee County on Thursday, June 22, from 5 – 7 p m It will b e f o l l o w e d b y a v i r t u a l s e s s i o n o n

Thursday, June 29, from 6 – 7 p m

Based on input gathered during earlier phases of this project, FDOT has created a proposed Corridor Vision Plan for SR 78 (Pine Island Road) The proposed plan outlines goals and potential strategies to guide transportation and land use decisions by the City of Cape Coral, Lee County, and Lee County MPO over the next 50 years The purpose of this public meeting is to solicit feedback regarding the Proposed

Corridor Vision Plan Your input will help us determine if the current plan reflects community desires

Residents can participate in live online or in-person The same materials will be displayed at both the online and in-person events and will also be posted by June 15 o n t h e p r o j e c t w e b s i t e a t swflroads com/project/442083-1

In-Person Option: The in-person open house is scheduled for Thursday, June 22, at Cape Coral Technical College, 360 Santa Barbara Boulevard N, Cape Coral A t t e n d t h e i n - p e r s o n e v e n t a n y t i m e between 5 and 7 p m

Virtual Option: The virtual event is scheduled for Thursday, June 29, from

6 t o 7 p m R e g i s t e r t o a t t e n d a t https://bit ly/41giOhj The live event can also be accessed online through the project w e b s i t e a t w w w s w f l r o a d s c o m / p r oject/442083-1 Once registered, attendees will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting online Please review the meeting materials online through the project website prior to this event Website: View the materials online at s w f l r o a d s c o m / p r o j e c t / 4 4 2 0 8 3 - 1

Comments can be provided through the project website After reviewing the public meeting materials and/or participating, you may submit comments in three different ways: 1) on the project website; 2) by

CCPD to conducting High Visibility Enforcement, Impaired Driving Operation

The Cape Coral Police Department will be conducting

this week This is part of our continuing effort to increase traffic safety awareness through education and enforcement The mission of these operations is to help reduce Impaired driving traffic crashes, injuries, and deaths on our roadways in Cape Coral

This High Visibility Enforcement Impaired Driving Operation will be conducted by Patrol and Traffic officers; this operation will be citywide

The primary focus of this operation will be placed on

criminal violations in relation to driving under the influence (DUI) Officers will also be focusing on moving violations such as speeding, red-light, and stop sign violations, as well as aggressive driving Visible enforcement increases awareness, encourages motorists to obey traffic laws, and reduces crashes The Cape Coral Police Department encourages you to drive courteously and reminds you to obey the rules of the road

If you are impaired, please use a designated driver, rideshare app, or taxi to avoid the costly fines of a DUI arrest.

e received or postmarked by July 10, 2023, to be included in the project record A summ a r y o f t h e m e e t i n g c o m m e n t s a n d responses will be available on the website approximately 30 days after the comment period close

Cape Coral Public Works Transpor tation Division to hold open house

The City of Cape Coral Public Works Transportation Division will hold an open house Wednesday, June 28, from 4 - 6 p m to provide the public with information on a median improvement project slated to take place on Embers Parkway

The open house will be at the City of Cape Coral Public Works Building, 815 Nicholas Parkway East, and will provide the community with project information on the construction of new median curbing and changes to existing median openings along Embers Parkway West from Old Burnt Store Road to Burnt Store Road The implementation of these improvements are anticipated to take place in Winter 2023

EDUCATION NOTES

Janito named to Marquette University's spring 2023 Dean's List

MILWAUKEE Wis - Elizabeth

Janito of Cape Coral has been named to the Dean's List for the spring 2023 semester at Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin Janito is pursuing a doctorate in occupational therapy

To make the Dean's List, students must have earned at least 12 credits for the spring 2023 semester and have no disqualifying grades The GPA threshold varies by college - for the College of Education and the Klingler College of Arts and Sciences, undergraduate students must have at least a 3 7 to be named to the Dean's List

The undergraduate GPA requirement is 3 5 for the following colleges: the Diederich College of Communication, the College of Business Administration, the College of Health Sciences, the Opus College of Engineering and the College of Nursing All other programs have a 3 75 GPA minimum

Marquette University is a Catholic, Jesuit university that draws over 7,500 undergraduate and 3,500 graduate and professional students from nearly all states and more than 60 countries In addition to its nationally recognized academic programs, Marquette is known for its service learning programs and internships as students are challenged to use what they learn to make a difference in the world Find out more about Marquette at marquette edu

Zohler graduates from DeSales University

CENTER VALLEY, Pa -- On Saturday, May 20, Cape Coral resident Delanie R Zohler graduated from DeSales University with a bachelor of science in psychology during the university's 54th Commencement ceremony at the PPL Center in Allentown, Pa

Father James Greenfield, OSFS '84, Ed D , president, described the Class of 2023 as the COVID Class, having overcome countless obstacles throughout the pandemic to truly embody the spirit of being ready for anything

Greenfield conferred degrees upon 429 graduate and undergraduate students An additional 136 students, who have either already received their diplomas or who will be receiving them in the next several months, also were recognized

DeSales University, in Center Valley, PA, is a private, coeducational, fouryear liberal arts Salesian, Catholic university, under the leadership of the Oblates of Saint Francis de Sales

Founded in 1965, the 550-acre suburban campus is located 50 miles north of Philadelphia and about 90 miles southwest of New York City A total enrollment of nearly 3,500 includes undergraduate day and evening students, and graduate students DeSales has approximately 135 full-time faculty members

From left are, Trafalgar Middle School Principal Leigh Ann Cain; Alice Macomber, the Lawrence Kearney DAR regent; student honoree Makayla Miller; and Assistant Principals Dawn Beckman and Kerry Kuntz.

Lawrence Kearney Chapter of the DAR presents Youth Citizenship Awards

The Lawrence Kearney Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution recently presented Youth Citizenship Awards to students at four local schools

On Thursday evening, June 1, Alice Macomber, Lawrence Kearney Regent 2021-23, presented a certificate and pin to Pine Island Elementary student Stella Storupski, daughter of Jessie and Thomas Storupski at the fifth grade promotion ceremony at the school.

Gulf Middle School winner, 8th grade student Madison Weidenbenner, daughter of Jennifer Lee and Brett Weidenbenner, was recognized during the morning school newscast Thursday, June 1 Madison's grandmother is a member of the DAR and Madison is a member of the Billy Bowlegs Chapter of the Children of the American Revolution

Two middle school awards were presented Friday, May 12 Caloosa Middle School student Berenice Sanchez was described by faculty as a student leader when she received her award Makayla Mitchell, eighth grade student at Trafalgar Middle School, has a positive attitude, maturity and excels in whatever she

attempts, staff said She and her mother are volunteers at the Veterans' Honor Flights To be considered for a Youth Citizenship Award, a student must exem-

plify these qualities: honor, service, courage, leadership and patriotism

See DAR, page 29

Alice Macomber, above left, the Lawrence Kearney DAR regent, presents a Youth Citizenship Award to Gulf Middle School student Madison Widenbenner as Principal Wes Moreland, right, looks on. At

from

are Caloosa Middle School Assistant Principal Jenny Pierson; Alice Macomber, the Lawrence Kearney DAR regent; honoree Berenice Sanchez; and Principal Dr Ann Cole

PHOTOS PROVIDED

PHOTO PROVIDED

left,

left,

PHOTO PROVIDED

From left are Pine Island Elementary fifth grade teachers Mrs AmicoDodig and Mrs Kunkel; Principal Dr Thomas Millins; honoree Stella Storupski; and Alice Macomber, the Lawrence Kearney DAR regent

DAR: Citizenship awards presented

From page 28

For additional information about the Lawrence Kearny Chapter of the DAR, p l e a s e v i s i t t h e c h a p t e r w e b p a g e a t

https://fssdar com/LawrenceKearny/

The group meets the third Tuesday of each month, October through May, in Cape Coral

EDUCATION NOTES

From page 28

and offers more than 40 bachelor's degrees, twelve graduate programs, and over 20 certificate programs in a wide range of disciplines; many of these can be completed fully online

For further information, please visit our website, www desales edu

Grant awarded degree from The University of Alabama

TUSCALOOSA, Alabama -- Madison

Grant of Cape Coral has received the following degree from The University of Alabama: master of fine arts. UA awarded over 5,885 degrees during its spring commencement ceremonies

The University of Alabama, part of The University of Alabama System, is the state's flagship university UA provides an inclusive, forward-thinking environment and nearly 200 degree programs A leader in cutting-edge research, UA advances discovery, creative inquiry and knowledge through more than 30 research centers

For more about the university, visit https://www.ua.edu/

Pencek named to Shenandoah University

Athletic Director's List

WINCHESTER, Va -- Dylan Pencek of Cape Coral earned a spot on the Athletic Director's List at Shenandoah University for the Spring 2023 semester To qualify for this honor, student-athletes must have a semester GPA of 3 0 or higher

S U h a d 3 4 9 s t u d e n t - a t h l e t e s e a r n

Athletic Director's List honors for the Spring 2023 semester Within that group, 243 made the university's Dean's List (3 50 GPA or higher) and 111 were named to the President's List (3 90 GPA or higher) All 22 sports at SU were represented on the Athletic Director's and Dean's lists, and 21 sports put at least one student-athlete on the President's List

Shenandoah University was established i n 1 8 7 5 , a n d i s h e a d q u a r t e r e d i n Winchester, Virginia, with additional educ a t i o n a l s i t e s i n C l a r k e , F a i r f a x a n d Loudoun counties Shenandoah is a private, n a t i o n a l l y r e c o g n i z e d u n i v e r s i t y t h a t blends professional career experiences with wide-ranging education with approximate-

ly 4,000 students in more than 200 areas of study in six different schools For more information, visit su edu

Fileccia attending New York Institute of Technology

OLD WESTBURY, N Y -- New York

I n s t i t u t e o f T e c h n o l o g y w e l c o m e s i t s newest students for the fall 2023 semester, including Anthony Fileccia from Cape Coral Fileccia plans to major in chemistry

New York Institute of Technology's six schools and colleges offer undergraduate, graduate, doctoral and other professional degree programs in in-demand disciplines including computer science, data science and cybersecurity; biology, health profess i o n s a n d m e d i c i n e ; a r c h i t e c t u r e a n d design; engineering; IT and digital technologies; management; and energy and sustainability A nonprofit, independent, private and nonsectarian institute of higher education founded in 1955, it welcomes nearly 8,000 students worldwide The university has campuses in New York City and L o n g I s l a n d , N e w Y o r k ; J o n e s b o r o ,

A r k a n s a s ; a n d V a n c o u v e r , B r i t i s h Columbia, as well as programs around the world For more information, visit nyit edu

Scott

inducted as chair of FGCU Foundation Board

Samantha Scott, APR, President and Owner of Pushing the Envelope, Inc., a local strategic marketing communication firm in Fort Myers, was inducted as Chair o f t h e F l o r i d a G u l f C o a s t U n i v e r s i t y Foundation Board

S c o t t h a s s e r v e d o n t h e F G C U Foundation Board since 2016 and is the first FGCU alumni and second female to serve as the chair Scott will serve a twoyear term and will work closely with other b o a r d m e m b e r s t o a c h i e v e e s t a b l i s h e d goals

The FGCU Foundation is responsible f o r p u r s u i n g p r i v a t e s u p p o r t f o r t h e University and for the management of received funds This board acts as an oversight and ensures policies and procedures are being followed in the Foundation

For more information about FGCU’s F o u n d a t i o n , v i s i t h t t p s : / / f g c u f o u n d ation org/ To learn more about Samantha Scott and Pushing the Envelope, Inc , visit getpushing com

Local resident receives Guy Harvey Foundation Scholarship

With a focused mission to better understand and conserve the ocean environment, the Guy Harvey Foundation collaborates w i t h l o c a l , n a t i o n a l a n d i n t e r n a t i o n a l organizations to conduct scientific research a n d p r o v i d e s f u n d i n g t o a f f i l i a t e d researchers who share this objective As part of that mission, the non-profit organization annually recognizes undergraduate and graduate students at Florida colleges and universities whose research focuses on the biology, ecology, habitat or management of sustainable marine fisheries in F l o r i d a ’ s m a r i n e e n v i r o n m e n t w i t h a

$5,000 Guy Harvey Scholarship Award

Nicholas Castillo from Fort Myers is one of the eight individuals who received this scholarship and will also receive a certificate designed and signed by worldrenowned marine wildlife artist, conserva-

tionist and GHF Founder/Chair Emeritus, Dr Guy Harvey

“It is vitally important that we fund research and also support the efforts of the next generation of marine researchers, scientists and conservationists,” said Harvey “With these scholarships, we can continue to inspire and attract more bright young minds as they pursue research opportunities that will ensure a properly balanced ocean ecosystem for years to come ”

Castillo is an environmental science, fish ecology and ecotoxicology Ph D candidate at Florida International University His research focuses on studying the presence, exposure and potential risks of pharmaceutical contaminants in coastal marine ecosystems and bonefish fisheries in South Florida and the Caribbean Basin

The Guy Harvey Scholarship Award

was established in 2010 through a partnership between Florida Sea Grant and the Guy Harvey Foundation. Since then, 74 students from 11 different Florida colleges and universities have received more than $359,000 in scholarships

Applications for the 2023 Guy Harvey Scholarship Award will open later this summer Stay up to date on application

r e q u i r e m e n t s a n d d e a d l i n e s a t https://www flseagrant org/student-opportunities/, or contact Florida Sea Grant Student Programs Coordinator Cassandra Sexon at students@flseagrant org

About Guy Harvey

Guy Harvey is a unique blend of artist, scientist, diver, angler, conservationist and explorer, devoted to his family and his love of the sea His childhood passion for the

ocean and its living creatures not only inspired him to draw, but fueled a burning interest that prompted a formal education in marine science Having graduated with honors in Marine Biology from Aberdeen

returned home to Jamaica to resume his education, earning his Ph D from the University of the West Indies in 1984

Though he gave up a budding career as a

i

e b i o l o g i s t f o r t h a t o f a h i g h l y acclaimed artist, he has continued his pursuit to unravel the mysteries of the sea, traveling the world to better understand the habits and habitats of the marine wildlife he paints For more information, please visit www guyharvey com

F o r m o r e a b o u t t h e G u y H a r v e y Foundation, please visit www GuyHarvey Foundation org

Lee Health Foundation awards three Barbara’s Friends Scholarships

Lee Health Foundation has awarded Barbara’s Friends Scholarships to three local high school students, all childhood cancer survivors The scholarships are administered through the Collaboratory and made possible through donations to Barbara’s Friends, Golisano Children’s Hospital Cancer Fund This is the third year Lexington Country Club, a long-time supporter of Barbara’s Friends, is donating one of the scholarships

Receiving this year’s Barbara’s Friends S c h o l a r s h i p s a r e A k i s h a F l e u r i d o r , M a d e l y n e G u e r r o - B r a v o a n d R e b e k a

Kilpatrick

Fleuridor graduated from Dunbar High

School in Fort Myers in 2023 and plans to attend the University of South Florida to study exercise science

Guerro-Bravo graduated from South Fort Myers High School in 2023 and plans to attend the University of South Florida to study nursing

Kilpatrick was homeschooled, graduating from Homelife Academy, and is currently attending Florida SouthWestern State College with plans to become a science teacher.

Fleuridor, 17, an avid runner, was diagnosed with Stage 3 Hodgkins Lymphoma in 2020, and began treatments during the height of COVID-19 lockdowns After

five months of isolating treatments, she was declared cancer free

Guerro-Bravo, 17, was diagnosed with cancer when she was 9 and two years later was declared cancer free She is the first person in her family to go to college

Kilpatrick, 18, was diagnosed in 2006 with Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia, a type of cancer of the blood and bone marrow She was declared cancer free in 2009

Fundraising is already underway for the 2023-24 school year. To support the s c

BarbarasFriends org and note “scholarship” in the description

Established in 1995, Barbara’s Friends

provides equipment, staffing and services to support lifesaving cancer care for children from across Southwest Florida at G o l i s a n o C h i l d r e n ’ s H o s p i t a l T h e Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Program

i s t h e o n l y p r o g r a m o f i t s k i n d i n Southwest Florida and has served more than 10,000 patients since opening No child is denied treatment or turned away due to their family’s inability to pay for care F o r m

r

t i o n a b o u t t h e Barbara’s Friends fund and supporting child patients in your community, please call Lee Health Foundation at 239-3436950 or visit BarbarasFriends org

Captivaville SingersSongwriters Weekend starts today

The 'Tween Waters Island Resort & Spa on Captiva will host the fifth annual Captivaville SingerSongwriters Weekend today, Saturday and Sunday, June 16-18, featuring sun, fun, good times and great live tunes

This year's lineup is the largest and most diverse set of talented musicians yet

“We've really worked to provide our island residents and guests a new taste of all that makes our islands and island music terrific,” Director of Resort Operations Michele Berger said “Country, classic rock, reggae, blues, breezy island style and more, our guests will be in for three days of outstanding entertainment ”

The following artists are scheduled to perform:

∫ Jarrod Adkins: This singer-songwriter from Southwest Florida features storytelling lyrics and a folksy-bluesy vibe

∫ Sheena Brook: Local fave and long-time Captivaville star, Brook's countryrock sounds and powerful voice have created a national following

∫ Chris Casdia: From reggae to blues to classic rock, Casdia is a 20-year headliner across Southwest Florida

∫ Jesse Hughes: As a kid, Hughes sang to his father's Christian radio music and then he discovered the guitar at 16 and has not looked back

∫ John McLane: McLane is a versatile concert keyboardist who has played with many Southwest Florida bands and brings energy to every note

∫ Danny Morgan: If Sanibel and Captiva have a Jimmy Buffet, Morgan is it and his island styles will have you singing along

∫ Peter Redpath: Beach, Motown, rock, country and sunset sounds all define Redpath's acoustic guitar stylings

The live music will take place poolside and at The Shipyard restaurant

Day passes for the general public may be available based on occupancy Those interested can contact the resort at 239-472-5161 #7 to inquire

For more information, visit www Tween-Waters com/Captivaville

The 'Tween Waters Island Resort & Spa on Captiva is at 15951 Captiva Drive, Captiva

T HE BREE ZE

JUNE 16, 2023

BUSINESS 2023 Industry Appreciation Awards nominations open

Nominations are now being accepted f o r t h e 2 0 2 3 I n d u s t r y A p p r e c i a t i o n Awards, which celebrate Lee County busin e s s e s t h a t d r i v e t h e l o c a l e c o n o m y , employ our workforce and shape their industries

The 30th annual awards program is coordinated by the Horizon Foundation, Horizon Council and Lee County Economic Development Office Nominations will be accepted online through June 30 There is no cost to nominate a business, and self-nominations are allowed

Winners will be announced at the 2023 Industry Appreciation Awards on Friday, Oct 27 at the Caloosa Sound Convention Center in Fort Myers

The six award categories include:

∫ D i v e r s i t y i n B u s i n e s s A w a r d :

Recognizes a local business that demonstrates a strong vision and leadership in overcoming social and diversity obstacles, leading to an improved business environment and results

∫ I n n o v a t i v e T e c h n o l o g y A w a r d :

Recognizes a local company that is committed to growth and innovation through new products and/or services, showcasing forward-thinking technology that broadens the economic landscape in Lee County

∫ Manufacturer of the Year Award: Recognizes a Lee County manufacturing business that exhibits excellence in leadership, performance, profitability and workforce relations

∫

between a business and a nonprofit organization on an initiative or project that has made a significant positive impact in Lee County

∫ Small Business of the Year Award: Recognizes a Lee County company that has up to 50 employees and has been in business at least six years under the same corporate name and ownership The company must offer high-quality products and services, provide superior customer service, demonstrate strong ethical standards, be community-minded, actively support employee development and exhibit exemplary leadership within its industry and with its clients, contributing to the economic growth and free enterprise of Lee

County

∫ Large Business of the Year Award: Recognizes a Lee County company with 51 or more employees that has been in business at least six years under the same corporate name and ownership The companies must offer high-quality products and services, provide superior customer service, demonstrate strong ethical standards, be community-minded, actively support employee development and exhibit exemplary leadership within its industry and with its clients, contributing to the economic growth and free enterprise of Lee County

For more information or to nominate a business, please visit IndustryAppreciation Awards com

City to host restaurant industry roundtable June 30

The city of Cape Coral will host a Business and Industry Roundtable for the restaurant industry Friday, June 30, at City Hall

The session begins at 8 a m , and registration is required to participate

The newly launched Business Round-

table Series will provide an opportunity for open and honest conversations about how the city can help small business owners

The Business and Industry Roundtable Series aims to meet the following objectives:

■ Allow industry leaders to connect and

discuss challenges specific to Cape Coral

■ Provide a forum for the economic outlook and opportunities for industries

■ Determine future initiatives and programs needed to retain businesses and industries to strengthen the local economy

The next roundtable is scheduled for

July 21 and targets leaders in the construction and building trades industry For more information or to register for a roundtable session, please contact kramos@capecoral gov

BUSINESS BRIEFS

Leadership NEXT to hold Leadership Grads Reunion at Topgolf Tuesday

The Greater Fort Myers Chamber’s Leadership NEXT committee will host a Leadership Grads Reunion from 5-7 p m , Tuesday, June 20, at Topgolf in Fort Myers

Way’s mission and how to get involved, including summer volunteer opportunities

Topgolf is located at 2021 Topgolf Way in Fort Myers Registration is $10 for current members and $20 for future members at FortMyers org

Waste Pro officials join award winners helper Renel Merone and residential drivers Jesus Santoyo and Juan Lopez Unavailable for the photo were front end load driver Josny Gaspard and roll off driver Ben Frias Sr.

Waste Pro Fort Myers drivers and helpers earn $45,000 in Safety Awards

Waste Pro’s Fort Myers Division is celebrating five employees who recently earned the company’s coveted $10,000 D r i v e r a n d $ 5 , 0 0 0 H e l p e r S a f e t y Awards A total of $45,000 was awarded at a breakfast event in their honor

The employees winning the awards were Renel Merone, Jesus Santoyo, Juan Lopez, Josny Gaspard and Ben Frias Sr

“These hardworking Waste Pros take immense pride in what they do,” said Divisional Vice President Bill Jones “It makes me so proud to see them earn these awards – it goes to show the great things that can happen when people practice safety every day ”

To earn the coveted Safety Award, an employee must go three years without an at-fault accident, injury or property dam-

age Eligible drivers receive $10,000, and a similar award of $5,000 is offered to eligible helpers

About Waste Pro USA

Waste Pro USA Inc is one of the c o u n t r y ’ s f a s t e s t - g r o w i n g p r i v a t e l yowned waste collection, recycling, processing and disposal companies, operating in ten southeastern states. Waste Pro, with revenues projected to exceed $1 1 billion in 2023, serves more than 2 million residential and 100,000 commercial customers from over 90 operating locations Waste Pro is headquartered in L o n g w o o d , F l o r i d a , a n d m a i n t a i n s approximately 300 exclusive municipal contracts and franchises For more, please visit https://www wasteprousa com/

Graduates of the Greater Fort Myers Chamber’s prestigious Leadership Fort M y e r s p r o g r a m c a n p a r t i c i p a t e i n a n evening of networking, golf and reconnecting with other graduates This event also offers an opportunity for business professionals and those who are not yet part of a leadership program to network and learn more about participating in future leadership classes All attendees will have opportunities to exchange ideas and collaborate with professionals who have excelled in their respective fields

The Chamber’s Leadership Fort Myers program aims to promote leadership development in its business members by encouraging their community involvement, broadening their knowledge and heightening their leadership skills The annual program includes 11 weeks of structured, interactive programs and activities emphasizing local economic, education, government and volunteerism issues More than 625 local professionals have graduated from Leadership Fort Myers over the program’s 25-year history

The evening is sponsored by Caloosa Tent & Rental Leadership NEXT’s annual s p o n s o r i s t h e F l o r i d a G u l f C o a s t University Alumni Association

The nonprofit spotlight for this event is the United Way of Lee, Hendry, and Glades, a volunteer-driven organization dedicated to improving the quality of life for all people in the community Donor Engagement Specialist Tish Sargent and V o l u n t e e r C e n t e r M a n a g e r C h r i s t i n e LoConte will share insights into United

For details on how to get involved in the C h a m b e r ’ s f a l l 2 0 2 3 L e a d e r s h i p F o r t Myers session, visit FortMyers org/GetInvolved/Leadership-Program

Henderson Franklin welcomes five inter ns for the 2023 Summer Associate Program

Henderson, Franklin, Starnes & Holt, P.A., has welcomed the five law students who were selected to join this year’s “Summer Associate” internship program

The 2023 Summer Associates are Nathan Cochran and Kelly Tackett from University of Florida Levin College of Law; Nicholas Corso and Aaron Ostler from University of Miami School of Law; and Haylee Mixon from Stetson University College of Law

I n H e n d e r s o n F r a n k l i n ' s S u m m e r Associate program, these students will have the opportunity to observe hearings, trials, depositions, mediations, arbitrations and client meetings. They will also engage in research, assist in drafting documents, preparing discovery materials and analyzing different legal matters

Additionally, to support their transition from law students to practicing lawyers, each Summer Associate is assigned a ment o r w h o i s a n a t t o r n e y a t H e n d e r s o n Franklin

■ Cochran grew up in Alva, Fla , and had the unique experience of shadowing 20th Judicial Circuit Court Judge G Keith Cary He earned his bachelor of arts in b u s i n e s s m a n a g e m e n t a n d e c o n o m i c s ,

summa cum laude, from Rollins College He plays softball for UF Law, and he’s a

See BUSINESS BRIEFS, page 33

PHOTO PROVIDED

Sun Splash Family Waterpark to celebrate Father’s Day

Additional June specials also scheduled

Sun Splash Family Waterpark offers non-stop fun all summer long in addition to special events taking place throughout the season This June, the park will celebrate dads for Father’s Day Weekend; have an exclusive morning for special needs families on Champion’s Day; and participate in the World’s Largest Swim Lesson

Sun Splash is celebrating all weekend, June 17 - 18, with a free ticket for all dads There will be special dad-themed Ohana games and prizes plus special prices on adult refreshments in our weekend-long Man-Cave!

On June 20, the park will partner with Special Olympics for Champion’s Day and host an exclusive morning designed for families and individuals with special needs Champions and their families will have

From page 32

member of both Christian Legal Society and The Federalist Society

■ Corso is rooted in Naples, Fla , and h a s w o r k e d a n

cities He

t University of North Florida While there, he acted as director of the Leadership Council for STEM Living and Learning

h e U n i v e r s i t y o f M i a m i Business Law Review and is a recipient of a Dean’s Merit Scholarship

■ Mixon, a Fort Myers native and grad-

exclusive access to the park from 9–10 a m Season pass holders can gain access at 10 a m The park will open to the general public from 10:30 a m to 6 p m

Champions’ tickets family companion ticke

$10 each for up to 4 Champions and the families can stay all day at no additional cost or leave at any time they choose To be sensitive to som Champions’ needs, t park turns down the m and adds more staff to assist families for this time period

Champion’s Day tickets and companion tickets can be purchased at the ticket booth

On June 22, Sun Splash will be participating in the World’s Largest Swim Lesson and will be teaching basic water safety skills to help keep everyone safe The first 100 guests to register will receive one free SunSplash ticket and all participants will receive a coupon for a free slushie or sson will start at 9 a m ation is required at ps://bit ly/WLSL2023

SingUp The WLSL event takes place throughout the world on this day with the message “Swimming essons Save Lives ” eguards will be teaching basic water safety skills to participants

“This is the longest season for the park! Sun Splash will be open through Nov. 26,” stated Eric Reed, Sun Splash Family Waterpark general manager “We are excit-

BUSINESS BRIEFS

uate of Fort Myers High School, achieved a c a d e m i c e x c e l l e n c e a t F l o r i d a S t a t e University, obtaining a bachelor of science in economics and in finance, both with cum laude honors Currently, she is enrolled in the joint JD/MBA program at Stetson

■ Ostler graduated from Barron Collier High School in Naples and completed his bachelor of science in biochemistry, cum laude, at Florida State University. He is a member of the University of Miami’s Business Law Review In Ostler’s undergraduate career, he served as a research assistant and also holds a project leadership position focused on the future of privacy law and artificial intelligence This will be

O s t l e r ’ s s e c o n d s u m m e r i n t e r n s h i p a t Henderson Franklin

■ Tackett has a family home in Cape Coral, where she grew up With valuable prior experience interning at both the Office of the Public Defender and a prominent divorce firm in Fort Myers, she has gained practical insights into the legal field Tackett received her bachelor of arts in sociology, cum laude, from University of Florida, where she was also member of Law Honor Society She’s now an active contributor to the Journal of Law and P u b l i c P o l i c y a n d h e r S t u d e n t B a r Association and is a member of the John Marshall Bar Association

ed to offer events each month to bring families together as well as help out our community ”

Sun Splash is currently open daily for summer through Labor Day and then goes to Thursday - Sunday hours of operation For more information about daily hours, season passes, admission rates, birthday parties and upcoming events, visit www SunSplashWaterpark com

About Sun Splash

Sun Splash Family Waterpark is Southwest Florida’s largest waterpark with slides, pools, flumes, food and fun for all ages It is located at 400 W Lake Kennedy Drive, just 2 5 miles north of Veterans Parkway, in Cape Coral For additional information, please visit https://SunSplash Waterpark.com. Also, follow Sun Splash online on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Tik Tok

H e n d e r s o n F r a n k l i n i s o n e o f t h e largest, locally-based law firms between Tampa and Miami with over 55 attorneys dedicated to providing a wide range of legal services in the areas of business and tax planning, estate planning, family law, b u s i n e s s a n d c i v i l l i t i g a t i o n , e m i n e n t domain, intellectual property, workers' c o m p e n s a t i o n , e m p l o y m e n t l a w , r e a l estate, and land use and environmental law Henderson Franklin operates offices in Fort Myers, Bonita Springs, Naples and S a r a s o t a ( b y a p p o i n t m e n t ) F o r m o r e i n f o r m a t i o n o n t h e S u m m e r A s s o c i a t e Program or Henderson Franklin, please visit www henlaw com

Challenge of dealing with tarpon tunnel vision

After being on the water chasing fins and scales for over half a century, in my mind there’s little question that tarpon can be one of the most frustrating fish to target, especially juvenile tarpon A few days ago in Boca Grande, big tarpon where as thick as fleas breaking the surface in all directions and ignoring our floating, freelined, pass crabs snacks Seems romance, not eating, was on their minds

J u s t b e f o r e s u n - u p t h i s p a s t W e d n e s d a y w e m a d e cast after cast to rolling canal juveniles, changing lures, colors, even dropping down to 10-pound test leaders, changing retrieve speeds and techniques -- nothing, they just ignored us for 30 minutes doing whatever the heck tarpon do, stopped rolling, then simply vanished

T a r p o n t u n n e l v i s i o n where keying on one food s o u r c e i g n o r i n g a l l o t h e r offerings or just simply refusing to eat is nothing new to tarpon anglers and is simply part of the deal with the only solution being paying your dues by putting in time and keep changing up baits and presentations till the magic happens Returning to Boca the following morning, we still couldn’t get a surface bite so we finally put the crabs down into deep water and hooked multiple fish

Don’t overlook Redfish and Captiva passes for your tarpon hunt if you want to get away from the Boca crowd or, try your luck intercepting tarpon moving along the beaches between them As of right now and after lots of first hand reports, concentrating on the passes is your best bet, especially the big one -- Boca Grande

Point is, if you’ve had tarpon on your bucket list for years now, it’s time to make it happen Ask a seasoned friend or hire a guide, just don’t miss out making lifetime memories challenging a Southwest Florida Silver King

If you are a visiting angler on your first tarpon hunt, you’ve obviously come to the right place but make sure you’re physically up to the task of a long and determined fight in near Amazonian style heat and humidity with a prehistoric sea creature weighing as much as you and that is strong enough to pull a boat or maybe pull you out of one If you have pre-existing health issues or in poor condition, you could get yourself in trouble

Another personal passion -- shallow water sharking- is also in full swing this time of year When you have lots of tarpon, you’ll have sharks To me making lure or fly casts to big sharks right off the back of the boat then watching them rip drag at warp speed, torpedoing across the flats is a sight I never tire of

As with tarpon, make sure you equip your boat with all the necessary tools to quickly and safely release a shark of any size Unless you are very experienced handling these very powerful, seemingly made from rubber creatures equipped with a razor mouth, fight the urge to bring one in the boat as very bad things can happen with sharks in the blink of an eye

A warning worth repeating: Holding that cute little

See TARPON, page 39

LARC’s ‘Aiming for Ability’ Clay Shooting Tournament raises $25,000

King top overall shooter, Barraco best female shooter

Lee Association for Remarkable Citizens’ fifth annual “Aiming for Ability” Clay Shooting Tournament Friday, May 5, raised $25,000 for the organization that helps individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities achieve The event was held at Sarasota Trap Skeet & Clays in Nokomis Participants were able to bid for great items in chance drawings and an auction.

“A record number of shooters of all skill levels came out for a fun morning supporting LARC The proceeds LARC receives from events like this are essential to our fundraising efforts and help to raise the critical funds needed for the programs and services that help individuals with disabilities achieve,” said Angela Katz, LARC’s executive director

Awards were presented to the best individual shooters and the first, second and third-place teams LARC woodshop and engraving enterprise participants made the awards

The top female shooter was Elaine Barraco. The overall top shooter was Kenny King The first-place team was

Claylateral Damage The second-place team was Auto Express South, and the third-place team was Honc Marine Contracting

The event was sponsored by Grampy’s Charities, All Star Equipment Rentals and Sales Inc , Sunset Air, Crews Environmental, Honc Marine Contracting, Ernie Garcia Group at Morgan Stanley, and HWGA Supply.

Established in 1954, LARC is a training center for success for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities LARC serves more than 300 individuals annually, and participants range from 14 to 80

LARC offers vocational training, community residential services, and a vast array of other state-of-the-art community inclusion services on a full-time, year-round basis LARC’s main campus is located at 2570 Hanson Street, Fort Myers LARC also operates two Residential Group Homes located

For more about LARC, please visit www larcleecounty.org or contact Angela Katz, Executive Director, at 239334-6285 x210 or angelakatz@larcleecounty org

Tommy Bohanon Foundation hosting annual youth football camp June 24

More than 250 campers are expected to attend the Tommy Bohanon Foundation’s annual youth football camp Saturday, June 24, from 9 a,n, to 1 p m The oneday event benefits young athletes in Southwest Florida elementary and middle schools The camp also encourages youth to expand their love and knowledge for football with professional and experienced coaches

The camp will be held at North Fort Myers High School, 5000 Orange Grove Blvd., North Fort Myers

In addition to performing NFL-style drills, the studentathletes will be taught the value of hard work and building confidence in themselves, while getting more football experience in a fun environment The camp, like everything at the foundation, is done with the hope and intention of making a positive impact on the student-athletes’ future and the community

For more about the foundation, visit https://tommybohanonfoundation.org/ or call 239-671-0441.

Capt George Tunison

PHOTO PROVIDED

Placing first in the “Aiming for Ability” Clay Shooting Tournament was the Claylateral Damage team

Gulf Coast Writers Association to hold writing workshop this Saturday at World of Life Church in Fort Myers

Some books take painfully long years to write some as long as 20 years Allie Pleiter wants to help the Gulf Coast Writers Association cut through all that

Already a writer of over 60 books with over 1 5 million copies sold worldwide, she’ll be explaining how to overcome writer’s block and other obstacles to creating novels, poems, screenplays and yes even corporate speeches at this month’s get-together of the Gulf Coast Writers Association, Southwest Florida’s 28-year-old meeting ground for writers, editors and their associates

The meeting will be held at the Word of Life Church, 6111 South Pointe Blvd , Fort Myers, Saturday, June 17, from 10 a m to noon Pleiter’s hour-long workshop at the meeting will be remotely via Zoom General admission is free for first-time visitors; $5 for subsequent visits, payable via PayPal; and free for members

Pleiter asks, “Do you feel like you can never find the time to write? Have you been chipping away at the same

manuscript forever without much progress? Do you need a system that can get you to typing ‘The End’ with success and satisfaction? Wrangling a fickle muse to meet a deadline or just to get rid of that looming blank page is a life-skill for everyone who wants to get serious about their writing.”

Pleiter’s solution is The Chunky Method, a productivity and time-management system for both aspiring and working writers, enabling them to set goals and deadlines that reflect their personal writing style and speed--and smart ways to write faster when needed “With The Chunky Method, you will finish that book--and within your deadline,” she says

“All of us Gulf Coast writers have been hard hit by life lately,” said Mary Charles, GCWA vice president "Some are still recovering our homes and our lives in the aftermath of Hurricane Ian last September Allie Pleiter’s Chunky Method can help us get past the big storm hurdle

More garden myths: Tall tales or known facts?

nuisance creatures), but studies have shown that this is not an effective treatment; moles may leave the immediate area, but they can efficiently and quickly dig new tunnels within feet of the “treated” area! Some desperate gardeners have even resorted to depositing fruit-flavored gum into moles’ tunnels, but studies have again proven that this is an ineffective practice.

UF/IFAS points out that you should remember that most mole damage is cosmetic, and that moles can actually be beneficial in eating insect pests such as beetle larvae, cutworms and mole crickets If you want to learn more about deterring and trapping moles, you can Google “moles” at UF/IFAS for more details

I hope you may have recognized garden myths that

Tarpon:

From page 38

36-inch shark up by the tail for a vacation picture is a really great way to get rib stitches

G l o v e s , l o n g - h a n d l e d extractors and wire cutters, in-line circle hooks, great caution and common sense all work in your favor

BTW, when’s the last t i m e y o u c h e c k e d y o u r e m e r g e n c y m e d i c a l k i t ?

This may be the most overl o o k e d ( o r m i s s i n g c o mpletely) item on your boat and sometime in the future, suddenly may be the most important Take a few minu t e s t h i s w e e k t o c h e c k everything out and restock any questionable items

From 15 to 20 miles out, it’s a bottom fish jamboree with various snapp e r s , g r u n t s , s h e e p s h e a d , S p a n i s h m a c s a n d s t i l l some permit Fill up the tanks for red snapper opening today in much deeper water 150 out to 200 feet Red grouper still reported to be slow

Capt George Tunison is a Cape Coral resident fishing guide You an contact him at 239-282-9434 or v i a e m a i l a t c a p t g e o rget3@aol com

you’ve heard or maybe even followed, and that you’re now convinced these practices have no basis in scientific fact! We are fortunate to have scientists at UF/IFAS who have dedicated significant resources to testing these myths and documenting proven, effective solutions to gardening problems Extensive gardening information is available on the UF/IFAS website or through your local extension office Please consider consulting these experts the next time you hear about a gardening solution that sounds too good to be true – chances are that it won’t work, and you could even cause more damage to your garden!

C a t h y D u n n

that may have stood in the way of our writing ”

Founded in 1995, the Gulf Coast Writers Association, Inc provides a forum for fellowship, education and information for writers, editors and associates Based in Fort Myers, the organization attracts members from throughout Southwest Florida.

At monthly meetings, speakers and workshops offer expert advice on such topics as writing techniques, publishing, and marketing

Participants at GCWA meetings also have the opportunity to read their works The literary genres run the gamut from poetry, adult fiction and nonfiction to children’s and young adult, historical fiction, romance, mystery/thriller, memoir, essay and screenplay Members include full-time writers as well as corporate professionals, teachers, and business owners, working or retired GCWA’s website is https://gulfwriters org/

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