Cape Coral Weekend Breeze

Residency investigation report on Council agenda

By MEGHAN BRADBURY news@breezenewspapers com

An investigative report that found that Councilmember Patty Cummings did not reside in her district when she ran for her seat is on the agenda of a special Cape Coral City Council meeting called for Monday

Councilmember Jessica Cosden asked that the matter be brought forward, saying she wanted to add the report to the agenda because it’s the next step in the fact-finding

“I didn’t want to wait until after hiatus to talk about this. This is the last chance to discuss it before we come back.”

Councilmember Jessica Cosden

Vicki L Sproat of Boy Agnew Potanovic

Miller, who was retained by the city on M a r c h 2 4 t o c o n d u c t a n i n d e p e n d e n t inquiry as to whether Cummings was a resident in District 4 at the time she filed paperwork to run

To d ay ’ s A d I n s e r t s*

process

“I didn’t want to wait until after hiatus to talk about this This is the last chance to

discuss it before we come back,” Cosden said The report was prepared by attorney

Slipaway Food Truck Park & Marina slated to open to public by end of 2024

CJ HADDAD cjhaddad@breezenewspapers com

o c a l d i g n it a r i e s g a t h e r e d a t t h e s i t e T h u r s d a y , s h o v e l s i n h a n d , t o s i g n i f y t h e p a r k ’ s i m p e n d i n g c o ns t r u c t i o n a n d c a t c h a g l i m p s e a t w h a t t h e

e n u e w i l l p r o v i d e t o r e si d e n t f o o d i e s

“It’s really exciting,” said project partner and President of Aubuchon Homes Gary Aubuchon

“This project has been three years in the making And to get to the point where we’re breaking ground is really exciting just not for the partnership group, but for the community that will be able to enjoy this wonderful place ”

See SLIPAWAY, page 26

Using what she called a “preponderance of evidence standard,” Sproat found that “Cummings was not a full-time or parttime resident” of the home she listed on

See RESIDENCY, page 7

Property fraud pilot program to launch in Lee

By MEGHAN BRADBURY news@breezenewspapers com

A program designed to protect against property theft will be launched here in Lee County

The “Title Fraud Prevention Through Identity Verification Pilot Program,” is an effort initiated by Lee County Clerk Kevin Karnes and state lawmakers, to help combat property fraud

Karnes said the idea was born shortly before his first year as the Lee County Clerk of Courts when he realized how easy it was for criminals to steal properties Existing law prevented clerks from taking proactive measures, so his top priority became getting the law changed to make sure an individual’s most valuable asset was not being stolen from underneath them

Kevin Karnes

“It wasn’t law enforcement’s fault They did not have information Criminals personate homeowners The criminal got what they needed and got the money and went on to the next victim,” Karnes said HB 1419, sponsored by Rep Will Robinson and Sen Jennifer Bradley, makes it more difficult to file fraudulent deeds in Lee County The pilot program, which passed unanimously with both Florida legislative chambers, goes into effect July 1

See FRAUD, page 24

Elected superintendent will change school board dynamic

By MEGHAN BRADBURY news@breezenewspapers com

The School Board of Lee County was advised this week of what little control it will have over an elected superintendent

Florida School Boards Association Chief Executive Officer Andrea Messina said in her 23 years now being associated with school districts statewide, this is the first time a district has switched from an appointed to an elected superintendent, which led to an examining some changes to provide the support the district needs for the transition

Lee County voters approved the change via a referendum in November of 2022

The measure, which was placed on the ballot by the State Legislature and was opposed by the board, passed with 62 15 percent of the voters in favor, making the superintendent’s post another elected constitutional office as of the 2024 General Election

The existing system of having the superintendent appointed by the School Board had been approved by Lee voters in 1974

The elected superintendent will serve a four-year

Among the of 13,568 school districts in the country, two states have elected superintendents with 37 school districts in Alabama and 38 in Florida electing their top administrator That equates to 99 923 percent of superintendents being appointed and 077 percent elected

term

Among the of 13,568 school districts in the country, two states have elected superintendents with 37 school districts in Alabama and 38 in Florida electing their top administrator That equates to 99 923 percent of superintendents being appointed and 077 percent elected, Messina said

As a result of the voter mandate, the qualifications will change for an elected superintendent. The only qualifications will be that they must live in the district and be a registered voter in the county

“We have seen in some counties it can be anything from a doctorate degree to someone who has a GED Anyone can get elected to that position,” Messina said

As with other constitutional officers, only the governor can remove or terminate them from office for malfeasance

“They cannot be dismissed by the board for failure to carry out duties or violation of board policy,” Messina said “We have seen some elected superintendents resign for any number of reasons When that happens the governor has the right to fill that position until the next election ”

Under previous governors they have also seen boards appoint someone as an interim until the governor assigns a superintendent if one is not appointed in a timely manner

“That is where we see the most contention in elected superintendent districts,” she said “When a superintendent is not carrying out board policy, or violating board policy, the board has no way to force a superintendent to comply with policy other than court We have seen lawsuits Board members against superintendents, superintendents against boards. We have seen some court cases,

or filings It’s never a good outcome The board cannot force a superintendent to do certain things They can suggest it Remind of a policy (If the superintendent) violates policy, they have no disciplinary teeth ”

An elected superintendent is accountable to the voters

“The superintendent must raise money, campaign and be elected,” she said, adding that the senior staff has a vested interest one way or another in the outcome of an election. “It will affect the dynamic of senior leadership, it always does ”

The salary of an elected superintendent is specifically tied to Florida legislative compensation formula using very specific methodology

The base salary of an elected superintendent is based on the county population with three additional options

There is a special qualification salary of $2,000 after a successful completion and retention of a certification program Messina said every year the superintendent can get an additional $2,000

Another option is a performance salary incentive between $3,000 to $7,500 after a successful completion of a two-phased chief executive officer leadership development certification

“As long as they continue to develop professionally, (it’s a) recurring salary,” she said

The last option is a district school board approved salary, a discretionary salary, which requires a majority vote

The board agreed that they need to come together and come up with some sort of salary before an election takes place

Messina also highlighted some of the items the school board will no longer need with an elected superintendent, such as a job description and performance goals. She said a n e l e c t e d s u p e r i n t e n d e n t also does not have any formal leave or formal vacation

“ S o m e t i m e s w e h a v e s e e n e l e c t e d s u p e r i n t e n dents who take leave when wanted whether it’s conv e n i e n t o r n o t , ” M e s s i n a said

With that said, she said they have some outstanding e l e c t e d s u p e r i n t e n d e n t s across the state

“Most of them are saltof-the earth people Hardworking people,” Messina said “Ninety-nine percent of the people that get elected are professional and do an outstanding job in their district I want to be very clear about that ”

Messina also shared that a n e l e c t e d s u p e r i n t e n d e n t may also have their own legal council, which might want to be addressed in a separate policy

“Put down some guidelines How are we going to address it? Put a measure in place before shortcomings appear that you will know what to do,” she said

S h e e n c o u r a g e d t h e board to think about an orientation or transition for a newly elected superintendent, as they might get someone who does not have any experience in education In a d d i t i o n , t h e b o a r d w a s encouraged to schedule a protocol workshop to develo p e x p e c t a t i o n s o f o n e a n o t h e r , c o m m u n i c a t i o n with one another

OPINIONS

CAPE CORAL BREE ZE

RAYMOND M. ECKENRODE Publisher

VALARIE HARRING, Executive Editor CHRIS STRINE, Editor

2510 Del Prado Blvd

• Cape Coral, FL, 33904

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

Member Florida Press Association

Property title transfer protection pilot program a good start

Google “deed theft scams in Florida” and you will find that the real estate market is not only hot for those looking to buy or sell

It’s a market ripe for property thieves who use forged documents and identity theft to transfer title and then sell or mortage homes or lots they do not own

While such transfers are obviously not legal, they cause both legal and financial problems for the true property owner as once such a deed is recorded, “it appears valid, and others may purchase the property from the fraudster or the third party named as guarantee in the deed in the belief that such person owns and has the right to sell the property,” according to an analysis of recently approved legislation designed to address the problem starting with a pilot program to launch here in Lee County

Thanks to the efforts of Lee County Clerk of the Courts Kevin Karnes, who realized how easy it was for sophisticated scammers to steal properties because existing state law tied the hands of such officials when it came to recording deeds, it’s going to become a whole lot less easy

The “Title Fraud Prevention Through Identity Verification Pilot Program” will be tested here in Lee County for two years after which Mr Karnes will make a recommendation to legislators whether the program that allows clerks to require specific identification should be expanded statewide

The pilot program, among the provisions of HB 1419, was passed unanimously by both the State House and Senate and signed by Gov Ron DeSantis last Wednesday

Mr Karnes said this week that the law gives the Lee County Clerk’s Office the ability to require governmentissued IDs from anyone who records a deed before that deed is processed

“We can turn over that information to law enforcement and do a better investigation,” he said in an interview with The Breeze “It gives law enforcement a starting point ”

A government-issued ID will provide a photograph of all parties on the deed with an address and name, which Mr Karnes said will allow law enforcement to better follow the path back to those who fraudulently transfer ownership of properties

Previously, the Clerk’s Office was required to accept and record a document if it met statutory requirements, which did not include any sort of identification

The required presentation of a government-issued ID, complete with photo, is a good starting point, and we thank Mr Karnes and members of the Lee County Legislative Delegation for being among those committed to mitigating the problem

Meanwhile, property owners here and statewide have another protection in place they can sign up for a free notification service that will alert them whenever an instrument purporting to convey title, such as a deed, is recorded in the county’s official records

While the service does not prevent the recording of the deed, it lets the property owner know they may need to contact an attorney or law enforcement to report the fraud as well as take other steps to undo the fraudulent conveyance, including filing for a court-ordered “quiet title ”

We urge anyone who owns property to take that protective step Visit leeclerk org/fraudalert

Volunteering changes lives

Most of us have heard people say something along the lines of “I get more out of it than they do” when talking about the volunteer experience Some will even couch that statement with “I know it sounds cliche, but ” as if others may not believe the genuine feeling they get from their belief

However, it’s a statement that should be celebrated without an ounce of shame, because it highlights the truth about the volunteer experience

When we volunteer, we can find common ground with others we may have perceived as different from ourselves We discover new passions and gifts that can be shared with others We realize that serving someone in need often happens in a positive atmosphere

James Evans Guest

Commentary

Feeling personally fulfilled, refreshed or excited about lending a hand to someone else is more than just gratifying Those feelings are also catalysts that will bring you back for more

If volunteering were a drag or unfulfilling, people wouldn’t have done it amid a pandemic more than 23% of the U.S. population did, according to an AmeriCorps report. The impact made by those 60 7 million Americans helped others better handle or face their circumstances during a difficult time

With DAV (Disabled American Veterans), the charity I represent, service to others is why we exist We’re committed to helping make whole those forever changed by their time in the military A huge part of how we do that is through selfless volunteers who give their most valuable resource: their time

Our volunteers come from all walks of life and backgrounds Some are DAV members; others are friends and supporters of the veteran community All make a difference in veterans’ lives

One thing our volunteers help with is running our nationwide DAV Transportation Network for the Department of Veterans Affairs

Through this program, we provide no-cost rides to veterans who otherwise wouldn’t have access to lifesaving and critical VA medical appointments When COVID-19 hit, we lost many of these drivers as the country effectively shut down But even as things are largely back to normal, many of our Transportation Network vehicles remain idle, waiting for volunteers to get behind the wheel.

Every vehicle that doesn’t move means a veteran isn’t getting a needed ride or paying expensive transportation fees for each necessary trip So if you are willing and able to drive veterans to their appointments, even if you have just a few hours a month, go to driveforveterans org to sign up or get more information

But the DAV Transportation Network is just one opportunity we offer volunteers We have many other ways to be involved, both in VA medical facilities and right in your community You can learn more about those at volunteerforveterans.org.

Volunteering changes lives and not just those on the receiving end If you choose to raise your hand to give your time, I hope you’re able to say you got more out of it than the people you’ve served It’s a wonderful gift you receive in exchange for that most precious resource

John Kleindienst is the national director of voluntary services for DAV and an active volunteer Kleindienst is a U S Marine Corps veteran who served from 1996 until he was medically discharged in 2003 as a result of service-connected injuries Learn more about DAV’s resources for veterans at dav org

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Yacht Cub holds central role throughout Cape Coral’s histor y

To the editor:

In December of 2021 it was reported the city would spend $37 million on renovations to the Yacht Club park This work was to exclude the ballroom and some other areas By March 1 of 2022 the number had risen to $42 million A few short weeks later, the council was then considering taking out $60 million in debt to fund the project

None of the reports seem to indicate the discussions included upgrading the actual buildings, but with the absence of a plan to demo them, the takeaway for citizens was always that the ballroom and Rotino Center would remain as part of the vision for the park

Over the past few meetings this year, city staff has presented in very certain terms that the issues befalling the Yacht Club Ballroom are almost entirely from deferred maintenance and neglect, not Ian damage

There is little doubt that the facility is now in sad shape after another 7-plus months of a more acute type of neglect (abandonment) since the storm So I guess a sick form of congratulations may be in order, if one day soon the current City Council succeeds in ceasing to kick the cans down the road on maintaining our most prized public meeting space and historic landmark

Have decisions by past councils and management put this Council in unenviable positions? Of course, it is always that way But it’s up to each individual on how they respond to criticism from the community Some responded to recent public comments with integrity, others, not so much

Since day 1 of Cape Coral, and years prior to incorporation, the Yacht Club ballroom has indisputably played a central role in our city’s lifestyle, branding and identity

Despite pending decisions on the path towards demolishing vs. upgrading the ballroom, any council member willing to oppose the ballroom’s historic recognition demonstrates a gross disregard for our city’s identity and the thousands of citizens and millions of visitors, past and present, who came here to enjoy the friendly, waterfront

lifestyle the facility has always represented Jason Pim 40 year resident of District 1 Cape Coral

Please: Facts before speculation

To the editor:

Do you ever notice how some people complain based on speculation or non-factual information? It’s frustrating to see how much time some individuals spend spewing hate or making life difficult for those around them We only have a short time on this earth compared to the hundreds of years our species has been around It’s important to add a positive spin and make life better for the majority Self-hatred contributes nothing If you disagree, that’s OK, but let’s focus on finding solutions to problems instead of continuing to speculate Take the time to find out the facts before jumping to conclusions

Don Apking Cape Coral

Cummings should resign

To the editor:

As the fraudulent candidate claims victory in an election gone by, the descent into criminality of the Republican Party has seemingly metastasized to the local level According to an investigative report, Ms Cummings was not appropriately a resident eligible to run for the District 4 seat Impersonating Trump with rants of “It’s a witch hunt!” demean the integrity of her office, and is disrespectful of the honest candidates that honorably stood for election and the voters themselves

Ms Cummings should remove herself immediately The council should appoint Jennifer Nelson, the duly-elected candidate who was on the ballot legally, and ask that she complete the remainder of the term She “lost” to the carpet bagger by less than 3% points in the election. Even if Ms. Cummings cannot muster a display of integrity, at least Ms Cummings should depart with an effort at decorum

Ellen Starbird Cape Coral See LETTERS, page 6

3 ,

J u n e

Summer learning keeps students’ brains in tip-top shape

Summer vacation is under way for students across Southwest Florida It’s a time for children and teens to unwind for a little breather after nearly 10 months of learning, studying, testing and achieving developmental milestones

Students should not completely disengage, however Learning does not have to stop when the school year ends In fact, researchers continue to point to summer vacation as an opportunity for students to both catch up if they struggled with any key concepts and get a jumpstart on the next school year Summer learning loss, also called the summer slide or brain drain, poses a significant challenge for teachers at all levels preschool, elementary, middle and high school Educators often spend several weeks in August and September reviewing concepts that students forgot during the summer Education is training of the mind, much like exercise is physical training for the body If athletes skip the gym and eat unhealthy food all summer, they will pay the price once they return. The same concept applies to education That’s why many parents enroll their children in academic-focused programs like

From page 4

Guadalupe Center’s Summer Enrichment Program, which features credentialed instructors and a true academic curriculum to keep students engaged and learning

Students can keep their brains in tip-top shape without sitting in a classroom all summer, though In their unofficial roles as summer school teachers, parents can create a series of informal, academicfocused activities that are enjoyable while still serving as excellent back-to-school prep Parents with children in preschool or elementary school can try these engaging, hands-on activities across core subject areas:

Jim Ragusa Guest Commentary

■ Science: Visit a state or national park Visitor centers often have worksheets or scavenger hunts geared toward youth, like finding a fossil or identifying an animal

■ Social Studies: Buy a map or globe, and have children point to a place YouTube is full of educational and travel videos that

Jaycee Park is loved — and loved as-is

To the editor:

Jaycee Park is the only Neighborhood Park in Cape Coral that has a view of the Caloosahatchee River, beautiful trees providing shady walkways, benches, picnic tables, grills, shelters, a gazebo, a playground, a little Free Library, squirrels, and many bird species including burrowing owls, yellow crested night herons, mockingbirds, and pelicans

The park is always busy in Season, dog walkers abound, AA meets weekly, people picnic, celebrate birthdays, weddings, graduations, and holidays

This park is loved

Cape Coral City Council recently hired Pennoni Engineers to draft a plan for changing the park into a Community Park with no input from the local residents Residents only found out about the early May meeting because of a news report Two hundred residents showed up at that meeting and took an hour to explain they did not want all shade removed, didn’t need a Boardwalk, six permanent food trucks, 24 boat slips, and perimeter parking Two thousand residents have signed a petition asking the city to rethink the plan and meet with the residents to work on compromises

If you like the park as it is, please call your Council person.

Sally Flash Cape Coral

Floridians need a constitutional right to clean water

To the editor:

Once again, Lake Okeechobee is suffering a massive algae bloom 380 square miles worth Blue-green algae also already appearing in the Caloosahatchee, triggering warnings from the Department of Health Just a few weeks ago, an algae bloom in Matlacha, the fourth year in a row, waters was making news on TV stations.

Experts have been fearful for months that this summer would bring algae blooms to rival those of 2018-19

Back then, Toxic Puzzle, a documentary about the connection between blue-green algae and neurodegenerative diseases was making the rounds at local organizations

What will we do this summer? Patiently wait and hope the state’s $3 5 billion plan to clean the water leaving the lake will fix the problem by 2027? (That’s $3 5 billion taxpayer dollars to clean up pollution, most of which we didn’t create ) Unfortunately, stormwater treatment areas critical to the success of the program are too small, experts say, to be effective

show places, people and cultures Short, five-minute videos can offer a world of information

■ English/Reading:

Preschool students should be able to recognize sight words like “and,” “the” and “it ” Mastering these core words increases their fluency and comprehension, and parents can read alongside their children to develop language and listening skills while also stimulating their imagination Elementary-age students can read books to their parents, pet or stuffed animal

■ History: So much of Southwest Florida is new, but the region is home to many historic places and museums with exhibits covering the region’s environment, culture, automotive history, religion, railroads, archaeology and agriculture

■ Math: Have children perform hands-on math tasks like counting food items and coins, reading numbers on a street sign and

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Only one of those five areas is currently meeting water quality standards, and by law the water can’t be sent south unless those standards are met If it can’t go south, it will continue to be released down the Caloosahatchee Floridians need a constitutional right to clean water. That would be the gamechanger Readers can learn why on Saturday, June 24, 10 a m , at the Pine Island Public Library, or on Monday, June 26, 6 p m , at the Fort Myers Regional Library

Joseph Bonasia Cape Coral

Freedom

To the editor:

Yes Floridians have “freedom” but only to the extent that you agree with and follow the dictates of our part-time governor who is keeping his day job fighting against the “woke” educated population of Florida and the rest of the country while running full time for the POTUS job He picks costly legal fights with women, progressive parents, citizens who just want to vote, Disney, the LGBTQ community, immigrant workers, other governors and he is costing Florida taxpayers tons of money as well as the respect of the rest of the country Nobody likes a bully for very long Especially one who “never backs down ” And believes that might makes right And that his political power is unlimited

He has amassed a huge war-chest of cash, however his large donors are seemingly now hearing from their wives, daughters, sisters and mothers. Do not give money to a politician who takes away women’s rights to control their own personal lives Being anti-abortion is a religious concept to very few Americans Most of us see abortion as clearly an economic issue for women and their families We feel that it is irresponsible to have more children than you can nurture, feed, educate and not raise in poverty If the anti-abortion folks truly cared about children rather than zygotes we would not have close to 100K homeless children living on the streets in Florida

According to the CDC: “Nearly all abortions in 2020 took place early in gestation: 93 1% of abortions were performed at less than 13 weeks’ gestation; a smaller number of abortions (5 8%) were performed at 14–20 weeks’ gestation, and even fewer (0 9%) were performed at greater than 21 weeks’ gestation Early medical abortion is defined as the administration of medication(s) to induce an abortion at less than 9 completed weeks’ gestation, consistent with the current Food and Drug Administration labeling for mifepristone (implemented in 2016) In 2020, 51 0% of all abortions were early medical abortions ”

The current governor won his last election by bullying the

calculating time on a clock These activities might only take a few seconds, but they ultimately keep a child’s mind sharp

■ Foreign Language: Food offers a fantastic, and tasty, way to learn a foreign language Each week, pick a day and create a menu offering a culinary world tour On Italian Night, for example, serve a selection of less common pastas like rotini, rigatoni, penne and orzo

■ Art: Drawing, coloring and painting are terrific ways for children to tap into their creativity Save each piece of artwork and ask children to assemble an end-of-summer scrapbook containing all of their best work Summer is a vacation from school, but it shouldn’t be a vacation from learning Parents are a child’s first teacher, and during the summer, they also are a child’s best teacher

Jim Ragusa is senior director of early childhood education at Guadalupe Center, a nationally recognized education provider serving more than 1,900 students annually in Immokalee To learn more, visit GuadalupeCenter org or call 239-657-7711

other state Republicans into accepting his gerrymandering of the state (more lawsuits to follow… ) Hopefully he will be out of a job in the near future but meanwhile we voters have the power to change at least one of his dreadful policies

The overwhelming majority of Florida voters believe that women should make their own decisions about their own healthcare without interference from bully politicians With just 900K petitions we can get legal abortions on the 2024 ballot in Florida and back in the hands of responsible women and their doctors “Floridians Protecting Freedom” is a grassroots organization campaign devoted to obtaining enough signatures to qualify putting abortion on the 2024 ballot Their “Amendment to Limit Government Interference with Abortion” seeks to further codify that right into Florida law by creating a constitutional amendment that explicitly blocks the implementation of laws that prohibit, delay, or restrict abortion access If you are registered to vote in Florida, you can print, fill out, and mail in your own petition form You can also get friends and family to sign petitions too Fill in the blanks carefully and completely or risk having your petition rejected No abbreviations or initialed corrections Put women’s rights and abortion on the ballot by supporting the campaign Go to the website www floridiansprotectingfreedom com

Print and Complete the petition Mail it to the address provided or drop at a hub all listed on the website Forward the website to everyone in your Contact List! We can make this happen!

Lynn Hagedorn Cape Coral

This week’s poll question:

Do you volunteer?

∫ Yes, regularly

∫ From time to time.

∫ No, but I donate

∫No

Previous 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

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

Vote at capecoralbreeze com

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

Contract for new city attorney to be discussed

By MEGHAN BRADBURY news@breezenewspapers com

A contract for the city attorney position will up for discussion during a special Cape Coral City Council meeting Monday afternoon

The Council voted unanimously for candidate Aleksandr Boksner during a recent meeting from among three finalists to fill the position left vacant after the passing of long-time city attorney Delores Menendez The other candidates included Mark Moriarty and Jennifer Cockcroft

Boksner, who is currently the deputy county attorney for Sarasota County, has more than 20 years practicing municipal law. In his current role, he provides legal c o u n s e l t o t h e S a r a s o t a C o u n t y Commissioners, Sarasota County Sheriff, Sarasota County Clerk of the Circuit Court a n d C o u n t y C o m p t r o l l e r , t h e C o u n t y Administration and various other departments

Prior to this position, Boksner was the chief deputy city attorney for the city of Miami Beach, where he was responsible

for overseeing and supervising 23 employees of the Office of the City Attorney He also provided legal counsel to the mayor and city commissioners, the city administration and various city departments H i

includes chief assistant county attorney at Marion County and chief litigation attorney for Charlotte County

Boksner was also a senior associate attorney at Torcivia, Donlon, Goddeau & Rubin, P A , associate counsel at NRT, Inc , and an assistant state attorney at the

Office of the State Attorney, Eleventh Judicial circuit of Florida

Boksner attended the University of Cincinnati where he earned a bachelor of arts degree in 1998

He also attended the University of Toledo College of Law where he earned his juris doctor in 2001

His bar admission includes Florida in 2001 and Tennessee in 2008

meeting will be held

Residency: Cummings stands firm on denial of any impropriety

From page 1

Palm Tree Boulevard during the relevant period and that “Cummings did not reside in District 4 until March 22, 2023 ”

S p r o a t a l s o f o u n d t h a t “ C u m m i n g s failed to cooperate in the investigation,” citing what she called “the greater weight of the evidence ”

Council called for the investigation after a Cape Coral resident, who requested 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 in the district they seek to represent and has been interpreted as it requires they live within their district while they serve

According to the report, “Cummings h a d a n i n t e n t t o ‘ c l a i m ’ P a l m T r e e Boulevard as her residence” but documents provided “do not prove Cummings ever intended to live there, or that she ever actually lived at Palm Tree Boulevard during the relevant period ”

In addition, the report states that “the greater weight of the evidence supports a finding that Cummings leased a house on SW 50th Terrace in District 2 when she filed for election and that she intended to c o n t i n u e t o l i v e t h e r e u n t i l t h e l e a s e expired in November 2022 There is ample evidence to show Cummings and her family occupied the house on SW 50th Terrace as their home at the time she filed to run and continuously thereafter until they evacuated the house after Hurricane Ian ” Cummings has steadfastly denied the allegation and said she provided Sproat with documentation attesting to residency in District 4 She classified the report upon its submission to the city last Thursday “a web of lies ”

She did not respond to requests for comment or a statement from her attorney this Thursday but issued a statement last Friday

“Clearly this is a witch hunt that is politically motivated.

“Let’s remember this was an Anonymous complaint. All evidence and documents was provided to the City of Cape Coral. The City of Cape Coral retained Vicki Sproat for a fact finding investigation. My attorney Jay Lechner provided those same facts and with even more documents to Ms Sproat My facts have not changed in spite of Ms Sproat not accepting them or claiming I did not cooperate with her investigation There is nothing else to state regarding my residence in question of qualifications ”

Councilmember Patty Cumming in response to the report’s findings

morning

“Clearly this is a witch hunt that is politically motivated,” she said via text to The Breeze “ L e t ’ s r e m e m b e r t h i s w a s a n Anonymous complaint. All evidence and documents was provided to the City of C a p e C o r a l T h e C i t y o f C a p e C o r a l retained Vicki Sproat for a fact finding investigation My attorney Jay Lechner provided those same facts and with even more documents to Ms Sproat My facts have not changed in spite of Ms Sproat not accepting them or claiming I did not cooperate with her investigation There is nothing else to state regarding my residence in question of qualifications

“Any further details or comments about this investigation will be turned over to my attorney Jay Lechner ”

Cummings previously said she cooperated with the investigation by providing d o c u m e n t s w h i c h t h e r e p o r t c o n f i r m s included a drivers license and a document from Lee Vote showing the Palm Tree a d d r e s s , a w r i t t e n s t a t e m e n t f r o m 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

Those interviewed included Julia Ettari,

a former friend and campaign supporter of Cummings who filed the complaint, originally requesting whistleblower protection before allowing her name to be disclosed in Sproat’s report; a person who lived next door to a home in District 2 where the complaint alleged Cummings resided when she qualified to run for the District 4 seat to which she was elected; Cummings’ campaign treasurer; and city employees within the Council offices

A c c o r d i n g t o S p r o a t ’ s r e p o r t , Cummings was among those who declined or did not respond to requests for an interv i e w a s w a s C o u n c i l m e m b e r D a n Sheppard, who voted against the investigation.

The meeting will be held at 4:30 p m , Monday, June 26, at City Council chambers, 1015 Cultural Park Blvd

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T h i s n a t i o n a l c o m m u n i t y s u r v e y i s t o b a s i c a l l y f i g u r e o u t t h e l i v e a b i l i t y o f C a p e C o r a l T o c a p t u r e r e s i d e n t ’ s o p i ni o n r e g a r d i n g e c o n o m y , m o b i l i t y , s a f e t y a n d p a r k s a n d r e c , ” M u l l e n s a i d T h e c o m m u n i t y s u r v e y i s d o n e e v e r y t w o y e a r s , w i t h t h e l a s t c o n d u c t e d i n 2 0 2 1 . T h e c i t y o f C a p e C o r a l w o n a c o u -

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Coast Guard rescues four boaters and dog off Sanibel

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O f f i c i a l s u r g e d o t h e r s t o t a k e c a u t i o n a s s u m m e r w e a t h e r i s i f f y i n S o u t h w e s t F l o r i d a “ I t ’ s r e a l l y i m p o r t a n t f o r p e o p l e t o c h e c k w e a t h e r r e p o r t s b e f o r e g o i n g o u t o n t h e w a t e r d u r i n g F l o r i d a ’ s r a i n y s e as o n , ” s a i d U S C o a s t G u a r d P e t t y O f f i c e r 2 n d C l a s s D e a n M a r a n d o s , S t a t i o n F o r t M y e r s B e a c h . “ I t ’ s e v e n m o r e i m p o r t a n t t o h a v e w o r k i n g s a f e t y e q u i p m e n t o n b o a r d s u c h a s f l a r e s a n d a n e m e r g e n c y p o s i t i o n i n d i c a t i n g l o c a t o r b e a c o n ” A s a f e t y i n f o r m a t i o n m a r i n e b r o a d c a s t w a s i s s u e d f o r t h e a n c h o r e d v e s s e l t o w a r n b o a t e r s o f t h e h a z a r d t o n a v i g a t i o n T h e w e a t h e r o n s c e n e w a s 4 - 5 f o o t s e a s a n d 2 0 - 2 5 m p h w i n d s

State budget funds district’s Hurricane Ian recovery, more

By MEGHAN BRADBURY news@breezenewspapers com

The Framework for Freedom Budget, which was signed by Gov Ron DeSantis, fully funds the School District of Lee County’s Hurricane Ian Recovery appropriation requests and other legislative priorities in an amount of $21 5 million

B o a r d m e m b e r D e b b i e J o r d a n s a i d e v e r y t h i n g t h e y h a v e a s k e d f o r , t h e y received

She said district officials traveled to Tallahassee multiple times to speak to local representatives, but also to representatives from different districts to share their wishes before legislative sessions began

“When we were up there we felt good because they understood what we were going through with Ian We are still in recovery Knowing we have the financial stability with the hurricane and having the funds that we need to grow our CTE (Career and Technical Education) programs and technical college is an economy driver The entire community will benefit from that,” Jordan said

“Florida continues to lead the nation on all fronts, and we have laid the groundwork for generations of success,” DeSantis said in a prepared statement. “Through this year’s budget, we have cemented an econ o m i c f r a m e w o r k , w h i c h s u p p o r t s Florida’s families, business owners, and students in the pursuit of a prosperous future ”

Senate President Kathleen Passidomo, Sen Ben Albritton, Sen Jonathan Martin, Rep Jenna Persons-Mulicka, who also serves as the Lee County Delegation chair, Rep Mike Giallombardo, Rep Spencer R o a c h , R e p A d a m B o t a n a , a n d R e p

“The School District of Lee County is very appreciative of all of the bills, which our local Legislators sponsored in this year ’s Session. In addition to much-needed hurricane relief, the Lee County Legislative Delegation championed bills increasing school safety, career and technical education expansion, after school programs, and per student funding We are grateful that the Legislature passed these bills and that Gov DeSantis signed them into law, which made the Legislative Session a huge success ”

T i f f a n y E s p o s i t o c o m p r i s e t h e L e e County’s Delegation

Jordan said Passidomo has always been about the technical colleges

“We do understand the need for the workforce and making sure we have something for everybody. Everybody will not go to college,” Jordan said, adding that offering programs at technical colleges will get those students workforce ready

A little more than $17 5 million was granted for the school board’s appropriation request, which was sponsored by Martin and Persons-Mulicka The fully funded monies are for the district’s documented, non-reimbursable, hurricane relate d c a p i t a l l o s s e s T h e a p p r o p r i a t i o n requests for the non-reimbursable operational losses were also submitted and will be addressed by a grant made available by the legislature for school districts impacted by Hurricane Ian and Hurricane Nicole

“The School District of Lee County is very appreciative of all of the bills, which our local Legislators sponsored in this y e a r ’ s S e s s i o n , ” S c h o o l B o a r d C h a i r Armor Persons said in a prepared statement “In addition to much-needed hurricane relief, the Lee County Legislative

School Board Chair Armor Persons

Delegation championed bills increasing school safety, career and technical education expansion, after school programs, and per student funding We are grateful that the Legislature passed these bills and that Gov DeSantis signed them into law, which made the Legislative Session a huge success ”

includes:

■ $2,500,000 for safety and security technology to be installed in schools for the purpose of maintaining safe and secure learning environments for students and staff This was sponsored by Martin and Esposito

■ $1,244,000 to expand the CTE programs at Cape Coral Technical College to include Automotive Service Technology, Marine Service Technologies, HVAC-R, Welding Technology, and other construction-related and building trades programs This was sponsored by Martin and Roach

■ $250,000 to provide expanded after school activities to ensure students are provided with a safe and secure after school environment, which was sponsored by Martin and Botana

In addition, the Framework for Freedom

Budget also raised the per student funding by $405 to a record per student investment of $8,648 in the Florida Education Finance Program (FEFP) The total FEFP funding for K-12 public school system is $26 8 billion

Other investments include:

■ $1 1 billion in funding, an increase of $252 million to provide salary increases for new and veteran teachers and other eligible instructional personnel

■ $1 6 billion in funding for early childhood education, including more than $ 4 2 7 m i l l i o n f o r V o l u n t a r y P r eKindergarten

■ $635 million to support workforce education programs

“On behalf of our Board, staff, students, and families, we are extremely grateful to the Lee County Legislative Delegation and Gov Ron DeSantis for understanding our unique needs and then supporting our requests all the way to approval in the state budget,” Lee School Superintendent Dr. Christopher Bernier said in a prepared statement “The investm e n t i n o u r D i s t r i c t w i l l e n s u r e o u r schools, students, and staff see a full recovery from the damage caused by Hurricane Ian With the legislators’ help and the Governor’s signature, we will also be able to expand our program offerings to our students and make our campuses safer ”

There are also two Back-to-School sales tax holidays scheduled, one in the fall and one in the spring with an estimated savings of $160 million on school supplies The holidays will cover clothing up to $100, school supplies up to $50, learning aids and jigsaw puzzles up to $30 and personal computers and accessories up to $1,500

Bereaved mother wants to make skilled swimmers aware of rare drowning risk

Lost son to ‘shallow water blackout;’ an often fatal faint that can affect divers, competitive athletes

By CJ HADDAD cjhaddad@breezenewspapers com

Water may be the most powerful natural element in the world, and no matter your proficiency, there should always be precautions taken

Various tragedies have taken place with skilled swimmers and divers, including in Cape Coral recently with a 21-yearold

Jonathan Wade Hurtley, a lifelong Marco Island resident, passed away last month due to what’s called Shallow Water Blackout Hurley, an avid swimmer who learned to swim independently at just 2 years old, had been engaged in a routine water workout in a gym pool, exercising his lung capacity on May 19. He didn’t have a spotter watching him, lost consciousness while under water, and never recovered On May 22, he passed away

According to officials with Shallow Water Blackout Prevention, a non-profit organization, SWB is an underwater “faint” due to a lack of oxygen to the brain brought on by holding your breath for long periods of time Without immediate rescue, the swimmer quickly drowns SWB is most common among physically fit swimmers, spear fishermen and free divers

Officials state most dangerous risks for SWB are repetitive, competitive prolonged breath-holding laps with little rest in between, especially if intentional or unintentional hyperventilation has occurred

“I have now learned that SWB is a silent killer There is no struggle,” said Jonathan’s mother, Michelle Hurtley “It often happens to the strongest swimmers that are trying to challenge their own abilities, which was certainly the case with Jonathan However, it also happens when kids are playing in the pool and trying to see who can swim farther without taking a breath By the third or fourth attempt at the game, the body stops reacting and the drive to take a breath disappears,

and they pass out If someone doesn't notice immediately, it can be too late Seconds not minutes count with SWB ”

In Florida, oceans, rivers, lakes, pools, and other various bodies of water are easily accessible, prevention is the key to having a safe experience

The non-profit’s top prevention tips include: never hyperventilate, never ignore the urge to breathe, never swim alone, and to never play breath-holding games

“Never swim alone,” Hurtley urged “Especially if you are trying to challenge yourself I don’t mean to

make sure just other people are around, like was the case with Jonathan I mean to make sure you have a spotter watching you specifically Jonathan had been an avid swimmer, swimming without assistance since he was 2 years old; but we had never heard of this ”

According to Shallow Water Blackout Prevention, SWB may be the leading cause of swimmer death

“The number of deaths that can be attributed to SWB is not fully known, as these deaths are often misdiagnosed as traditional drowning,” officials state “When coroners rule a SWB death as ‘drowning’ only, it masks the real problem of the prolonged breath-holding and the contributing factors of hyperventilation, competitive, and repetition Adding to the confusion, as mentioned above other causes besides drowning, can lead to death from breath-holding or hypoxia For this reason, SWB is not well known or understood by many of those who are most at risk ”

Drowning deaths in general happen at an alarming rate for Florida residents According to the CDC, Florida ranked fifth in the U S for unintentional drowning deaths with an ageadjusted rate of 2 2 per 100,000 population, behind Alaska (4.19), Hawaii (3.55), Montana (2.68), and Louisiana (2.52) for all ages in 2020 according to CDC national injury data

According to the Florida Department of Health, from 2018 to 2020 combined, Florida was ranked the highest in the U S for unintentional drowning death rate among children ages 1 to 4 years (6 24 per 100,000 population) FDOH states that Florida had the highest unintentional drowning death rate of 3 19 per 100,000 population among children younger than 9 years compared to other states according to CDC data Annually there are enough children under the age of 5 lost to drowning (50 in 2019, 60 in 2020, and 75 in 2021) to fill three or four preschool classrooms according to Florida CHARTS.

In addition, Florida was ranked third in the U S for unintentional drowning death rate (2 02 per 100,000 population) among children ages 0 to 17 years of age, behind Louisiana (2 77), and Oklahoma (2 2) in 2020, stated FDOH

For adults 18-plus, Florida was ranked forth in the U S for unintentional drowning death rate (2 38 per 100,000 population), behind Alaska (5 43), Hawaii (4 32), and Montana (3 53), during the same year

For more information on SWB, visit www shallowwaterblackoutprevention org

Donalds, Martin, to hold town hall in Fort Myers

Congressman Byron Donalds (R-FL) will hold Town Hall event at 6 p m on June 28 at Word of Life Church in Fort Myers

Also taking part will be State Sen Jonathan Martin (R- District 33 )

Donalds is hosting the event to “offer Fort Myers and the entire Southwest Florida community an update on legislative matters occurring on Capitol Hill ”

Town Hall attendees will ask questions, share their concerns, and learn of ways legislation on Capitol Hill will impact our coastal community

For those unable to attend in person, Donalds invites all constituents of Florida’s 19th Congressional District to tune in to the virtual broadcast of the event

Word of Life Church is at 6111 South Pointe Blvd

Jonathan Wade Hurtley

Hernandez accepts assistant city manager post in Lakeland

S TA F F R E P O RT v h a r r i n g @ b r e e z e n e w s a p e r s c o m C a p e C o r a l ’ s f o r m e r c i t y m a n a g e r , R o b H e r n a n d e z , h a s b e e n h i r e d b y t h e c i t y o f L a k e l a n d t o s e r v e a s a s s i s t a n t c i t y m a n a g e r C i t y M a n a g e r S h a w n S h e r r o u s e a n n o u n c e d t h e h i r i n g o n M o n d a y “ I a m e x c i t e d t o a d d a p r o v e n , r e s o u r c e f u l , a n d r e s u l t s - o r i e n t e d p u b l i c a d m i n i s t r a t o r t o t h e C i t y o f L a k e l a n d t e a m , ” S h e r r o u s e s a i d i n a r e l e a s e p o s t e d t o l a k e l a n d g o v n e t “ M r H e r n a n d e z h a s m o r e t h a n t h i r t y - y e a r s o f e x p e r i e n c e t h a t w i l l b e n e f i t L a k e l a n d H e h a s a n i m p e cc a b l e r e p u t a t i o n a m o n g h i s c o l l e a g u e s i n b o t h t h e I n t e r n a t i o n a l a n d F l o r i d a C i t y a n d C o u n t y M a n a g e m e n t A s s o c i a t i o n s a n d t h e c o m m u n i t i e s h e h a s s e r v e d h a v e f l o u r i s h e d b e c a u s e o f R o b ’ s d e d i c a t i o n t o e a c h o f t h e m U n d e r h i s l e a d e r s h i p , t h e c i t i e s o f C a p e C o r a l , C o r a l S p r i n g s , F o r t L a u d e r d a l e , S a v a n n a h ( G A ) a n d b o t h B r o w a r d a n d F u l t o n ( G A ) c o u n t i e s h a v e d e v e l o p e d t h e s t r o n g r e p u t a t i o n s t h a t e a c h o f t h o s e c o m m u n i t i e s e x e m p l if y t o d a y R o b i s a n o p e r a t i o n a l t e c h n ic i a n w i t h a s t r o n g b a c k g r o u n d i n s t r a t eg i c p l a n n i n g a n d p r o j e c t m a n a g e m e n t H i s m o r e t h a n t w e n t y - f i v e y e a r s s e r v i n g a s a C i v i l A f f a i r s S p e c i a l i s t i n t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s A r m y R e s e r v e h a s p r o v i d e d R o b w i t h e x p e r i e n c e s t h a t h a v e b r o a d e n e d h i s p u b l i c s e r v i c e c a r e e r a t a n i n t e r n a t i o n a l l e v e l R o b H e r n a n d e z r e p r e s e n t s t h e e x p e r i e n t i a l a n d p r o f e s s i o n a l d i v e r s i t y t h a t t h e C i t y o f L a k e l a n d a s p i r e s t o d e m o n s t r a t e , a n d w e a r e h a p p y t o w e lc o m e h i m t o o u r t e a m ” “ I a m h o n o r e d t h a t C i t y M a n a g e r S h a w n S h e r r o u s e h a s i n v i t e d m e t o j o i n

“I am honored that City Manager Shawn Sherrouse has invited me to join the Lakeland family. Lakeland is a vibrant and safe community with many ‘big city’ amenities and a desirable quality of life. It is a city that is looking forward, but respectful of its history. Lakeland has many attributes including quality recreational facilities, arts, culture, direct interstate access, rail, a commercial airport, higher education institutions, and it’s perfectly situated between two of Florida’s largest metropolitan areas ”

Rob Hernandez

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t o r o n A u g 1 2 , 2 0 2 0 , h i r e d f r o m a f i e l d o f f i v e f i n a l i s t s I n F e b r u a r y , C a p e C o r a l C i t y C o u n c i l v o t e d 5 - 3 t o n o t r e n e w H e r n a n d e z ’ s e m p l o y m e n t c o n t r a c t w i t h o u t c a u s e , p r ov i d i n g H e r n a n d e z w i t h t h e s i x - m o n t h s n o t i c e h i s c o n t r a c t c a l l e d f o r s h o u l d e i t h e r p a r t y o p t n o t t o r e n e w T h e c o n t r a c t w o u l d h a v e r o l l e d o v e r f o r a n a d d i t i o n a l y e a r h a d C o u n c i l n o t t a k e n a n y a c t i o n H e r n a n d e z r e s p o n d e d t o t h e “ a d v e r s e e m p l o y m e n t a c t i o n ” o n F e b 1 4 w i t h a d a m a g e s a n d s e t t l e m e n t d e m a n d l e t t e r s a y i n g h i s c o n t r a c t w a s n o t r e n e w e d b e c a u s e h e o b j e c t e d t o a s e r i e s o f c i v i l r i g h t s v i o l a t i o n s c o n c e r n i n g m i n o r i t y a n d L G B T e m p l o y e e s a n d , i n M a r c h , s u b m i t t e d t h o s e a l l e g a t i o n s i n a c o mp l a i n t t o t h e U S E q u a l E m p l o y m e n t O p p o r t u n i t y C o m m i s s i o n

C o u n c i l v o t e d 5 - 3 a t t h e m e e t i n g a f t e r r e c e i v i n g t h e d e m a n d l e t t e r t o t e r m i n a t e H e r n a n d e z w i t h o u t c a u s e

T h e c i t y h a s d e n i e d a n y v i o l a t i o n o f

A n i n d e p e n d e n t i n v e s t i g a t o r h i r e d b y t h e c i t y t o r e v i e w t h e w o r k p l a c e c o nc l u d e d t h a t t h e c l a i m s a r e u n s u b s t a n t i a te d S a c h a D y s o n , o f G r a y R o b i n s o n , c o nc l u d e d i n M a y t h a t t h e n o n - r e n e w a l o f H e r n a n d e z ’ s c o n t r a c t a n d h i s s u b s e q u e n t t e r m i n a t i o n d i d n o t v i o l a t e p r o t e c t i o n s u n d e r s t a t e a n d f e d e r a l l a w , n o r d i d t h e c i t y d i s c r i m i n a t e a g a i n s t a n y e m p l o y e e o r r e t a l i a t e t h r o u g h i t s a c t i o n s T h e c o m p l a i n t w i t h t h e E E O C i s s t i l l p e n d i n g H e r n a n d e z s t a r t e d h i s c a r e e r i n m u n i c i p a l g o v e r n m e n t i n 1 9 9 4 w i t h B r o w a r d C o u n t y w h e r e h e h e l d v a r i o u s p o s i t i o n s i n c l u d i n g d e p u t y c o u n t y a d m i n i s t r a t o r d u r i n g h i s 1 7 - y e a r t e n u r e H e a l s o h a s s e r v e d a s t h e d e p u t y c o u n t y m a n a g e r f o r F u l t o n C o u n t y , G e o r g i a ; d e p u t y c i t y m a n a g e r f o r t h e C i t y o f C o r a l S p r i n g s ; c i t y m a n a g e r f o r t h e c i t y o f S a v a n n a h ; a n d d e p u t y c i t y m a n a g e r f o r t h e C i t y o f F o r t L a u d e r d a l e “ H e b r i n g s a w e a l t h o f l o c a l g o v e r nm e n t e x p e r i e n c e t o t h e C i t y o f L a k e l a n d , ” t h e r e l e a s e a n n o u n c i n g h i s h i r i n g s t a t e s H e h o l d s a M a s t e r ’ s D e g r e e i n P u b l i c A d m i n i s t r a t i o n f r o m N o v a S o u t h e a s t e r n U n i v e r s i t y a n d a B a c h e l o r o f P u b l i c A d m i n i s t r a t i o n d e g r e e f r o m F l o r i d a I n t e r n a t i o n a l U n i v e r s i t y H e i s a n I n t e r n a t i o n a l C i t y M a n a g e m e n t A s s o c i a t i o n c r e d e n t i a l e d m a n a g e r a n d a m e m b e r o f t h e F l o r i d a C i t y / C o u n t y M a n a g e m e n t A s s o c i a t i o n

w w w . c a p e c o r a l b r e e z e . c o m C a p e C o r a l B r e e z e

Estate planning can be complicated

Dear Mr Feichthaler:

I have heard horror stories about probate and disputes among family members, and I want to avoid that I am a widow that owns a house in Cape Coral with no mortgage, and I have a few bank accounts I have three children, and I only want two of them to receive my estate Do I need a trust for this?

Kelly P

To illustrate how our market dynamics shifted when the Federal Reserve started its campaign to aggressively raise interest rates back on March 17, 2022, at that time there were only 430 homes listed for sale through a Realtor in Cape Coral with the median list price at $595,000 Only 61 of the 430 homes were listed at $400,000 and under, with 76 homes priced at $1 million and above Three months later on June 21, 2022, there were 1,031 singlefamily homes listed for sale by a Realtor in the Cape at prices ranging from $245,000 to $5 995 million with a median list price of $579,000 At that time, there were 184 homes listed at $400,000 and under, and 177 homes listed at $1 million and above.

JUNE

23,

lion, with the median pending sales price dipping to $399,999 from $406,990 a week ago A total of 419 of the 820 pending sales, or 51.1%, were at $400,000 and under, while 34 were at $1 million and up Back on June 21, 2022, we had 862 homes under contract as pending sales, with 377 of them at $400,000 and under, and 39 homes pending at $1 million and above

Bob and Geri Quinn Homing In

Eric P. Feichthaler Real Estate Law

Compare that to today, when based on our weekly market survey taken on Tuesday, June 20, there were 1,680 active listings for single-family homes in Cape Coral at list prices ranging from $269,900 to $3 995 million, with a median list price of $525,000 This includes a total 403 homes, or 24% of our active listings that are priced at $400,000 and under, along with 226 homes, or 13 5% of our market listed at $1 million and above

So in the past 15 months, the number of active listings have increased by 291%, while the number of homes listed at $400,000 and under has shot up by 561%, and the number of million dollar-plus homes on the market has risen by 197% Hurricane Ian has also played a role in this market shift, but our market dynamics had already changed due to the actions of the Federal Reserve well before Ian made landfall in Southwest Florida

On a positive note, the number of pending home sales in the Cape bumped up about 3% higher from 797 a week ago to 820 homes under contract on June 20 The pending sales in the pipeline ranged in price from $215,000 to $3 45 mil-

'The University’s Role is SW Florida’s Economic Growth' topic of REIS meeting

While the development of the Florida Gulf Coast University campus continues to generate construction activity, the university’s academic and research programs are also important catalysts for economic growth in the region Dr Aysegul Timur, incoming president of FGCU, will address the school’s role in Southwest Florida’s economic development at the Real Estate Investment Society’s July 11 luncheon meeting

Timur will provide an overview of the FGCU Strategic Plan and community involvement She will also explain the synergy between the business community and Lutgert College of Business, Small Business Development Center, Regional Economic Research Institute, Emergent Technologies Institute, Whitaker College of Engineering, and new programs in agribusiness and construction managment

Following the presentation, Timur will respond to questions of specific interest to the real estate and development community

Timur will be FGCU’s fifth president and lead a period of major growth and innovation for the school, which includes 16,000 students, an 800-acre main campus, nearly 100 academic programs, and a thriving intercollegiate sports program She is presently the vice president and vice provost for Strategy and Program Innovation

The meeting is sponsored by Velocity Engineering and will begin promptly at 11:45 a m , July 11, in the Osprey Room at Pelican Preserve’s Clubhouse, on Treeline Avenue at Colonial Boulevard, one mile east of I-75 exit 136 in Fort Myers Admission is $30 for members and $45 for guests, which includes lunch Reservations are required by July 6th and may be made at the REIS web site: www reis-swfl org

In the overall Cape Coral single-family home market, there were 541 closed home sales in May, which was 13 6% lower than the 626 closed sales in May of 2022, but 9 5% above the 494 closed sales in April of this year In the first five months of 2023, there were a total of 2,245 closed sales in the Cape’s overall single-family home market, which was down by 24 9 %from 2,989 closed sales in the first five months of 2022

The median sales price in the overall Cape Coral single-family home market was $420,000 in May, or 7 7% lower than the $455,000 posted in May 2022, and even with the $420,000 in April of this year In the first five months of 2023, the overall median sales price for single-family homes in the Cape averaged $415,000 per month, which was 3% lower than the average of $428,000 per month in the first five months of 2022.

Indirect gulf access canal homes

In the Cape Coral single-family indirect gulf access canal home segment (meaning canal homes with bridges in the canal system), there were 57 closed home sales in May This was 23% lower than the 74 sales in May 2022, but 16 3% above the 49 sales in April of this year In the first five months of 2023, there were 214 closed sales in this segment, or 32 9% less than the 319 sales in the first five

See MARKET, page 15

Weichert, Realtors –Agency ONE Welcomes Foshee

Weichert, Realtors - Agency ONE has announced that Lane Foshee has joined its team of agents

As a Weichert affiliated agent, Foshee has access to indepth training programs, the latest technology and sales and marketing tools to help provide the best possible real estate service to his clients

Weichert, Realtors - Agency ONE is an independently owned and operated Weichert® affiliate The company serves Cape Coral, Fort Myers, Naples and surrounding areas in Southwest Florida

For more information about Weichert, Realtors - Agency ONE, located at 8191 College Parkway, Suite 206, in Fort Myers, and 1113 S E 47th Terrace, Suite 7, in Cape Coral, call 239-415-6500 or visit weichertagencyone com

The Flats at The Forum design complete

MK Architecture LLC has completed the architectural design for The Flats at the Forum, a new multi-family development to be located in the Forum in Fort Myers Kaizen Companies of Duluth, Minnesota is the developer of the fivestory, 107-unit apartment building with one- and two-bedroom units, with a full amenity package and resort-style pool

The project is anticipated to be under construction in mid2024 MK Architecture, located at 8200 College Parkway, Suite 101, Fort Myers, specializes in multi-family, hospitality and commercial architecture with offices in Fort Myers, Naples, and Lexington, Kentucky

See REAL ESTATE BRIEFS, page 15

Market remains resilient after huge shift in past 15 months

Market: Remains resilient after huge shift in the past 15 months

From page 14

months of 2022

The median sales price in the Cape’s single-family indirect gulf access canal home segment was $810,000 in May, up 2 8% from $787,600 in May 2022, but 1 2% below the $820,000 in April of this year In the first five months of 2023, the median sales price in this segment averaged $786,500 per month, or 2 4% less than the average of $806,010 per month in the first five months of 2022

Direct sailboat access canal homes

In the Cape Coral single-family direct sailboat access canal home segment (homes with no bridges in the canals to reach open water), there were 35 closed home sales in May This was 27 1% lower than the 48 closed sales in May of 2022, and 20 5% below the 44 sales in April of this year In the first five months of 2023, there were 191 closed sales in this segment, or 36 8% less than the 302 sales in the first five

From page 14

For additional information, call 239-4822121

Royal Palm Coast Realtor Association awards donations to community foundations

The Royal Palm Realtor Association’s 2023 Annual Realtor Golf Tournament was a huge success thanks to the 31 teams who swung into action for a good cause With 70 auction items, a 50/50 raffle and 38 generous sponsors, the event was a hole in one. But it wasn't just about hitting the green - this tournament was all about making a difference and giving back to the community Thanks to the generous support of membership and sponsors, the RPCRA was able to raise more than $12,000 for two deserving foundations:

n The RPCRA Crisis Foundation, that has been providing emergency financial assistance for hundreds of RPCRA Realtor members since 2007 who have been affected by catastrophic events It will receive a donation in the amount of $5,374 78

n The second foundation is RPCRA’s Realtors Care Foundation of Southwest Florida, a charitable program that offers financial assistance to homeowners in Southwest Florida who have been victims of natural disasters They will receive a donation in the amount of $6,774 79

To learn more about Royal Palm Coast Realtor® Association and membership, visit RPCRA org

months of 2022

The median sales price in the Cape’s single-family direct sailboat access canal home segment was $745,000 in May Not surprisingly, this was 34 5% below the all-time record high single month price in this segment of $1,137,500 in May 2022, but it was 1 5% higher than the $733,970 in April of this year In the first five months of 2023, the median sales price in this segment averaged $735,294 per month, or 20 6% less than the average of $925,580 per month in the first five months of 2022

Freshwater canal and lake homes

In the Cape Coral single-family freshwater canal and lake home segment, which consists of landlocked canals and lakes with no boating access to the river or the Gulf of Mexico, there were 47 closed home sales in May This was 31 9% lower than the 69 sales in May 2022, and down 9 6% from the 52 sales in April of this year In the first five months of 2023, there were 226 sales in this segment, or 29 8% less than the 322 sales in the first five months of 2022

The median sales price in the Cape’s single-family freshwater canal and lake home segment was $510,000 in May, or 8 9% below the $560,000 posted in May 2022, but 2 8% more than the $496,250 in April of this year In the first five months of 2023, the median sales price in this segment averaged $505,250 per month, or 1 2% less than the average of $511,370 per month in the first five months of 2022

Dry lot homes

In the Cape’s single-family dry lot (noncanal) home segment, there were 400 closed sales in May, which was 7 2% lower than the 431 sales in May 2022, but 16 3% above the 344 sales in April of this year In the first five months of 2023, there were 1,604 sales in this segment, or 20 6% below the 2,019 sales in the first five months of 2022

The median sales price in this segment was $377,495 in May, or 5 6% less than the $400,000 in May 2022, and a fraction below the $378,495 in April of this year In the first five months of 2023, the median

REAL ESTATE BRIEFS

Cushman & Wakefield | Commercial Property Southwest Florida brokers $2 million sale of Fort Myers property

Cushman and Wakefield | Commercial Pro p e r t y S o u t h w e s t F l o r i d a t h i s w e e k announced the sale of 17025 Cam Ct in Fort Myers The 3 37 AC CPD zoned land is located at the signalized intersection of Cam Court and Alico Road and offers over 320 feet of frontage on Alico

L a n e B o y , e x e c u t i v e d i r e c t o r , a t Cushman and Wakefield | Commercial Property Southwest Florida, represented the seller in the transaction TJD Holdings, Inc , David Messinger sold the property to MAXXALICO, LLC for $2,000,000

Cushman and Wakefield | Commercial Property Southwest Florida, LLC delivers integrated solutions by actively advising, implementing and managing on behalf of landlords, tenants and investors through every stage of the real estate process The company advises clients in buying, selling, financing, leasing, and managing assets C & W a l s o p r o v i d e s v a l u a t i o n a d v i c e , strategic planning and research, portfolio analysis, site selection and space location assistance

For more information about this transaction, or to learn more about Commercial Property Southwest Florida, please contact Gary Tasman at gtasman@cpswfl com or visit www cpswfl com

Owen-Ames-Kimball Florida welcomes interns

Owen‑Ames‑Kimball Company, a general contractor with a longstanding presence in Southwest Florida, has welcomed two interns, Joao Rocha and Ramian Smith The interns will work with the O-A-K team to gain first-hand experience in the field of construction contracting and management, developing the knowledge and skills that will help them prepare for success in future careers within the industry

R o c h a i s a F l o r i d a G u l f C o a s t University civil engineering student. He graduated from St Benedict’s Prep High School in Newark, New Jersey Rocha’s native language is Portuguese Before coming to the United States, Rocha participated in nine years of English courses at the Institute of Brazil He is fluent in English and at an advanced level in Spanish

Rocha is passionate about design and construction He is skilled in AutoCAD and project management His internship will focus on preconstruction and estimating Rocha’s high school soccer team was the national champion, and in his free time, he coaches the Lee County Strikers Club Soccer team

Smith is a construction management m a j o r a t F G C U H e g r a d u a t e d f r o m R i v e r d a l e H i g h S c h o o l ’ s I n t e r n a t i o n a l Baccalaureate program with a 4 52 GPA Smith aspires to be a project superintendent and project engineer During his

sales price in this segment averaged $373,616 per month, up a fraction from the average of $373,070 per month in the first five months of 2022

The sales data for this article was obtained from the Florida Realtors Multiple Listing Service Matrix for Lee County, Fla , as of June 19, 2023, unless otherwise noted It was compiled by Bob and Geri Quinn and it includes information specifically for Cape Coral single-family homes, and does not include condominiums, short sales or foreclosures The data and statistics are believed to be reliable, however, they could be updated and revised periodically, and are subject to change without notice The Quinns are a husband and wife real estate team with the RE/MAX Realty Team office in Cape Coral They have lived in Cape Coral for over 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

internship, he works at the Rehabilitation of Chamberlin and Perimeter Roads for the Lee County Port Authority Smith is skilled in Building Information Modeling, general estimating, plan interpretation and bridge crane operation He is a member of the A s s o c i a t e d B u i l d e r s a n d C o n t r a c t o r s Student Chapter and was a team member of the Associated Schools of Construction competition Smith’s internship will focus on project superintendent and fieldwork

“Our intern program provides college students the opportunity to apply their classroom knowledge to actual projects under the guidance of O-A-K’s industry experts,” said Matthew Zwack, president of Owen-Ames-Kimball Florida “Our interns gain a great deal of knowledge about the construction field during their time with us ”

O w e n - A m e s - K i m b a l l C o m p a n y h a s provided general contracting, design-build, and construction management services in S o u t h w e s t F l o r i d a s i n c e 1 9 8 2 A n e m p l o y e e - o w n e d c o m p a n y , O - A - K Florida, Inc ’s board of directors comprises m e m b e r s f r o m t h e c o m p a n y ’ s F l o r i d a operations

O-A-K’s Florida operation is an affiliate of its parent company in Grand Rapids, M i c h i g a n T h e F l o r i d a o p e r a t i o n h a s offices in Collier and Lee counties Its Lee County office is at 11941 Fairway Lakes Drive in Fort Myers Learn more about OA-K at www owen-ames-kimball com or call (239) 561-4141.

Love summer gardening!

(Editor's note: The following column was published previously in The Breeze )

By ANN BLOCK news@breezenewspapers com

Summer is here with high temperatures daily in the 90s. Let’s garden…everyday in Southwest Florida is perfect for gardening Your routine in summer will probably include mornings and early evening, avoiding middays Although I have and will continue into the late morning and early afternoon taking breaks every 10 minutes to rest and hydrate

What to plant in summer: Annuals and bedding plants such as coleus, portulaca and vinca are the most heat tolerant annuals Herbs cumin, mint and b a s i l B u l b s … c a n n a s thrive in the summer heat

V e g e t a b l e s s o u t h e r n peas, sweet potatoes and beans

United Way appears on The Weather Channel’s ‘FAST: HOME RESCUE’

Renovation series features behind-the-scenes support from local agency

United Way of Lee, Hendry and Glades appears on renovation series “FAST: HOME RESCUE,” which premiered Sunday, June 18 only on The Weather Channel television network United Way makes its appearance on the series assisting with home renovations for families who lost their homes during Hurricane Ian New episodes air every Sunday at 10 p m EST

“FAST: HOME RESCUE” makes its Summer 2023 return with new hosts Tre Boston – sports commentator and former NFL star – and Tre’s wife, Cierra The series follows the stories of families whose lives have been devastated by severe weather and natural disasters as their homes are transformed and rebuilt stronger than before in just five days

United Way assisted with three Southwest Florida home renovations for families who were impacted by Hurricane Ian in Fort Myers and Harlem Heights In collaboration with other local organizations, United Way supported these local renovations through its community partnerships and volunteer coordination. In addition, United Way’s Gifts in Kind program provided building supplies, furniture, appliances, food and cleaning supplies

“We were proud to collaborate with The Weather Channel to help bring together key partners and resources to make these home transformations possible,” said Jeannine Joy, president and CEO of United Way of Lee, Hendry, and Glades “Through the extreme generosity of partners like Matter Brothers Furniture & Mattress, Good360, Publix and LL Flooring, these three families were able to return to warm, welcoming homes that had all the essentials that will support them in their continued recovery after Hurricane Ian ”

Matter Brothers Furniture & Mattress, led by United Way board member Gary Matter, donated new, high-quality furniture like mattresses, headboards, bedframes, dressers, nightstands, tables and more for all of the renovated homes Good360 provided building materials and appliances like refrigerators and microwaves Publix brought in volunteers to help rebuild and stocked the

GARDEN CLUB OF CAPE CORAL

Palms love the hot rainy season so summer is a great time to plant For your existing palms never “Hurricane” prune Palms are able to withstand high winds that hurricanes bring, so pruning can seriously damage the palm

Only remove fronds that are completely brown For all palm and tree pruning, hire and ISA certified arborist

Don’t forget, in Cape Coral, our fertilizer BLACK OUT is in effect from June 1 to Sept 31 Fertilizers containing nitrogen or phosphorus are not permitted to be applied to ornamentals, a variety of plants and turf. Phosphorus can cause algae blooms, reduce clarity of our canals and waterways and can stress or kill fish

Our Southwest Florida summers are fabulous and magical for many reasons blue skies, beautiful sunrises and sunsets, humid warmth and rain Our conditions are perfect to plant trees, palms, shrubs and flowers We have Mother Nature’s sprinkler system and our gardens become established Summer is perfect time for pruning

Some scrubs love a hard cutback (up to 50 percent) while others can only take a slight trim Make sure to research your plant before trimming

Cape Coral is in Zone 10A and we struggle with sandy soil I always recommend mulch over our plantings -- not rocks or shells Rocks and shells attract too

homes with pantry essentials ranging from flour to spices to canned foods as well as cleaning supplies LL Flooring donated over 100,000 square feet of vinyl flooring

Episodes of FAST: HOME RESCUE will be available to watch on-demand after airing on broadcast via The Weather Channel’s Connected Television (CTV) app The Weather Channel CTV app is available on Amazon Fire TV, Android TV, Roku, Samsung, Vizio, and Xfinity Flex

About United Way

In addition to raising funds for human service organizations in the community, United Way promotes partnerships and collaborations among agencies, helping them to work together focusing on issues that continue to improve lives United Way is dedicated to improving the quality of life for all people in the community United Way of Lee, Hendry and Glades was established in 1957 and over $220 million has been raised and distributed since that time For more information, please call 239-433-2000 or visit UnitedWayLee org

Lee Domestic Animal Services to take part in Petco’s ‘statewide mega adoption event’

Adoption fees waived June 23-25

Lee County Domestic Animal Services has joined forces with Petco Love, an initiative to find homes for 5,000 shelter pets statewide

As part of the three-day Petco Love Florida Mega Adoption Event, all adoption fees will be waived with an approved application from June 23-25 at Domestic Animal Services’ 5600 Banner Drive location in Fort Myers

Those looking to adopt, not shop are invited to visit www leelostpets com to view all pets currently available and to complete the online adoption application

Petco Love is a national non-profit “working to lead and inspire change for animals ” Also taking part is BOBS from Skechers, a major contributor, and animal welfare groups across the state

“According to the most recent nationwide data, Florida ranks 46th in the nation when it comes to saving the lives of pets in shelters In 2021, nearly 22,616 dogs and cats were killed in animal shelters across Florida With help from Petco Love, local animal shelters are aiming to close that gap by finding homes for 5,000 pets in three days,” organizers said in a release announcing the adoption event

“We know that Floridians love animals and there is no

better way to add a family member than by adopting from your local shelter Summers are notoriously challenging for shelters nationwide and this is an opportunity to change the lives of so many dogs and cats -- not just those adopted but also the ones who will come to shelters in the m o n t h s a f t e r w a r d , ” s a i d D e n i s e D e i s l e r , C E O o f

Jacksonville Humane Society, a partner agency “Petco Love has been instrumental in Florida’s increased lifesaving for many years, and we are so appreciative for their continued dedication to animals and animal welfare organizations in the Sunshine State We cannot wait for Floridians to come together and support our shelters!”

“Petco Love is committed to creating a world where every shelter pet finds a loving family, and no pet is unnecessarily euthanized,” said Petco Love President S u s a n n e K o g u t “ W e a r e p r o u d t o p a r t n e r w i t h Jacksonville Humane Society and 50 organizations across the state to make an impact on so many pets and pet parents’ lives through adoption ”

Petco Love was founded in 1999 as the Petco Foundation and has “empowered animal welfare organizations by investing $350 million in adoption and other lifesaving efforts,” helping homes for more than 6 7 million pets in partnership with Petco and organizations nationwide It claims 4,000 animal welfare partners

Visit petcolove.org for additional information.

This columnist’s 2023 summer front garden.

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

Two fatal crashes over the weekend

Number of fatalities in Cape Coral thus far in 2023 already matches total counts for 2021 and 2022

By CJ HADDAD cjhaddad@breezenewspapers.com

Two separate fatal car accidents took place in Cape Coral over the weekend

Crashes on Friday and Sunday night bring the total number of traffic fatalities for 2023 thus far in the Cape to 12, matching the total from all of 2022 and 2021 respectively

Cape Coral Police were first called to the 1700 block of Pine Island Road Friday night shortly after 8 p m to respond to a head-on collision Dmitriy Simankin, 53, of Lehigh Acres, died as a result of injuries sustained in the crash The other driver, Justin Anthony Malanga, 19, of Cape Coral, suffered initial life-threatening injuries, but was later downgraded to non-life-threatening, according to police

CCPD Major Crash Investigator George Schwigk's

Boulevard traveling east on Southwest Pine Island Road in the inside westbound lane Malanga was west on Southwest Pine Island Road, in the inside westbound lane, just west of Chiquita Boulevard The report states t h a t t h

Malanga's Toyota Corolla head-on

Schwigk's report states Simankin was pinned inside the vehicle, was extracted, and taken to the hospital where he died

Police said the crash is alcohol/drug related, and that speed is an unknown factor in the crash

On Sunday just after 9 p m , Pablo Rene Perez Viera, 59, of Cope Coral, failed to slow down or move over for a parked vehicle with its hazard lights on and rear-ended

a DT466 Box Truck

According to CCPD Investigator Stephen Leonard's report, Viera failed to slow down and move over for the parked vehicle, and the front bumper of his Toyota Corolla crashed into the back of the truck

Viera was trauma alerted to Gulf Coast Hospital via ambulance, and eventually died as a result of the crash

The truck was unoccupied at the time of the incident

Police said both crashes involved drugs and/or alcohol CCPD asks if anyone witnessed or has information about either crash, to contact the department by calling 239-574-3223, or by submitting a tip via email to CCPDtips@capecoral gov

Anonymous tips can also be submitted by calling Crime Stoppers at 1-800-780-8477

Beating, robbery reported at Cape park; three teens facing charges

By CJ HADDAD cjhaddad@breezenewspapers com

r t M y e r s Recreation Center.

CHUCK BALLARO

Three receive scholarships from North Fort Myers Civic Association

By CHUCK BALLARO news@breezenewspapers com

The North Fort Myers Civic Association has made going to college a little bit easier for three North Fort Myers residents.

The organization handed out three $1,000 Mark Lipton Scholarships (named after the late director of the civic association who died in 2018) on June 13 at the North Fort Myers Recreation Center, something they have done the past several years

The recipients had to live in North Fort Myers to receive the award, but could attend a high school outside the area

This year’s winners were Cosette Lipscomb, Madilyn Jacoby and Britton Deleacaes for their excellence in the classroom and giving back to the community

Lipscomb, a graduate of Cape Coral High School, was very involved in school clubs, class treasurer and a member of the National Honor Society She also scuba dives, volunteered more than 100 hours at the Harry Chapin Food Bank and is working toward a black belt in Taekwondo

She will attend Florida International University where she will major in marine biology She was asked by Debra Ballard, who heads the scholarship committee, to bring clean water back to Southwest Florida

“I’m very excited I think what the group does is great for the community and this scholarship will help me in my education,” said Lipscomb, who has received

a few other scholarships

Jacoby, a graduate of Mariner High School, took five AP classes such as calculus and engineering and design She also did an internship at Avalon Engineering and took every engineering course offered at the school She joined clubs like Mu Alpha Beta, Technology Student Association

Jacoby will attend Georgia Tech in the fall and major in civil engineering She was very excited to earn the award because it will allow her to come home and bring the area into the future

“This is going to help me pay for college, learn and then come back and help my community,” said Jacoby, who also has received other scholarships “Every little bit helps ”

Deleacaes, who did not attend the event, graduated from North Fort Myers High School, and would like to start a career as a marine mammal care specialist this summer. She will attend the University of South Florida and major in marine biology and minor in psychology

Deleacaes was a member of the color guard and her coach called her a role model and that she was a passionate and natural performer and driven to excellence

Ballard implored the recipients to return home after college, as their community needs them

“This is our future We have to nurture them, keep them and bring them back here to Lee County,” Ballard said “We don’t want you to attend college and disappear ”

Three Cape Coral teens are facing charges after being accused of beating and robbing a person in a city park Cape Coral Police Department officials arrested Zachariah Goswick, 17; Noah McClanahan, 16; and Zachariah Allen Alcorn 16, at their homes last Thursday under “probable cause established” for robbery, felony battery and obstructing justice

Police said they received a call t h a t s o m e o n e n e e d e d m e d i c a l a t t e n t i o n a f t e r a l l e g e d l y b e i n g “jumped” at Cultural Park When officers arrived, they met with the v i c t i m w h o s t a t e d t h a t t h r e e teenagers “took turns beating the victim, causing significant injurie after an unprovoked attack ”

Police said the victim stated t took their phone and credit cards fleeing

Detectives from the CCPD's Violent Crimes Unit spoke to the victim, who was transported to a local hospital Police said the victim was able to track their stolen cell phone to a nearby location where one of the teenagers lived, as the cell phone was thrown away in a neighbor's trashcan Officials said detectives were able to locate one of the suspects that lived in the area, and confirmed accounts of them being at the park earlier Detectives were also able to find the other two teens involved, and upon questioning, “all reported being involved in the altercation ”

“The investigation revealed that the victim was sitting in a pavilion at the park, and Mr Goswick, Mr McClanahan, and Mr Alcorn attacked the victim in an a l l e g e d a m b u s h - s t y l e a t t a c k a n d s t o l e t h e v i c t i m ' s belongings, including the victim's cellphone, so they unable to call for help,” stated a CCPD release

All three were taken to Lee County Jail

The families of the youths could not be reached for comment

Cape Coral Police had not released the arrest reports as of press time and, as the youths are juveniles, related court documents also were not available

July programs set at Cape Coral Lee County Public Library

Next month’s roster of activities at Cape Coral Lee County Public Library offers topics for all ages The following activities are free to the public:

Adult Programs

Book Discussion: “A Man Called Ove” by Fredrik Backman

11 a.m., Wednesday, July 5

Ove's grief over his wife's death, along with a lifetime of other losses, has turned him into a sad and bitter curmudgeon To make matters worse, his plan to end his own life is continually derailed by happenings in the neighborhood Thanks to his new neighbors, Ove discovers a new world that is not only messy, loud and full of mistakes, but also full of love, friendship and a connection worth sticking around for

Crafts at Cape: DIY Macramé Feather

11 a.m., Thursday, July 6

Beginners will receive an introduction to macramé by creating a feather wall display Instructions and supplies will be provided Space is limited to 20 Registration is required and is guaranteed until the start of the program

English Café

10 a.m., Fridays, July 7, 14, 21, 28

6 p.m., Tuesdays, July 11, 18, 25

Free informal, conversation sessions for adult ESOL/ESL students

Crafts at Cape: Christmas in July 11 a m , Thursday, July 20

Celebrate Christmas in July by creating v a r i o u s t h e m e d c r a f t s S u p p l i e s a n d instructions will be provided Space is limited to 20 Registration is required and is guaranteed until the start of the program

Children’s Programs

Kids Read Down Fines

1-2 p m , Saturday, July 1

Children and teens can earn a $2 credit on overdue fines for every 15 minutes they read in the designated area for a total of $8 in one session Please bring your library card and come to the Youth Services desk to register

Tangle of Tales

11 a.m., Monday, July 10

A taste of the familiar and a touch of the new. It's Tangle of Tales, the imaginative c r e a t i o n o f G r e y S e a l P u p p e t s T h r e e favorite folk tales from around the world come to life: “The Frog Prince” from Germany teaches the importance of a promise, “Three Billy Goats Gruff” from Scandinavia warns us against gluttony and “The Three Little Pigs” from England is all about doing the job right Registration is required and is valid until the start of the program For ages 6-11

Little Racers

11 a.m., Wednesday, July 12

Zip and zoom around the room with toy cars and handmade race tracks For children through age 5 No registration is required but space is limited Tickets are available 30 minutes before the start of the program

Family Gaming Afternoon

1 p.m., Saturday, July 15

Challenge your family and friends to a variety of board games For children and teens through age 18.

Storytelling Together with Windell Campbell

11 a m , Monday, July 17

Experience the art of puppetry with the art of storytelling This program uses songs, props and audience participation to bring stories to life Registration is required and is valid until the start of the program For ages 6-11

Summertime Storytime

11 a.m. Wednesday, July 19

Join us, for this family event where we w i l l s h a r e s t o r i e s , m u s i c , m o v e m e n t , rhymes and activities For children through age 5 No registration is required but space is limited Tickets are available 30 minutes before the start of the program

Family Gaming Morning

10 a.m., Saturday, July 22

Challenge your family and friends to a variety of board games For children and teens through age 18

Operation Kindness: A Captain Friendship Adventure

11 a m , Monday, July 24

Join us for a live action theatre performance just for children The Menace of Meanness is threatening to take over the world and only one super-duo has a chance to stop them - Captain Friendship and the Amazing Amigo The Menace is a dangerous, shadowy figure who creeps up on our friends when they least expect it, bullying and pressuring them into behaving very badly. Captain Friendship must fearlessly oppose this villain and help all of our young audiences learn that they, too, can m a s t e r t h e M e n a c e o f M e a n n e s s

Registration is required and is valid until the start of the program For ages 6-11

Bubble-tastic Dance Party

11 a m , Wednesday, July 26

Shake your sillies out at the library Get ready to twist and shout at this special bubble dance party We'll boogie down to pop hits and favorite preschool tunes For children through age 5 Dress for mess No registration is required but space is limited Tickets are available 30 minutes before the start of the program

Teen Programs

Kids Read Down Fines

1-2 p m , Saturday, July 1

Children and teens can earn a $2 credit on overdue fines for every 15 minutes they read in the designated area for a total of $8 in one session Please bring your library card and come to the Youth Services desk to register

Interactive Movie

2 p.m., Tuesday, July 11

Get ready for some throwback tunes and futuristic fun during this interactive movie viewing Inside your prop bag will be an interactive script, favorite candies from the '80s and more All supplies provided For ages 12-18 Registration is required and is valid only until the start of the program

Family Gaming Afternoon

1 p.m., Saturday, July 15

Challenge your family and friends to a variety of board games For children and teens through age 18.

Nerdy Teen Trivia

2 p m , Tuesday, July 18

Does your brain feel like it's going to implode with nerdy randomosity? If so,

See CAPE LIBRARY, page 22

School Days Now & Then Dinner Dance set for July 1

The Cape Coral Social Club will host a School Days Now & Then Dinner Dance Saturday, July 1, from 5:30-9:30 p m , at the German American Club, 2101 S W Pine Island Road

Music will be provided by Robert Gonnelli

The menu is a choice of one slow roasted beef brisket for crab & cheese

stuffed whitefish or mac n cheese All will be served with salad with or without ranch dressing, rolls & butter, roasted potatoes, peas & mushrooms, pecan pie & decaf coffee or soft drinks

There will be a cash only bar available no BYOB1

Reservations and payment are require by Tuesday, June 27 The cost is $30 for

members/$35 for guests add $1 per person if using PayPal or credit card

Payment will be taken at the general meeting, Farmer Joe’s, Family Hardware on Southeast 47th Terrace, on the web at www capecoralsocialclub org or by contacting Judy at 239-699-0123 or Kathy at 239-257-1803. Indicate entr ée choice and table seating preference; singles’ table

available No refunds for cancellations

Checks preferred

The club will also be collecting donations of school supplies for the Cape Coral Caring Center to distribute to children of Cape Coral Any donation is appreciated and donations are optional

If you have any questions, please email CCSCreservations@gmail com

Summer gardening: Brightening things up with a variety of plants

From page 16

much heat and burn the bottom of plants Mulch helps to keep our sandy soil cooler along with preventing water loss through evaporation

The summer season is a great time to work on CURB APPEAL! It’s a fun time to start a gardening project Take a picture of

your project area Make a plan, go shopping and then enjoy the process of digging, planting Take a picture when your project is done I have a picture of my current project which I call “Happiness to my front door ”

I’d like to leave you with a couple of inspirational summer quotes:

“Then followed that beautiful season

Summer filled was the air with a dreamy and magical light; and the landscape lay as if new created in all the freshness of c h i l d h o o d ” - - H e n r y W a d s w o r t h

Longfellow

“A late Summer garden has a tranquility found no other time of year ” William F Longgood

Happy summer gardening!

Ann Block is Past President of the G a r d e n C l u b o f C a p e C o r a l V i s i t www gardenclubofcapecoral com and like us on our Facebook page – Garden Club of Cape Coral

Cape Library: Programs and activities for month of July scheduled

From page 18

gather your friends and join us for a fun afternoon of trivia that will test your knowledge of all things pop culture Prizes (and bragging rights) will be awarded to the winning team(s) and all attendees will have a chance at winning raffle prizes For ages 12-18 Registration is required and is valid only until the start of the program

Family Gaming Morning

10 a.m., Saturday, July 22

Challenge your family and friends to a

variety of board For children and teens through age 18

Make It Glow

2 p.m., Tuesday, July 25

Let's get this party glowing Create DIY neon signs and neon tie-dye tile coasters. Wear neon clothing or white to make sure you shine bright Light snacks provided For ages 12-18 Registration is required and is valid only until the start of the program

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1 S

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F l o r i d

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Catholic Charities Diocese of Venice Inc. receives $100,000 from The Cigna Group Foundation

Catholic Charities Diocese of Venice Inc , has received a $100,000 grant as part o f T h e C i g n a G r o u p F o u n d a t i o n ’ s Healthier Kids For Our Future initiative to help support the organization’s youth mental health programs that provide schoolbased mental health services for youth in Lee County public schools The Cigna Group Foundation’s Healthier Kids For Our Future program is a nationwide initiative that provides funding to nonprofit organizations that are working to improve the health and well-being of children and families

"We are thrilled to receive this grant from The Cigna Group F o u n d a t i o n , " s a i d E d d i e G l o r i a , Catholic Charities Chief Executive Officer "This funding will allow us to expand our Youth Mental Health Services Program in Lee County public schools and provide much-needed support to struggling young people in our community We are committed to using this funding to make a meaningful impact in the lives of young people in our community, and with the support from The Cigna G r o u p F o u n d a t i o n a n d o t h e r d o n o r s , C a t h o l i c C h a r i t i e s i s a b l e t o p r o v i d e licensed mental health counselors to offer onsite one-on-one counseling in respective Lee County public schools ”

Joe McNair, Catholic Charities Director of Behavioral Health, added, “This grant provides the funds to eliminate barriers to access care, care that many families need but cannot afford, and provides an innova-

tive model to address the mental health needs of our youth ”

F o r m o r e i n f o r m a t i o n o n C a t h o l i c Charities Diocese of Venice, Inc , and its Youth Mental Health Services program, p l e a s e c o n t a c t J o e M c N a i r a t joe mcnair@catholiccharitiesdov org

About Catholic Charities Diocese of Venice Inc.

Catholic Charities Diocese of Venice Inc , is a nonprofit founded in 1984 by the Diocese of Venice in Florida and serves as a resource to the community offering health and human services, food pantries, counseling, legal assistance, rapid re-housing, education, and disaster response Catholic Charities Diocese of Venice is located in 10 SWFL counties, including Charlotte, Collier, DeSoto, Glades, Hardee, Hendry, Highlands, Lee, Manatee, and Sarasota The mission of Catholic Charities is to provide help, create hope, and serve all For more information, visit catholiccharitiesdov.org.

About the Diocese of Venice

The Diocese of Venice in Florida was established by St John Paul II in 1984 and today includes 61 parishes, 15 schools and serves an estimated 250,000 Catholics in 10 counties The Most Rev Frank J Dewane is the Bishop of the Diocese, following Bishop John J Nevins For more information on the Diocese of Venice in Florida, visit dioceseofvenice org

District works to increase number of small business vendors

By MEGHAN BRADBURY news@breezenewspapers com

The School District of Lee County is working to increase small business participation in district contracts

The Small Business Enterprise Policy was adopted at the end of 2021 to create the Small Business Enterprise Program Business Services Executive Director Susan Malay said the program was established to increase competition with local small business on major construction contracts; create jobs and foster economic growth

A partnership was established with Florida Gulf Coast University to set the thresholds to define small, establish a certification process and share standards and gather feedback The district worked with the

Regional Economic Research Institute to establish a threshold for the number of employees in a small business and the Small Business Development Center to establish a threshold in the annual revenue of a small business

Malay said with a threshold of 20 employees as the size factor of measuring small businesses, they would hit 93 percent of the businesses in Lee County that are under 20 employees

As far as the revenue threshold, the cap for measuring small business revenue would be $10 million for the most recent three years

with recertification every three years

A small business would also have to be in business for at least two years

"Our partners at FGCU have agreed to administer the certification process They are currently doing this assisting by looking at books, taxes and looking at business plans," she said "Part of our registration process of vendors closely aligns with FGCU " Board member Jada Langford-Fleming shared concerns about constraining a small business to 20 employees, especially in the past year with many businesses hiring more people to get the work done post hurricane

Fraud: Lee Clerk’s Office to implement

From page 1

Karnes said the bill that was passed creates a quicker avenue in the court system to get your property back

“It’s very rare for an idea like this to come to fruition in the first time presented to the legislature I am excited to be the first in the state to see if it works,” he said

This program authorizes the Lee County Clerk to pilot-test the program for two years

After two years, he will present a formal recommendation to legislators whether the program could then be expanded to all 67 clerks in Florida

Lee County is the first in the state to launch the pilot program He said the law gives them the ability to accept governmentissued IDs to anyone who records a deed at the Lee County Clerk’s office before the deed

is processed

“We can turn over that information to law enforcement and do a better investigation,” Karnes said “It gives law enforcement a starting point ”

With an ID, it provides a photograph of all parties on the deed with an address and name, which he said will allow law enforcement to follow the “breadcrumbs” better Previously, the Clerk’s office was required to accept and record a document if it met statutory requirements, which did not include any sort of identification

It is considered property fraud when someone illegally records fraudulent documents with forged signatures to make it appear as if they are the legal owners of a property Both vacant lots and homes are susceptible Once a thief claims ownership, they illegally rent, or sell the property to an

"I support this small business ideal It was the backbone of what our country was built on," she said

Board member Melisa Giovannelli agreed that the Small Business Enterprise Program is going to be a healthy opportunity and healthy competition

"I am hoping more local," she said about the businesses "I am all about feeding our local economy "

The district will continue community engagement regarding the program, as well as continue partnership with FGCU for the vendor certification process In addition, the next steps include identifying and soliciting prime contracts for small business bidding and establishing mandatory small business subcontracting goals for certain large projects

process for property protection

“unsuspecting customer ”

Karnes began tracking property fraud throughout the legislative cycle, which resulted in at least 15 reported incidents to his office in Lee County, and 92 reported to his office statewide

“That was just during the legislative session It was an indication of a growing trend in the community It is the responsibility of the local government to do what we can to protect homes,” Karnes said

That protection is part of his passion, as an individual pays a lot of money for a home, creates memories in that home and pays taxes on that home

“A criminal can take advantage of the system and steal it from someone,” Karnes said

The Lee Clerk of Courts offers a free service for homeowners to help prevent property fraud from happening Individuals are

encouraged to fill out four fields at leeclerk org/fraudalert Within 24 hours of a deed, or other land record is recorded with the Clerk’s office using their name, or business name, the service notifies the individual Karnes said it is another tool to give homeowners a piece of mind, as well as providing homeowners the ability to contact law enforcement more quickly He said what they have found in most cases is homeowners do not know they are victims of fraud until they do not receive their property tax bill in November

There are around 550,000 parcels of land in Lee County with only 50,000 signed up for the free service

“There are private solutions out there, but they charge for that service,” Karnes said

The program was established in 2021 to increase competition with local small business on major construction contracts; create jobs and foster economic growth.

3-day Tattoo Expo opens today in Fort Myers

By CJ HADDAD cjhaddad@breezenewspapers com

Looking for some new ink or wanting to prospect the area’s best artists?

This weekend, the inaugural Florida Gulf Coast Tattoo Expo takes place at the Caloosa Sound Convention Center from Friday through Sunday, celebrating the tattoo lifestyle and featuring more than 200 local, national, and internationally recognized artists, entertainers, and nearly 100 vendors

Proceeds from the event benefit “The James Jr Fund,” a non-profit that provides financial assistance to families of children fighting cancer

“It’s great to see the tattoo community come together at one event to support The James Jr Fund,” said event organizer Lisa Quinter “We’ve seen first-hand the difference our help makes in these families’ lives and we’re just proud to be part of that effort ”

Joey Tattoo, former host of TV’s “Tattoo Rescue,” will serve as emcee for the weekend, as attendees have the chance to get tattooed by renowned artists including “Ink Master” Season 10 finalist Roly T-Rex; Nick DeMars from Season 1 of “Ink Masters: Angels,” and many other prominent figures in the ink world Artists will compete daily for recognition among their peers, judged by tattoo legends Yallzee, Chris “Casper” Pitre, and Alwin Perez The main stage features entertainment by “Dr Finnegan’s Circus” a self-proclaimed “shock show,” comedian Justin Silva will provide the laughs, as well as a host of live music throughout the weekend

Artists will be tattooing on-site by walkup or appointment Industry-specific vendors will offer jewelry, fashion, oddities, local goods and more

One featured artist over the weekend will

be Cape Coral’s Andrew Bouchard, owner of Totally Rad Tattoo Studio on Lafayette Street

Bouchard, who has nearly 20 years of experience at his craft starting in Miami, said this is the first tattoo expo in the Southwest Florida area in quite some time

“It’s a great opportunity for local artists to show that we’re here,” Bouchard said. “There are a lot of out-of-state tattooers, and they thrive off of conventions But the problem is every time somebody goes to a convention nobody realizes that there’s actually local studios that are just as good as the traveling artists, so they’re kind of over-

looked It’s nice to have a convention that’s local so people here can see there’s a shop maybe down the street from them they never knew was there ”

Bouchard will be tattooing attendees via walk-up at the expo, and even has a gumball machine where fate can decide your ink

“I like to give people that opportunity to be spontaneous and want to get tattooed,” he said

Bouchard, 38, having started in the industry at a young age, said his “style” is whatever his canvas is looking for

“I started tattooing in Miami, and at that time, we were a street shop, meaning any-

thing that walks in the door, you do,” Bouchard said “You don’t really have a style At the time, we were just starving artists just trying to make a living We kind of just had to do everything. And from then on, I kind of carried that style into my adulthood and into my career now

“We have tattoo work that we like to do, but we don’t really have a style Our style is whatever the person wants ”

Bouchard has seen public reception to the ink world change drastically over time, from something sort of taboo to something many want

“I started young and sponged into the industry where tattooing was frowned upon and really wasn’t as main-stream as it is now.

“You can tell it’s blossomed when you see a lot of law enforcement, you see judges, lawyers, people in the medical field you start to see individuals that work in ‘professional’ fields, showing off more tattoos more comfortably People you never thought would have a tattoo your grandma they’re starting to show off tattoo work It’s more acceptable ”

Totally Rad Tattoo opened in 2020 after the shop Bouchard was working in closed His vision was always to open his own shop, and he made that happen.

General admission tickets to the expo are $20 on Friday and Sunday, $25 on Saturday, and $40 for a weekend pass Children 12 and under are free

The Caloosa Sound Convention Center is at 1375 Monroe St in Fort Myers

For more information, including featured artists, visit www floridagctattooexpo com

Totally Rad Tattoo Studio is at 1323 Lafayette St Suite A in Cape Coral

Slipaway: Cape Coral to get its first food truck park in late 2024

From page 1

Slipaway Food Truck Park & Marina will be a 3 1-acre site with hundreds of feet of walkability along the Caloosahatchee River Designers hope for it to be a oneof-a-kind destination for Southwest Florida residents and visitors to enjoy with friends, family, and even pets

The site is set to feature 10 food trucks, a centralized, open-air bar that seats 154, and six shaded seated areas scattered around that seat an additional 150 There will be live entertainment, with hopes for Slipaway to become a “hot-spot” for fundraisers, festivals, events, and waterside dining.

“We see it as a great vehicle for entertainment, for food, for sharing time with family and friends,” Aubuchon said “For people to have access to be able to walk through the park and stroll along and see the vistas from every direction, we think it’s going to be really exciting ”

There will be 30 boat slips along the riverside, and parking sports for 120 vehicles, so that the venue is accessible in more than one way

A special feature of the park will be a promenade with pathways allowing visitors to walk more than a quarter of a mile, as well as waterfront seating The venue is handicapped accessible.

“We think people will enjoy coming here by boat, by car, by bicycle,” Aubuchon said “And once they’re here, they’re not going to want to leave We’re going to have an elevated, yet casual experience with live entertainment, a gorgeous bar pavilion, and everything open-air, so people can really be out in the environment ”

Cape Coral Mayor John Gunter was present at the groundbreaking, and said the city wants to “take Cape Coral to the next level” with projects such as Slipaway, and hopes to see more projects like this come to fruition in the future

“A project like this does exactly that,” Gunter said “When you see a project that breaks barriers something we’ve never had before if we can bring that to Cape Coral, no matter what that business is, for me, that’s more satisfying ”

The site has sat relatively vacant since the city’s incep-

tion, other than being a model home center for different builders through the years That is until prospective developments for the food truck park were presented Cape Coral did not have an ordinance for such a venue in place, so after many drafts, revisions, and even being turned down by council on occasion, regulations for food trucks were put into place this past April. The ordinance requires food trucks to remain mobile, moving each night unless stationed in a food park

Thursday

At the groundbreaking, interim City Manager Mike Ilczyszyn said, “We’re standing here today because of our city leaders recognizing that we did not have a food truck park ordinance, or regulation in place to make this happen And it wasn’t easy

“But the vision to create a destination like this was only possible through working with this team, and the planning

SLIPAWAY, page 27

CJ HADDAD

Groundbreaking for the first-ever food truck park in Cape Coral took place

morning in Cape Coral Slipaway Food Truck Park & Marina, to be located at the foot of the Cape Coral Bridge, is slated to open in late 2024. Pictured are project planners and Cape Coral dignitaries.

Artist renditions for Slipaway Food Truck Park & Marina to be located at the foot of the Cape Coral Bridge and open by late 2024 It will feature 10 food trucks, open-air bar, shaded areas, and waterfront views There will be 30 boat slips and 120 parking spaces /ARTIST RENDITIONS PROVIDED

Slipaway: Waterfront venue to feature multiple trucks; covered dining

From page 1

staff that ultimately coming up with regulation that allowed a development like this to take place

“We’re going to have, at the front door of our city, the right project, with the right look, in the right place And not only that, it’s the right time”

The Slipaway Food Truck & Marina’s logo boasts the smalltooth sawfish, an endangered species that calls Cape Coral home

“We want to shine a light on (the

species), and be supportive of our environment,” Aubuchon said

Applications are currently being taken for food trucks that would like to operate at the venue

Aubuchon said the 10 trucks at the location will be permanent, as long as their quality of service stays up to par

“(The trucks) will stay as long as they provide great good and great service,” he said “If we see that the quality is falling on either (food or service), we can change out a truck But we want variety, and we want

people to come here not just because the location is amazing, we want people to come here because the food is amazing, the service is amazing, the experience is second-to-none ”

Slipaway Food Truck Park & Marina owners are Gary Aubuchon, Sandra Dean, S c o t t F i s c h e r , J o h n K u l h a v i , C h u c k McGuirk, Rick McGuirk and Jeff Miloff

Other project partners include Stokes Marine, Chase Builders, Christopher J Lee Architects, Wegman Design Group and Sanibel Captiva Community Bank

Project partners are finishing the installation of a new seawall at the location, raising it to help mitigate flooding Aubuchon said as soon as that work is done, they should have their permit from the city to start site work

For more information on Slipaway Food Truck Park & Marina, or to submit an application to be a vendor, visit www slipawaycape.com.

Slipaway Food Truck Park & Marina w i l l b e l o c a t e d a t 1 8 1 1 C a p e C o r a l Parkway E

T HE BREE ZE BUSINESS

JUNE

MyLoveCollar: Offering unique pet accessory products

By KATIE EGAN news@breezenewspapers com

First-of-its-kind pet accessory products with a commitment to quality, sustainability and pet safety can now be found in Cape Coral

MyLoveCollar has been open for about 2 1/2 months. It is dedicated to protecting pets, giving owners peace of mind, preserving the environment and supporting local communities and shelters

Pet owners can purchase products at www mylovecollar com and can call 239-560-4728 for more information

Owner Bobby Fisher focuses on a negative carbon footprint by using hemp materials All products ship in reusable hemp bags and compostable materials and zero plastic waste is produced

The hemp is antimicrobial and the inner webbing is comfortable for the pet and details like double layering, reinforced stitching and strong metal hardware make them standout.

MyLoveCollar has also developed an innovative new system called TapTech, which helps reunite pets when they are lost or missing

This technology is available in all collars and harnesses

Any person with a smart phone can tap the phone on the collar or harness and instantly see that pet’s profile and owner-approved contact information to help quickly reunite the pet with its owner

The integrated chip can also store vital information, such as medical records, purebred paperwork and vaccination dates that can be accessed quickly and updated in realtime

“For example, a person at the airport can tap the collar and harness and see this information,” Fisher said “It really helps people who need to keep data ”

Via the MyPetSpace app, users can also store and share photos with other pet owners, create groups and participate

in the open, moderated online community

“It’s really turned into a cool little place,” Fisher said MyLoveCollar products don’t contain toxic dyes and everything is 100% hemp

Hemp is not only a great, natural product, but Fisher says it can also help dogs with skin issues

“For dogs with open sores on their skin, hemp is naturally antimicrobial,” he said “Even when it’s removed from the ground and processed into material, it deflects mold, bugs and other bacteria It doesn’t smell, doesn’t build up material and when you wash it, the softer it gets.”

MyLoveCollar is also coming out with a hemp rope toy at the end of the month

“We are the first company in America to produce hemp rope that is fully organic,” Fisher said “They are fully safe and organic and dogs also get the relaxation benefits of CBD cannabinoids ”

Pet owners don’t need to worry Hemp products don’t contain enough tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), which is the psychoactive component in marijuana, to get them "high "

Fisher says his products are about the same price as similar non-organic products, but MyLoveCollar is “drastically nicer,” he said

When he was doing his research, Fisher took a regular harness and collar and asked himself how he could improve every aspect of the product

“Our harnesses go over their head and buckle around the chest so there’s no chaffing or irritation in the arm pits and the pet can’t slip out of it It also puts weight on their chest instead of their neck so it doesn’t hurt them,” Fisher said

Fisher also did market research, talked to pet owners and people in the pet industry about what they’d like to see for their animals

Fisher began MyLoveCollar after he lost and was reunited with his pet

“One of my animals got out and it was heartbreaking that we couldn’t find him,” Fisher said. “After eight days of looking, we got a call from a shelter We found him and he was really not looking good at all It was a really bad experience for him and us ”

Fisher has a background in manufacturing and he put that to use to design and create MyLoveCollar so he could help other people

“The goal is to get them on as many animals as possible If your pet has both a chip and a MyLoveCollar harness or collar, there’s really no reason they can’t get returned to you,” he said

J. Lee Salon Suites to open new location in Cape

By KATIE EGAN news@breezenewspapers com

J Lee Salon Suites is opening its fourth location in Cape Coral

There will be 59 premium salon suites and they’ll include all types of beauty and wellness services, such as hair, nails, lashes, brows, skincare and massages

The Bonita Springs-based company plans to open the 2301 Del Prado Blvd , S , location in August

Licensed area beauty professionals will be able to elevate their careers as independent businesses with the variety of suites built specifically for cosmetologists, barbers, massage therapists, estheticians, chiropractors, med spas and more

What sets J Lee Salon Suites apart is its commitment to

providing a comprehensive suite of amenities and services

Each suite will be equipped with premium furnishings, including salon chairs, styling stations, mirrors, a storage space, built-in Bluetooth speakers, ample AC zones and fully enclosed ceilings The facility will feature common areas not usually found in traditional salon suites, including a beautifully designed lobby and break room for professionals with free laundry and mail services There will also be a dedicated support team to ensure a seamless experience for all salon professionals

Managing director Orlando Villegas said perks like a lobby and waiting area aren’t typically found in salon suites and it’ll make a difference for someone owning their own business for the first time

J Lee Salon Suites is owned by a former hairstylist and mom Jacey Lee. More than 90% of her salon professionals are women and it’s Lee’s mission to make salon ownership attainable for families like hers

“At J Lee Salon Suites, we are dedicated to empowering beauty and wellness professionals by providing an exceptional space to showcase their talents and grow their

businesses,” Lee said “Cape Coral is going to be a wonderful addition to our salon family! By word of mouth alone, we've already met so many wonderful pros in the Cape area that are ready to take their businesses to the next level We can't wait to get started ”

Villegas said it’s no secret that Southwest Florida is growing faster than most places in the country

Expanding to Cape Coral seemed like the next logical step

“ C a p e C o r a l i s a b l o s s o m i n g p a r t o f S o u t h w e s t Florida,” he said “There aren’t a lot of salon suites out there in the Cape, but there are a few That tells us there are hairstylists here looking to go independent ”

When beauty and wellness professionals get out of school, they may go work at a salon

“They’ll build their clientele, learn the ropes, see what brands they want to work with,” Villegas said “Get established, have their own clients, etc With us, you’re building a mini salon It’s the benefit of keeping your income

PHOTO PROVIDED

A dog sporting a MyLoveCollar harness, featuring TapTech technology.

PHOTO PROVIDED

PHOTO PROVIDED

Richmond achieves board cer tification as a Florida marital and family law exper t

Henderson, Franklin, Starnes & Holt, P A , has announced that stockholder Kayla Richmond has achieved board certification in divorce, marital and family law by the Florida Bar. This certification is a testament to her expertise and commitment to providing her clients with the highest level of legal services

Richmond specializes in cases involving dissolution of marriage (divorce), child custody, paternity, child support, adoptions, and domestic violence injunctions

She shares:

With over 100,000 lawyers eligible to practice law in Florida, only 7% of Florida Bar members have obtained board certification As the legal landscape becomes increasingly competitive, this certification sets Richmond apart from her peers and demonstrates her outstanding qualifications in her field of practice Richmond received her undergraduate d e g r e e f r o m t h e U n i v e r s i t y o f S o u t h Florida, magna cum laude, her J D and M B A from Stetson University She may b e r e a c h e d a t k a y l a r i c h m o n d @ henlaw com or by phone at 239-3441156

Henderson Franklin is one of the 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, business and civil litigation, eminent domain, intellectual property, workers’ compensation, employment law, real estate, and land use a n d e n v i r o n m e n t a l l a w S i n c e 1 9 2 4 ,

Henderson Franklin has been assisting clients in building their homes, businesses, and communities in Southwest Florida

Henderson Franklin operates offices in Fort M y e r s , B o n i t a S p r i n g s , N a p l e s , a n d Sarasota (by appointment) For more inform a t i o n o n H o u c k - T o l l o r H e n d e r s o n Franklin, please visit www henlaw com

Olivo addressed tor t refor m at the 2023 Florida Attractions Association Conference

Henderson, Franklin, Starnes & Holt, P A , a full-service law firm in Florida, has announced that Gerald ("Jerry") Olivo, a stockholder and litigation attorney, was a featured presenter at the 2023 Florida Attractions Association’s Conference

For more information about the 2023

F l o r i d a A t t r a c t i o n s A s s o c i a t i o n Conference, please visit their website at https://www faaevents com/home-old

Olivo's experience also extends to mediation, as he holds certifications from the Florida Supreme Court as a County Civil, Circuit Civil, and Family Law Mediator He utilizes this knowledge to facilitate resolutions in family law and general civil litigation cases

Olivo earned his bachelor of science degree in exercise and sport sciences with a specialization in Sport Management from the University of Florida He also holds a certificate from the National Sports Law Institute. Olivo went on to complete his law d e g r e e a t M a r q u e t t e U n i v e r s i t y L a w S c h o o l H e m a y b e r e a c h e d a t j e r r y o l i v o @ h e n l a w c o m o r 2 3 9 - 3 4 4 -

1168

Henderson Franklin is one of the 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, business and civil litigation, eminent domain, intellectual property, workers' compensation, employment law, real estate, and land use a n d e n v i r o n m e n t a l l a w H e n d e r s o n Franklin operates offices in Fort Myers, Bonita Springs, Naples and Sarasota (by appointment) For more information on Olivo or Henderson Franklin, please visit www henlaw com

CONRIC pr + marketing

announces two leadership hires

CONRIC pr + marketing has welcomed two industry veterans, each with decades of experience, to its award-winning team. Seth Mohs, from Atlanta, is the new vice president of Digital Media He is joined by Tara “TJ” Jacobs, from Delray Beach, as the new director of Client Services

A skilled marketing executive with a history of positive results for major businesses, defense and nonprofit organizat i o n s , M o h s h a s h e l p e d p r i o r c l i e n t s increase online revenue, online audience and user engagement through a blend of social media and content marketing strategies.

Jacobs has decades of experience in both private business and agency settings As director of Client Services, she will work to enrich CONRIC’s existing relationships and seek new ones

The conference, which took place on June 11-14, was held at the Luminary in d o w n t o w n F o r t M y e r s O l i v o s h a r e d insight on the critical topic of tort reform Tort reform has become an increasingly significant subject in the legal landscape

See BUSINESS BRIEFS, page 32

J. Lee Salon Suites: In the Cape

From page 28

CONRIC pr + marketing is a leading national creative digital marketing, branding, public relations, advertising and web development agency with offices based in Illinois and Southwest Florida The agency blended with the ability to customize and put your own personality into the salon It’s the best of both worlds ”

J Lee Salon Suites provides all of the tools professionals need to be successful

“People are excited about working for themselves, but they have to bring their own clients and be here for it We don’t want them to fail The pro has to show up and be ready to do the work We’re looking f o r r e a l l y d e d i c a t e d p r o f e s s i o n a l s , ”

Villegas said

So far, they have some estheticians, hairstylists and a lot of interest from the nail community

To support the success of beauty and wellness professionals during their initial months of operation, J Lee Salon Suites

w i l l n o t s t a r t c o l l e c t i n g r e n t u n t i l November 2023 This unique opportunity allows licensed professionals to establish their businesses without the immediate financial burden of rent, giving them time to transition their clientele

“People need time to get into the room to paint it and make it theirs,” Villegas said “They’re still adjusting little things, moving in stuff. There’s basically a threemonth grace period They can start taking clients and doing everything they need to without the financial burden ”

The management team at J Lee Salon Suites is now accepting reservations from licensed professionals

Visit http://jleesalonsuites com or call 248-939-7222 to inquire about availability

PJ’s Coffee now hiring for Cape Coral location

PJ’s Coffee is coming to Cape Coral this summer and is looking for friendly people who are passionate about quality coffee

The second PJ’s Coffee in the Sunshine State is set to open its doors and offer the community a clean and inviting environment to enjoy their coffee PJ’s wants to have top-notch employees ready to welcome guests with a smile, while offering up a taste of The Big Easy

Located at 1519 N E Pine Island Road, the coffeehouse is looking to fill out its team with up to 15 jobs from baristas and m a n a g e m e n t t o a l l o t h e r p o s i t i o n s

Interested candidates are encouraged to apply online here and bring a resume if called for an interview

With freshly roasted, premium coffee that warms the soul and pairs perfectly with New Orleans-style beignets, PJ’s Coffee will be the ideal place to enjoy a coastal

sunrise or sunset Once open, the coffeehouse will serve guests from 6 a m to 4 p m , Monday through Friday; 7 a m to 7 p m , Saturday; and 8 a m to 7 p m ,

Sunday

The Cape Coral location will be owned and operated by local-residents, business p a r t n e r s a n d c h i l d h o o d f r i e n d s , S u s a n Wright and Mike Herren

PJ’s Coffee utilizes only the best quality Arabica coffee, sourcing 14 origin coffees from Sumatra to Ethiopia, Colombia to Papua New Guinea PJ’s carries a complete line of espresso-based beverages, flavored coffee and award-winning Original Cold Brew™ iced coffee, as well as a variety of food options, including fresh-baked pastries and desserts.

To learn more about PJ’s Coffee or to f i n d a l o c a t i o n n e a r y o u , v i s i t pjscoffee com

BUSINESS BRIEFS

From page 29

was launched in 2007 and is owned and operated by Nicole and Lucas Goucher of CR Luminosity, LLC The firm serves a diverse portfolio of businesses in 35 states across the country in industry sectors including financial, legal, education, medical, government, non-profit, hospitality,

manufacturing, construction, real estate and salon and spa CONRIC pr + marketing has offices located at 231 Main St in M a p l e P a r k , I l l ; 5 2 3 7 S u m m e r l i n Commons Blvd , Suite 307 in Fort Myers; and 1415 Panther Lane in Naples. For more information, call 239-690-9840 or visit conricpr com

EDUCATION

EDUCATION NOTES

Ledbetter, Pellack graduate from Geor gia College & State University

MILLEDGEVILLE, Ga -- Montana Ledbetter and Alexa Pellack of Cape Coral have graduated from the College of Arts & Sciences at Georgia College & State University

Georgia College & State University is the state's designated public liberal arts university where students learn the essential skills to compete in a fast-paced, global society

For additional information about Georgia College & State University, visit www gcsu edu

DePuma graduates from Buena Vista University

STORM LAKE, Iowa -- Grace DePuma of Cape Coral graduated with a bachelor of arts in human services from Buena Vista University in Spring 2023

DePuma was among more than 300 students who received degrees

Buena Vista University is a private university in Storm Lake, Iowa Founded in 1891 as Buena Vista College, it is affiliated with the Presbyterian Church The university's 60-acre campus is situated on the shores of Storm Lake, a 3,200-acre natural lake The university offers a variety of undergraduate and graduate degree pathways Its convenient online undergraduate and graduate programs provide educational advancement opportunities that are designed to fit anyone's busy schedule

Visit bvu edu for more information about the university

Croke named to dean’s list for 2023 spring semester and graduates from the University of Iowa

IOWA CITY, Iowa -- In May more than 6,500 University of Iowa undergraduate, graduate and professional students received degrees.

Lily Croke of Cape Coral was among the students conferred their degrees Croke was a student in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences whose program of study was speech and hearing science The degree awarded was a bachelor of arts

In addition, Croke was among the more than 7,100 students named to the dean's list for the spring semester

Degree seeking undergraduate students in the Carver College of Medicine, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, the College of Education, the College of Engineering, the College of Public Health, the Tippie College of Business, and University College who achieve a grade-point average of 3 50 or higher on 12 semester hours or more of UI graded coursework during a given semester or summer session and who have no semester hours of incomplete or no grade reported during the same semester are recognized by inclusion on the dean's list for that semester

A top global university, Iowa is the ideal destination for learning, discovery and innovation with over 200 areas of study to choose from

To learn more, visit https://uiowa edu/

Noetzel named to University of Rhode Island Spring 2023 Dean's List

KINGSTON, R I -- The University of Rhode Island is pleased to announce that Abigail Noetzel of Cape Coral has been named to the Spring 2023 Dean's List

Students named to the Dean's List represent nearly all of Rhode Island's cities and towns, all six New England states, New York and New Jersey, and many other states and countries

To be included on the Dean's List, full-time students must have completed 12 or more credits for letter grades which are GPA applicable during a semester and achieved at least a 3 30 quality point average Part-time students qualify with the accumulation of 12 or more credits for letter grades which are GPA applicable earning at least a 3 30 quality point average

To view the entire Dean's List, visit: uri edu/academics/deans-list/

Pace Center for Girls, Lee celebrates seven 2023 graduates

P a c e C e n t e r f o r G i r l s , L e e recently celebrated the graduation of seven students with a special ceremony at Broadway Palm in Fort Myers

Surrounded by their families, friends, staff and fellow Pace girls, graduates Ayleah A , Brooke D , A’Llawna F , Destiny F , Terriana P , Lilyana R and Shelby S were honored during a graduation ceremony on June 5. The ceremony is a milestone achievement for the Pace girls, who have defied the odds to overcome various personal and academic trials in order to c o m p l e t e t h e i r e d u c a t i o n a n d g r a d u a t e F a c e d w i t h tremendous obstacles in life, Pace comes alongside them to provide academic and counseling services to help them see their full potential in life

Gemstones in the Making Founder Claribel Bocanegra delivered the commencement address with a special message for the Class of 2023 before girls took the stage to receive their diploma, followed by the tassel ceremony During the ceremony, graduate Terriana was named as the f i r s t r e c i p i e n t a w a r d e d t h e L y n n S u z a n n e S p r a d l e y Brightest Star Scholarship by KindLee, a local nonprofit that focuses on acts of kindness to help children overcoming life challenges

“We are thrilled to celebrate this remarkable milestone for our graduating class of Pace girls, who have overcome numerous obstacles along the way,” said Jennifer Cellitti, executive director of Pace Center for Girls, Lee “We are so proud of all that they have accomplished to graduate, demonstrating the strength and courage that embodies the female spirit of Pace We cannot wait to see the incredible things these young women will do next on their journey ”

Following graduation, Pace held a transition ceremony on June 6 for 16 girls who have completed the program Alongside the seven graduates, the ceremony recognized nine students that will return to local public schools in the fall semester After leaving Pace, the transition program provides continued support and services to help former

Pace girls as they take the next steps on their journey

P a c e L e e p r o v i d e s g i r l s a n d young women ages 11 to 18 an o p p o r t u n i t y f o r a b e t t e r f u t u r e t h r o u g h e d u c a t i o n , c o u n s e l i n g , training and advocacy Programs are based on the belief that all girls and young women, regardless of race, ethnicity or socioeconomic status, should be uniquely cared for, supported and encouraged to become the best versions of themselves through a path of healing and recovery

Since its inception 16 years ago, Pace Lee has helped more than 1,000 at-promise girls and young women in Lee County find the path to success After leaving Pace, 100% of students improved their academic performance, 96% had no involvement with the juvenile justice system within one year of exiting the program and 89% were either in school or gainfully employed

To learn more about Pace Lee and its programs, please visit PaceCenter org/Locations/Lee or call 239-4252366

About Pace Center for Girls, Lee

Pace Center for Girls, Lee, envisions a world where all girls and young women have power, in a just and equitable society Founded in 1985, Pace provides free yearround middle and high school academics, case management, counseling, and life skills development in a safe and supportive environment that recognizes and deals with past trauma and builds upon girls’ individual strengths Dedicated to meeting the social, emotional and education needs of girls, Pace has a successful and proven program model that has changed the life trajectory of more than 40,000 girls and is recognized as one of the nation’s leading advocates for girls in need

For additional information on Pace Center for Girls, L e e , p l e a s e c a l l 2 3 9 - 4 2 5 - 2 3 6 6 o r v i s i t w w w P a c e Center org/Locations/Lee

Premier Mobile Health Services to hold Community Health Fairs in July

Events to include free medical screenings, backpack giveaways

Premier Mobile Health Services has scheduled a pair of Community Health Fairs to include free school physicals and backpack giveaways

These events will be held in two locations in July:

■ Saturday, July 22, from 9 a m to noon at Mt Hermon Ministries, 2856 Douglas Ave , Fort Myers

■ Saturday, July 29, from 9 a m to noon at Pine Manor Community Center, 5547 10th Ave , Fort Myers

Event organizers anticipate serving at least 500 families from low-income and underserved communities in thea area

Premier will provide free medical screenings for children and will give away backpacks filled with school supplies for children In addition, they will offer free medical health screenings for adults including blood pressure screening, blood sugar testing and HIV testing Through these health fairs, they intend to bring back-to-school health services to those families that need it the most

Donations are welcome

There are many ways to donate school supplies They can be dropped off at the Premier Mobile Health Services walk-in clinic at 10676 Colonial Blvd, Suite #20, Fort Myers, FL, 33913 Items can also be purchased from our Amazon Wish List https://a co/2hVIhZH

Monetary donations can be made on the website at https://premiermobilehealth org/donate

The mission of Premier Mobile Health Services is to provide access to quality health care services to the medically vulnerable and to those who are at most risk of developing and experiencing long term illnesses and hospitalization As a 501(C)3 tax-exempt organization, they provide service through donations and grants

For additional information about Premier Mobile Health Services, please call 239-288-7949 or visit its website at https://premiermobilehealth org/

Highly prized red snapper usually found further out in the Gulf

Like most snapper species the highly prized red snapper is delicious but requires extra fuel to find them as these guys are usually found further out in the Gulf i n t h e 1 2 5 t o 2 0 0 f o o t r a n g e a n d b e y o n d Unfortunately, this popular fish is still by far the most faked commercial/restaurant fish in the world The current season will close on July 31 and will open again in October and November during three day weekends

Two per person limit with a 16” total length to harvest i n b o t h s t a t e a n d f e d e r a l waters

Closer in on near shore structure and almost as tasty, our mangrove or grey snapper s e a s o n i s o p e n y e a r - r o u n d w i t h s o m e u n u s u a l l y b i g specimens already caught this year

A five per person limit in state waters and ten in federal waters. A ten inch total length to harvest in state waters and twelve inches in Federal waters

Annual catch-and-release contest to be held at Moss Marina July 1

By NATHAN MAYBERG nmayberg@breezenewspapers com

Everybody’s favorite free fishing contest is moving back to Fort Myers Beach this Fourth of July weekend

After 30 years of Fourth of July fishing contests at Bonita Bill’s on San Carlos Island, the event is moving to Moss Marina

The catch-and-release contest will be held Saturday, July 1 at the Fort Myers Beach marina due to the loss of the docks of Bonita Bill’s. “The docks are gone,” organizer Joan Semmer said She thanked Moss Marina for being “kind enough to host it for us” this year

Registration starts at 8:30 a m at Moss Marina, which is located at 450 Harbour Court The fishing begins at 9 a m and runs until noon Hot dogs will be served for lunch at noon There will also be watermelon supplied by Mom’s Restaurant and cookies and potato chips donated by Bonita Bill’s Waterfront Café and Tiki Bar

“I’m just so awed at the generosity and kindness of the community,” Ms Semmer said

Those participating need to bring their own poles and bait

There are trophies for the most catches and largest catches, among other categories

The well-attended event features prizes every year for every participant including fishing poles, trophies and other goodies The Fort Myers Beach Tarpon Hunters Club and First Citizens United Bank donated funds for the prizes

Capt George Tunison

Red grouper fishing has also improved this past week after a slow down

Before heading out to state or federal waters to pursue your favorite reef species, be sure to have already signed up for your State Reef Survey and have a ready to use venting tool or device on board

Boca Grande is still tarpon and angler stacked with Redfish and Captiva Passes hosting lesser numbers but still a nice get-away from busy boat bumping Boca Tarpon schools are also spreading out along the coast and can only be found by scouting and watching for rolling fish on early mornings Fish can be moving right off the beach to several miles out Pay your dues by putting in your time quietly scouting or just stake out and wait Binoculars are always a plus

Inshore lots of smaller snook around mangroves with bigger fish to target frolicking in the Gulf surf If you’re a sand walker on an early morning or night snook hunt make sure to bug proof yourself as much as possible

I’m not sure which of these, mosquitos, gnats, or nosee-ums is Florida’s State bird but if you’re early beach walking or stalking flats fish anywhere near summer mangroves be prepared for a fight Over the years many of my charters where cut short by out of state clients totally unprepared for this type of all-out bug assault “Get us out of here!” was the most commonly used phrase with “Are you crazy?” or “How can you stand it!?” a close second and third

Any, and I do mean any, opening on your body is a target, so long everything including socks, ear and face coverings, gloves, are mandatory if you want to be able to fish in relative comfort I always have lots of rubber bands on board to close off shirt cuffs and pant leg bottoms which can save the morning Take cotton or tissue to block your ears which no-see-ums love to explore

With the summer heat and rain pattern now started I’ll soon be switching over to the night shift and very early mornings to pursue tarpon all the up to November around local bridges with jumbo snook as a by-catch

Semmer said the party room at Bonita Bill’s where lunch is usually served is also being remediated Semmer said that extra prizes stockpiled there from previous fishing contests, were lost in Hurricane Ian “We lost everything, our scales, measuring sticks ”

Across the street from Bonita Bill’s, the Ostego Marine Science Center was flooded Semmer said her grandson

was able to save some of the fish from the tanks She also saved two turtles She is awaiting a contractor to patch the roof

Before the fishing contest was held at Bonita Bill’s, Semmer used to organized fishing contests at the Fort Myers Beach Pier This will be the first time the Fourth of July fishing contest returns to the island since before 1992 Bonita Bill’s owner Bill Semmer, who used to fire his mini cannon to start the annual event, died earlier this year His grandson Bill will be shooting off the cannon in his place, Ms Semmer said

Fort Myers Mighty Mussels to celebrate Independence Day with fireworks shows

July 3 fireworks extravaganza set to be biggest in stadium’s history

The Fort Myers Mighty Mussels are hosting an Independence Day Weekend Fireworks Spectacular on July 3 that caps a multi-day celebration of patriotism, baseball and ballpark traditions

The July 3 postgame fireworks show, pr by Pennsylvania-based Pyrotecnico, is expe to last at least 12 minutes and feature thou sands of colorful pyrotechnics launched just beyond the right field fence

“It will be the biggest fireworks show in the history of Hammond Stadium – han down,” said Mighty Mussels President Chris Peters “Twelve minutes may not seem like a long time for a fireworks show, but it will essentially be 12 minutes of a grand finale ”

The Monday, July 3 game caps a weekend celebration that also includes postgame fireworks shows on Friday, June 30 and Sunday, July 2 Killebrew Root Beer, Estero Bay Chevrolet and Lee County Solid Waste are sponsoring the three fireworks shows

All weekend, Mighty Mussels players will be wearing custom red, white and blue patriotic jerseys, which will be auctioned after the game to support Keep Lee County Beautiful, a nonprofit organization focused on improving, beautifying and protecting the environment

Hammond Stadium’s culinary team will be serving up Fourth of July staples like hot dogs, bratwursts, cheeseburgers and chicken tenders, along with Philly cheesesteaks, chicken sandwiches and pizza by the slice Mighty Mussels staff also will be serving freshly squeezed

lemonade, ICEEs, Dippin’ Dots and a ballpark favorite among children – soft serve ice cream in a Mighty Mussels keepsake helmet Concession stands also feature a large selection of draft beers and craft beers from breweries across the country “ O t h e r t h a n O p e n i n g N i g h t , o u r ndependence Day Weekend celebration is bably the most anticipated homestand of the n,” said John Martin, majority partner of the Mussels “You can catch a baseball game r family, enjoy a burger or hot dog and stick around to watch fireworks light up the night sky It doesn’t get any more American than that ” Mighty Mussels tickets start at $10 and are available at MightyMussels com

About the Mighty Mussels

The Fort Myers Mighty Mussels are the Low-A affiliate of the Minnesota Twins and have played home games at Hammond Stadium since 1992 The franchise plays in the Florida State League’s highly competitive West Division The Mighty Mussels are led off the field by Majority Partner John Martin and President Chris Peters, and on the field by Manager Brian Meyer Notable alumni include MLB All-Stars Joe Mauer, David Ortiz, Jose Berrios, Byron Buxton, Miguel Sano and Torii Hunter For information or to purchase individual, group or season tickets, please visit MightyMussels com or call 239768-4210 Follow the Mighty Mussels on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and Snapchat

FILE PHOTO

Youngsters fishing in a previous fishing contest on Fort Myers Beach

Sanibel Captiva Community Bank, Fort Myers High celebrate the groundbreaking of $1M track and field facilities renovation

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Red snapper: Found further out in the Gulf

From page 34

Although every bridge over the Caloosahatchee way up river past I-75 host tarpon at one time or another, but during summers heat, the Mid-point, Cape Coral, and Sanibel structures are hot-spots

Trailering anglers in the North Cape can also take advantage of the close by twin 41 bridges at Punta Gorda which usually hold small to medium sized tarpon yearround

Inshore back country and Cape canal anglers are find-

ing lots of juvenile fish to twenty pounds on light spin and fly tackle This can be a tricky proposition as these guys are typically tight lipped and uncooperative as are the anglers that know where they live Live shrimp and small whitebaits under corks work well with tiny jigs and small flies the casters choice Light lines and leaders are a must to fool these juvies

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

FWC

proposes changes for snook management

At its May meeting th Florida Fish and Wildl Conservation Commission proposed new management regions and regulation changes for snook

The proposed new regions would allow the FWC to better capture local differences in the fishery

T h e p r o p o s e d r u l e changes would:

∫ Establish nine management regions for snook

∫ Match current Gulf or Atlantic coast regulatio within new regions, excep the Charlotte Harbor

∫ Charlotte Harbor: Match current Gulf coast regulations, and implement a two-fish vessel limit and include September in the summer season closure.

Staff will continue to gather input on the proposed rules ahead of a planned final rule hearing at the commission's October meet-

i Submit a public comment on ook regional management by v i s i t i n g M y F W C c o m / SaltwaterComments

For the full May agenda and links to background r e p o r t s , g o t o MyFWC com/Commission a n d s e l e c t “ C o m m i s s i o n Meetings ” Those who cannot attend can follow cove r a g e a t T w i t t e r c o m /MyFWC (@MyFWC) and sign up for news updates at M y F W C c o m C h e c k t h e orida Channel for possible v i d e o c o v e r a g e a t

TheFloridaChannel org

For current recreational snook regulations, visit MyFWC com /Marine and click o n “ R e c r e a t i o n a l R e g u l a t i o n s ” a n d “Snook.” The page includes the snook annual reviews, which provide a summary of the snook fishery status in each proposed management region

Horton Park Boat Ramp to reopen today

The Horton Park Boat Ramp is scheduled to reopen Friday afternoon, June 23

The ramp, located at 2600 SE 26th Place, w a s t e m

Caloosahatchee Connect construction

o

The Caloosahatchee Connect is an interlocal agreement between Cape Coral and Fort Myers to construct a pipeline

underneath the river to transmit reclaimed water from Fort Myers to Cape Coral

To receive updates from the City of Cape Coral, sign up for the newsletter here: Cape Connect For more information about Cape Coral Parks & Recreation locations and amenities visit www cape coral gov

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Cape Coral

Laquita Passauer, 91 of Cape Coral, passed away on June 7, 2023. Arrangements are by Coral Ridge Funeral Home, Cemetery and Cremation Services, Cape Coral. Please visit www.coralridgefuneralhome.com for additional information.

Michael Seaman, 54 of Cape Coral, passed away on June 8, 2023. Arrangements are by Coral Ridge Funeral Home, Cemetery and Cremation Services, Cape Coral. Please visit www.coralridgefuneralhome.com for additional information.

Spyridon Ioannis Legakis, 65, of Cape Coral, passed away Friday, June 16, 2023. Mullins Memorial Funeral Home & Cremation Service, Cape Coral, is entrusted with final care.

Elizabeth Ruth Roach, 65, of Cape Coral, passed away Saturday, June 17, 2023. Mullins Memorial Funeral Home & Cremation Service, Cape Coral, is entrusted with final care.

Mylus Dennis Hilton, 75, of Cape Coral passed away June 13, 2023. Arrangements by Lee County Cremation Services.

Stephen Paul Romanski, Jr. 92, of Cape Coral passed away June 19, 2023. Arrangements by Lee County Cremation Services.

John Riley Montgomery, 87, of Cape Coral, passed away Tuesday, June 13, 2023. Mullins Memorial Funeral Home & Cremation Service, Cape Coral, is entrusted with final care.

Cynthia Joan Ledford, 75, of Cape Coral passed away June 17, 2023. Arrangements by Lee County Cremation Services.

Karen Jean Rupp, 74, of Cape Coral passed away June 15, 2023. Arrangements by Lee County Cremation Services.

Florence E Martin, 99, of Cape Coral passed away June 18, 2023. Arrangements by Lee County Cremation Services.

Michael Klaus Joachim Willecke, 74, of Cape Coral, passed away Wednesday, June 14, 2023. Mullins Memorial Funeral Home & Cremation Service, Cape Coral, is entrusted with final care.

Laquita Passauer, 91 of Cape Coral, passed away on June 7, 2023. Arrangements are by Coral Ridge Funeral Home, Cemetery and Cremation Services, Cape Coral. Please visit www.coralridgefuneralhome.com for additional information.

Roseann Lucian Cavaluzzi, 63, of Cape Coral, Florida passed away June 15, 2023. Arrangements entrusted to Fuller Metz Cremation and Funeral Services. www.fullermetz.com

Randall D. Taylor, 80, of Cape Coral passed away June 19, 2023. Arrangements by Lee County Cremation Services.

Thomas Eugene Radko, 71, of Cape Coral, passed away Monday, June 19, 2023. Mullins Memorial Funeral Home & Cremation Service, Cape Coral, is entrusted with final care.

Michael Seaman, 54 of Cape Coral, passed away on June 8, 2023. Arrangements are by Coral Ridge Funeral Home, Cemetery and Cremation Services, Cape Coral. Please visit www.coralridgefuneralhome.com for additional information.

John Edward Skrivan, Jr., 44, of Cape Coral, passed away Sunday, June 11, 2023. Mullins Memorial Funeral Home & Cremation Service, Cape Coral, is entrusted with final care.

Fort Myers

Cynthia Helen Elizabeth Quinlan, 65, of Fort Myers passed away June 14, 2023. Arrangements by Lee County Cremation Services.

Eric John Isecke, 55, of Fort Myers passed away June 14, 2023. Arrangements by Lee County Cremation Services.

Charlotte County

William Joseph Deluna, 60, of Punta Gorda passed away May 27, 2023. Arrangements by Lee County Cremation Services.