Pine Island Eagle

GPIA addresses new initiatives to rebuild island

Group receives updates from GPIWA, Matlacha Hookers, Ruane’s office and Rebuild Together

By PAULETTE LeBLANC pleblanc@breezenewspapers com

When the Greater Pine Island Alliance met June 20 at the Fishers of Men Lutheran Church, members discussed a number of new initiatives to help rebuild the island still recovering from Hurricane Ian

GPIA co-chair Aaron Barreda addressed the temporary containers project the group has undertaken, saying partner group Pathfinder Mission has decided the time has come to go back to Texas The project, he said, has become a collaboration with other groups in addition to Pathfinder Mission, such as the American Legion and

Project Hope

“To this date, we have been able to put out over 51 temporary storage containers on the island That’s one of our big initiatives that’s been coming at a cost of about $750 a piece,” Barreda said

Pathfinder Mission is handing over plans for the temporary containers to the GPIA, so that it may continue, Barreda said There are eight containers, which have already been funded, with a number of containers in need of funding

Barreda and co-chair Jay Sanderson attended a regional meeting of Lions Club International where they got a

Pine Island Tropicals and FruitScapes slowly recovering from Hurricane Ian

By PAULETTE LeBLANC pleblanc@breezenewspapers com

Pine Island Tropicals and FruitScapes owner Donna

Hurricane Ian has been quite a slow process, for her and her husband Gary, as they were closed for almost a month after the storm Having lost approximately half of their botanical gardens as well as many of their fruit trees has left the pair scrambling to salvage anything they can

“What we’re trying to do now is cultivate any of those varieties that we can salvage particularly the heliconias and gingers,” Schneider said

In addition to trying to maintain the business, Schneider said there is a 100-foot mahogany tree still down from the storm. In this type of industry, being without irrigation, a well-pump or an acid injector (all of which were lost during the hurricane) can make every day a challenge of its own Even some of the live products they were able to salvage took a turn and

See RECOVERING, page 16

Donna Schneider at Pine Island Tropicals and FruitScapes

PHOTO PROVIDED

commitment from the organization to assist Pine Island “Lions Club International is doing two things one, come roughly mid-July, they’ve announced they’re going to donate $10,000 in building supplies they said their second donation after that, with a date to be determined, they are going to help us on this shed mission To date, we’ve already spent over $38,000 building sheds for the island that’s in conjunction with Pathfinder The Greater Pine Island Alliance donated $15 (thousand), the Hookers donated $12,500 we’re very grateful that

See GPIA, page 14

Pine Island Crab Company freezer taken out by tornado

By PAULETTE LeBLANC pleblanc@breezenewspapers com

On Sunday, June 18, just short of 9 months after Hurricane Ian ravaged Southwest Florida, the Pine Island Crab Company was struck by a tornado Company general manager Dallas Ryan estimated concrete and labor costs at approximately $100,000 to $150,000 for a brand new freezer, that had been built in the wake of Ian; a freezer that hadn’t yet been used to store product, when the tornado took it out.

“It’s been almost a year in the making getting this freezer put in, between ordering it - because everything has been delayed since COVID, it took us a while to get product and permitting We actually just finally got the permit for the electrical to be installed so we could start using it,” Ryan said

Ryan, now an islander, came from “Tornado Alley” in Illinois, where he said it was not uncommon to take shelter from tornados in a closet as sirens were blaring He maintains resiliency, saying there’s no question about building another freezer, as that is the plan, regardless of Mother Nature.

“We are Pine Island strong We’re just a tough little community we’ll make it through,” Ryan said Pine Island Crab Company is at 5511 Doug Taylor Circle, St James City, FL 33956 For additional information, call 239-283-5101

PHOTO BY DAN MOTE

The recent damage caused by the a tornado at Pine Island Crab Company.

Public meeting set for SR 78 (Pine Island Road) Proposed Corridor Vision Plan

Bartow, Fla – The Florida Department

o f T r a n s p o r t a t i o n i s h o s t i n g a p u b l i c meeting for the SR 78 (Pine Island Road)

Proposed Corridor Vision Plan in Lee County

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

Residents can participate in the SR 78 (Pine Island Road) Proposed Corridor Vision Plan Public Meeting live online or

in-person The same materials will be displayed at both the online and in-person events and will also be posted by June 15, 2023, on the project website at https:// www swflroads com/project/442083-1

In-Person Option: The in-person open house is scheduled for Thursday, June 22, at Cape Coral Technical College, 360 Santa Barbara Blvd , N,, Cape Coral, FL 33993 Attend the in-person event anytime between 5 and 7 p m

Virtual Option: The virtual event is scheduled for Thursday, June 29, from 6 - 7 p . m . P l e a s e r e g i s t e r t o a t t e n d a t https://bit ly/41giOhj The live event can also be accessed online through the proje c t w e b s i t e a t h t t p s : / / w w w s w f l r o a d s com/project/442083-1 Once registered, a t t e n d e e s w i l l r e c e i v e a c o n f i r m a t i o n email containing information about joining the meeting online Please review the

meeting materials online through the project website prior to this event.

Website: View the materials online at h t t p s : / / w w w s w f l r o a d s c o m / p r oject/442083-1 Comments can be provided through the project website After reviewing the public meeting materials a n d / o r p a r t i c i p a t i n g , y o u m a y s u b m i t comments in three different ways: 1) on the project website; 2) by emailing the FDOT Project Manager, Tanya Merkle, at tanya merkle@dot state fl us; or 3) mailing comments to Tanya Merkle, Manatee

O p e r a t i o n s C e n t e r , 1 4 0 0 0 S R 6 4 , Bradenton, FL 34212 While comments about the project are accepted at any time, p l e a s e n o t e t h a t c o m m e n t s m u s t b e received or postmarked by July 10, 2023, to be included in the project record A summary of the meeting comments and responses will be available on the website

approximately 30 days after the comment period close.

F D O T s o l i c i t s p u b l i c p a r t i c i p a t i o n without regard to race, color, national origin, age, sex, religion, disability or family status People who require special accomm o d a t i o n s u n d e r t h e A m e r i c a n s w i t h Disabilities Act or who require translation services (free of charge) should contact Cynthia Sykes, District One Title VI Coordinator, at (863) 519-2287 or email at Cynthia Sykes@dot state fl us at least seven (7) days prior to the public meeting

T h e F l o r i d a D e p a r t m e n t o f Transportation may adopt this planning product into the environmental review process, pursuant to Title 23 USC § 168(d)(4), or to the state project development process

Lee County operations adjust schedules for Independence Day

Most Lee County administrative operations will be closed Tuesday, July 4, in observance of Independence Day

The county’s holiday schedule adjustments are as follows:

Solid Waste

All garbage, recycling and yard waste collections in unincorporated Lee County, the City of Bonita Springs, the Village of E s t e r o a n d t h e T o w n o f F o r t M y e r s Beach, will take place one day after the regularly scheduled collection day follow-

ing the July 4 holiday This means that if your regular collection day is Monday, July 3, your pickup will be as normally scheduled Tuesday's regularly scheduled p i c k u p s w i l l b e o n W e d n e s d a y Wednesday’s regularly scheduled pickups will occur on Thursday and so on for the rest of the week through Saturday, July 8 Regular collection schedules resume on Monday, July 10

Lee County Solid Waste facilities and offices are closed on Tuesday, July 4, in observance of the holiday This includes

operations at the Household Chemical Waste Collection Facility, 6441 Topaz Court, the Resource Recovery Facility on Buckingham Road and the Lee/Hendry Regional Solid Waste Disposal Facility

Solid Waste urges all residents to recycle plastic, metal and glass containers from Independence Day activities

Lee County Utilities

The offices of Lee County Utilities, the Call Center and drive-thru window will be closed on Tuesday, July 4, in observance

of Independence Day A drop-box is onsite at the front door and another accessible via the drive-thru for payments by check

Libraries

All library locations will be closed on Tuesday, July 4 Each branch will resume regular operating hours on Wednesday, July 5 The library is always available online at www leelibrary net/online

See OPERATIONS, page 11

OPINIONS

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

Publisher Raymond M Eckenrode reckenrode@breezenewspapers com

Executive Editor Valarie Harring vharring@breezenewspapers com

Editor Paulette LeBlanc pleblanc@breezenewspapers com

Advertising Director Laurie Ragle lragle@ breezenewspapers com

Advertising Sales Charlene Russ cruss@breezenewspapers

Design & Layout Chris Strine cstrine@breezenewspapers com

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

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 c e l e b r a t e d w i t h o u t a n o u n c e o f s h a m e , because it highlights the truth about the volunteer experience

Web Poll

Previous Web Poll Question: Are you concerned about hurricane season?

■ Yes, because we haven’t recovered from Hurricane Ian yet 44% ■ Yes, more now than in year ’s past 0% ■ Concerned but cautious 26%

■ No, we’re ready 30%

Current Web Poll Question:

Are you prepared for the hurricane season?

■ Yes, always

■ Yes - when a storm heads this way, I’m outta here!

■ Almost

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

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

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 government-issued 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 statu-

Americans helped others better handle or face their circumstances during a difficult time

W i t h D A V ( D i s a b l e d 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 p a r t o f h o w w e d o t h a t i s through selfless volunteers who g i v e t h e i r m o s t v a l u a b l e resource: their time

Our volunteers come from a l l w a l k s o f l i f e a n d b a c kgrounds 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 n o - c o s t r i d e s t o v e t e r a n s w h o o t h e r w i s e wouldn’t have access to lifesaving and critic a l V A m e d i c a l a p p o i n t m e n t s W h e n

tory requirements, which did not include any sort of identification

The required presentation of a governmentissued 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

COVID-19 hit, we lost many of t h e s e d r i v e r s a s t h e c o u n t r y effectively shut down But even as things are largely back to n o r m a l , m a n y o f o u r 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 e x p e n s i v e t r a n s p o r t a t i o n f e e s 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 v o l u n t e e r K l e i n d i e n s t i s a U S M a r i n e 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

Hurricane season is here, are you prepared?

Control District Community Emergency Response Team is providing a series on disaster preparedness for islanders

By NARCISSUS E. MAGTURO and KAREN TITOLO, CERT members

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

Sheltering in Place!

■ The time to develop and practice your family emergency plan is prior to hurricane season

■ Prepare several evacuation or sheltering options for your family

■ Deciding whether to evacuate or shelter in place depends upon the incident or event; each event requires its own decision

■ If you do NOT live in an area that is required to evacuate, sheltering at home with precautions is a safe choice.

■ Preparing properly, and offering to shelter friends or family who are required to leave a more dangerous area, will help the entire community get through the storm together

■ Shelter at home if it is safe from winds and storm surge waters, and you are not under an evacuation order

■ Expect the power to be out, and the likelihood that you may be under a boil water notice, if not without water entirely

■ Fill bathtubs/sinks/other containers (even large pots) with water

■ Secure items in and around your home before tropi-

CERT Update

cal storm force winds arrive

■ If you have a generator, remember to use it OUTSIDE only, in an area with plenty of ventilation! Remember, generators produce odorless, deadly carbon monoxide gas

■ Perform annual maintenance on your generator before the start of hurricane season

■ Prepare your emergency supply kit before the start of hurricane season

■ Your home emergency supply kit should include the following items:

● Bottled water - one gallon per person and pet per day

● Non-perishable food, enough for 3-7 days

● Manual can opener

● Disposable plates and utensils

● Cooler and ice for food and medications

● Infant and/or senior supplies

● Pet food if you have pets

● Hand sanitizer

● First aid kit

● Two-week supply of prescribed medications

● Flashlight

● Batteries for radio, flashlight, hearing aids and other devices

● Books, cards, games

● Battery-operated lamp(s)

● A full list can be found on the Lee County Emergency Management website here, by clicking on the “Emergency Supply List” button: https://www leegov

Kindergarten registration underway at Pine Island Elementary School

Pine Island Elementary School is registering all upcoming kindergarten students for the 2023-2024 school year If your child will be 5 years old by Sept 1, 2023, they are ready to start school. Please stop by the school office to register them for kindergarten

PIE encourages all new kindergarteners to be registered for school by July 1, 2023

When registering your child for school, please bring the child’s birth certificate, proof of residence, driver’s

license and current physical with Florida immunization records to Pine Island Elementary A Lee County School Registration Form will need to be completed also. This form is located online at pie.leeschools.net or parents can stop by the school office to pick one up

If you have any questions about school registration, please contact Rosie Perez at 239-283-0505 Pine Island Elementary is located at 5360 Ridgewood Drive in Bokeelia.

com/publicsafety/emergencymanagement/plan

■ Add a few pieces to your supply kit each week so that it doesn't break your budget

■ Remember to check your kit often and rotate the non-perishable food in your kit

■ Consider changing the voicemail message on your phone to say you are safe and at (home or wherever else you are); if your service is sporadic, a caller will still get your recorded message

■ You can help your neighborhood! If you are able, now is a good time to check with neighbors, senior adults or those who may need additional help securing hurricane plans to see how you can be of assistance to them

REMINDER: Have you organized your insurance policies and personal documents, and stored them where you can easily access them? Have you tested your weather radio?

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

Prepare Now actions:

Make an Emergency Plan (article #1)

Know your warnings and alerts (article #2)

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

Review important documents (article #4)

Strengthen your home (article #3)

Get tech ready (article #4)

Help your neighborhood

Gather supplies (article #2)

Have questions about this article? You can contact the M / P I F C D , S t a t i o n # 1 , a t 2 3 9 - 2 8 3 - 0 0 3 0 , M o n d a yFriday 7:30 a m to 4:30 p m

Island Mahjongg

There was a fun group of eight mahjongg players at St James City Civic Association June 22

Top scorers were MaryAnn Harms with 100 points, Bonnie Kellen and Judy Burchianti with 110 and Carolyn Crosby with 130

We play Mahjongg on Thursdays from 1-4 p m at SJCCA, located at Fourth Avenue and Lemon Street. Come and join the fun while learning a new skill We look forward to meeting you!

It was a better week for offshore anglers

For the most part, weather cooperated for offshore anglers over the week American red snapper were boated in depths from 110-160 feet Red grouper, mangrove, vermilion and lane snapper, plus porgies, were also boxed A few boats also hooked into small dolphin (mahi-mahi)

Artificial or man-made reefs within 10 miles of shore held sharks, goliath grouper and barracuda, for anglers looking for a hard fight and good time Permit were reported over many of the reefs as well, along with Spanish mackerel and snapper

On the Water

Catch-and-release snook fishing remained consistent up and down the beaches with fish running 20-36 inches Whiting and pompano were hooked along the beaches near the passes over the incoming tide Snook, redfish and mangrove snapper took live and cut bait around structure inside the passes and barrier islands

Mangrove snapper up to 13 inches were caught around oyster b a r s , m a n g r o v e p o i n t s , c r e e k mouths and structure Most were caught on shrimp, small pinfish and pilchards Good water movement and chumming was key to getting the bite started

At the north end of Matlacha Pass where it meets with Charlotte Harbor, Spanish mackerel and sharks were hooked fishing around bait pods The bait fish were located by watching for dimpling or rain on the surface, diving pelicans and other bird or dolphin activity

Areas in mid and northern Pine Island Sound held a variety of fish including seatrout, ladyfish, jack crevalle, mackerel, bluefish, sharks and, of course, catfish The key to good fishing was to find areas with good water and tide movement Avoid the milky or colored water and fish depths from 4 to 8 feet with decent clarity If the sun is out, you should be able to differentiate the type of bottom from sand to grass with polarized sun-

See BETTER WEEK, page 16

of

and his clients had a good day fishing offs h o r e w i t h a b a g o f snapper, groupers and other tasty fish They were fishing out of Jug C r e e k M a r i n a i n Bokeelia

Capt Bill Russell

Captain Scotty Darna

Salty Boy Charters

PHOTO PROVIDED

American Legion to sponsor annual Fourth of July parade

Stringfellow Road will be shut down from 10 a m until approximately 10:30

a m for Fourth of July Parade from the Winn-Dixie Plaza to Pine Island Road

This year’s Fourth of July parade will

stage in the Winn-Dixie parking lot 9864 Stringfellow Road, in St James City, beginning at 9 a m The parade begins at 10 a m, heading north on Stringfellow Road to Pine Island Road then west ending at the Elks Club

To enter a float, bicycle or vehicle in the parade, simply come to the WinnDixie parking lot at 9 a m on July Fourth Any child under 8 years needs to be accompanied by an adult.

F o r m o r e , c a l l T o m Ruscik 239-283-5270

Project Hope to hold Resource Clinic and Support Groups

CPE - Project Hope will

b e h o l d i n g a R e s o u r c e Clinic and Support Groups

a t t h e P i n e I s l a n d Community Church, located at 5320 Doug Taylor

C i r c l e , S t J a m e s C i t y , every Thursday from 5-8 p m

Resource Clinic will be held from 5-6 p m

W o m e n ' s S u p p o r t Group 6-7 p m

Men's Support Group 78 p m

Beacon programs, activities scheduled for July

The Beacon of Hope has announced its programs and activities for the month of July

The schedule includes:

■ Samaritan Health and Wellness, a primary care clinic, is now open at the Beacon every other Wednesday from 8 a.m. to noon. This clinic provides care for the uninsured and underinsured The cost is $50 and help is available if needed People of all ages are welcome Mental health services are also available Call the Beacon at 239-283-5123 to make an appointment

r e s i l i e n c e m o v i n g f o r w a r d R o n d a Czarnecke, MSW, and Nancy Buthman (director of BOH), both Pine Island residents, invite everyone to come together and share in this safe space Join the at the Beacon on Friday mornings starting July 7 at 10 a m For questions, call Ronda –231-383-1302.

■ The Food Bank – Every Saturday at 9:30 11 a m The Emergency Pantry is available when the Beacon is open

■ Wellness Committee – Next meeting will be Sept 11 at 10 a m

ments and treatments is also available to anywhere in Lee County, Please call 48 hours before your appointment

■ Strange Arrangement – Mondays 67:30 p m Lessons given A musical experience

■ Fundraising meeting – Monday, July 17, at 10 a.m.

■ Grants Committee meeting – To be announced

■ Homelessness Committee – To be announced

■ Spanish language class will start Tuesday, July 11, at 6 p m , in the classroom

■ The Attic (Thrift Store) is open Monday through Friday from 9 a m to 3 p m It will be closed on Wednesdays Saturday hours are 10 a m to 3 p m Donations are accepted until 2:30 p.m. unless overloaded Every Tuesday is 50% off clothing, shoes and similar items 50% off “almost everything” will be on July 18, Aug 15, and Sept 5

■ Coffee Klatch

We have all been affected by Hurricane Ian in countless w a y s T h e B e a c o n o f H o p e w a n t s islanders to know we are here to support you Join us for a gathering of conversation, coffee and support. The Beacon is providing a safe space to share, be heard and connect with others to lift islanders spirits and honor everyone's strength and

■ Blood pressure screening is held every Wednesday from 1-2 p m and every Saturday morning from 10-11 a m

■ The Veteran’s Support group meets on the first Friday of every month from 9 a m to 12:30 p m Call 239-283-5123 to make an appointment.

■ Beacon Bites (our meals on wheels) is available Call if you need to sign up

■ Transportation to medical appoint-

■ Pine Island Boy Scout and Cub Scout Troop will be meeting Wednesdays at 6 p m

■ G i r l S c o u t T r o o p w i l l m e e t o n Fridays at 6 p m

■ GED classes are on Tuesday and Thursday from 9 a m to 2 p m

■ ESOL classes Mondays at 7 p.m. and Thursdays from 6-8 p m

The Beacon of Hope, located at 5090 Doug Taylor Circle, St James City, is open Monday, Wednesday and Thursday, from 9 a m to 5 p m Computers, fax and printer are available for use Case managers are available at these times Call and make an appointment To contact the Beacon of Hope, please call 239-2835123

GPICA conducting post-Ian survey

It's been nearly nine months since Hurricane Ian caused catastrophic dama g e t o t h e i s l a n d c o m m u n i t y T h e Greater Pine Island Civic Association is conducting a survey to assess how postIan recovery is going for members of M a t l a c h a I s l e s , M a t l a c h a , S t . J a m e s City, Pine Island Center, Pineland and Bokeelia

Please tell the GPICA how you're doing, whether you have unmet needs and what your most pressing concerns are The organization will share this i n f o r m a t i o n w i t h l o n g - t e r m r e c o v e r y groups working on the island to demon-

strate the community's needs in order to seek additional support and resources Visit this link to take the survey- https://forms gle/vcHin7voo76m5fGx

9

Special note: the GPICA will not share email addresses with any other group or agency unless you give us explicit permission to do so in the second question of the survey Also note the GPICA is only collecting names of those islanders who are seeking help from long-term recovery groups so that information can be passed on to recovery groups working on the islands

Next veterans’ Honor Flight set for Sept. 30

Collier-Lee Honor Flight recently announced that the next Honor Flight, Flight #25, is scheduled to take place Sept 30, 2023 An invitation has been extended to all military veterans from Collier and Lee counties to regis-

John R. Wood Properties, Christies International Real Estate announces top producers for May

John R Wood Properties, Christies International Real Estate has announced its May Top Producers for the Pine Island offices:

#1 Overall Sales Team, Pine Island Team -- Mike Faulkner, Brian Faulkner, Paula Barwick, Cindy

Harmon

#1 Single Agent -- Terri James

#2 Single Agent -- Kristi Dunfee

The offices for the Pine Island Group are located at 5400 Pine Island Road, Bokeelia, (239-283-1028), and 2959 Oleander St , St James City (239-2830909)

Operations

ter for consideration to participate for free in this event

In addition to welcoming veterans, the Collier-Lee Honor Flight organization is also seeking compassionate volunteers to serve as guardians for the veterans during these historic journeys As guardians, these volunteers will accompany and support the veterans throughout the trip, ensuring their comfort and safety

Collier-Lee Honor Flight's mission is to provide free air transportation to local veterans, enabling them to visit the memorials in Washington, D C , dedicated to honoring their remarkable service and sacrifices These trips serve as a poignant reminder of the valor and dedication displayed by the nation's veterans

During the Honor Flight, there will be surprises of recognition and honor, ensuring that each veteran feels deeply appreciated throughout the day

“It is our firm belief that these brave men and women

deserve nothing less than our utmost gratitude and admiration,” says Debi Lux, Collier-Lee Honor Flight originator

Wheelchairs are provided for all veterans to assure their comfort and safety

The support for these trips is made possible by dedicated military and non-military volunteers and comes at no cost to the veterans

Collier-Lee Honor Flight encourages individuals and companies to consider sponsoring the Honor Flights Sponsors will receive prominent and continuous mention and recognition on the organization's website as a token of appreciation for the invaluable contribution

For more information regarding veterans, guardians and sponsorship opportunities, visit the Collier Honor Flight website at https://www collierhonorflight org/ or contact us at 239-777-9295

From page 2

Domestic Animal Services

Animal Services, 5600 Banner Drive, Fort Myers, will be closed for the holiday on Tuesday, July 4, but will resume regular business hours on Wednesday, July 5

LeeTran

LeeTran will not run bus, trolley or paratransit service o n t h e h o l i d a y , T u e s d a y , J u l y 4 S e r v i c e r e s u m e s

Wednesday, July 5 Route schedules and maps are at www rideleetran com

Parks & Recreation

P a r k s , p o o l s a n d p r e s e r v e s r e m a i n o p e n o n Independence Day. Offices and recreation centers are closed Tuesday, July 4, and will reopen Wednesday, July 5 Check www leeparks org for the list of open locations, hours and amenities. The county asks park patrons to remember no alcohol is permitted in county parks Lee County reminds residents and visitors that the Causeway Islands Park on the Sanibel Causeway remains closed to watercraft, pedestrian and bicycle traffic due to the active construction zone

Transportation

T h e L e e C o u n t y D e p a r t m e n t o f T r a n s p o r t a t i o n reminds motorists the Cape Coral Bridge will be closed for the Red, White & Boom celebration from 3 a m

Tuesday, July 4, through 3 a m

Wednesday, July 5 Cape Coral Parkway from Del Prado Boulevard to the bridge also will be closed at that time

M o t o r i s t s a r e e n c o u r a g e d t o u s e t h e V e t e r a n ’ s

Memorial Bridge or the U S 41 and Business 41 b r i d g e s L e e D O T w i l l p l a c e m e s s a g e b o a r d s f o r motorists in advance of the closure; they will remain in place through the holiday and the closing Motorists should plan for an alternate route

To receive updates from Lee County Government, s i g n u p f o r t h e n e w s l e t t e r a t w w w l e e g o v c o m / resources/newsletters

Terri James Kristi Dunfee

Cat of the Week

Those big blue eyes and innocent expression help Henry get away with a lot at the shelter He came to us with a permanent head tilt Since we don’t know his history, we can only guess what caused it Some think he had an inner ear infection, but I like to think he accidentally ate a skink. Our sweet Henry would never have eaten it on purpose. That mean old skink probably forced Henry to chomp him up If I’m going to be comp l e t e l y h o n e s t , H e n r y p r o b a b l y should be an only cat The other cats complain that he is a bit of a bully, but all it takes is one look at that sweet face and I melt. Henry is a 3-year-old flame point Siamese mix He loves to watch out the window, especially now that we have a peacock that likes to visit If you are looking for a best friend, he will have you wrapped around his paw in no time Call Helping Paws Animal Sanctuary at 239-283-9100 to meet this adorable kitty If you’d rather just donate, our address is 10060 Mallory Parkway, E., Unit D, St. James City, FL, 33956 or there’s always our website www.helpingpawsanimalsanctuary.com

GPIA

From page 1

another group has come in, in a time of need We need more funding to keep these going We’re pleased to announce a great partnership with Lions Club International we want to thank them immensely,” Barreda said

The GPIA needs more volunteers, by way of boots on the ground, to keep this mission going, Barreda said, encouraging anyone who wants to volunteer to sign up on the website Disaster recovery organization, Compass 82, has recently been given a mission to assist Lee County with disaster case managers

“They have offered us a reciprocal grant, so we initially put the funding up front and then in about 45 days they will backfill it through those funds, so we can hire a disaster case manager,” Barreda said

L e e C o u n t y C o m m i s s i o n e r K e v i n

R u a n e ’ s o f f i c e r e p r e s e n t a t i v e P a m e l a Smith gave an update on the recovery of recreational facilities, such as Matlacha Park Recovery plans include restoration to the pre-Hurricane Ian condition, not to extend to building anything new

“The county, at this point, intends to

Obituaries

build exactly what’s there no additions, no subtractions So, at this point, the community will not have input to new stuff, because their won’t be new stuff,” Smith said

Greater Pine Island Water Association g e n e r a l m a n a g e r a n d e n g i n e e r M i k e s Maillakakis said since Hurricane Ian, he has been collecting future project ideas Among these ideas are how to plan a grocery store staff; how to plan a fuel station staff; DOT sheet piles that create a seawall; an area operation center; construction and design of a Greater Pine Island Recovery Center, which can be used by the community when there is no emergency; provision of Starlink to GPIA for communication; a radio station specifically for Pine Island to communicate emergency information; a marine port, in the event of losing the causeway These ideas are necessary, he said, in the event that islanders have to deal with the same conditions presented by Hurricane Ian

GPIA contract director Erin Lambert announced an update on some of the efforts of the Matlacha Hookers, preceding hurricane season The organization is currently working on a hurricane preparedness kit to be handed out to Matlacha residents

There will be a hurricane preparedness raffle at the Mango Mania event, for various useful emergency supplies, including a 7,500 watt generator, a $50 gas card, a gas can and extension cords Tickets are $10 each Rebuild Together director of strategic partnerships

Justin Coles announced the organization’s partnership w i t h t h e G P I A a s w e l l island homeowners, as the organization has a mission to utilize federal funding to help get people back into their homes.

For more information on available help, donations, or how to reach a GPIA partner, please visit GPIALLIANCE org

First Baptist Church of Pine Island to hold Vacation Bible School July 5-7

First Baptist Church of Pine Island will be having Vacation Bible School Wednesday-Friday, July 5-7, from 6:15-8:30 p m for ages kindergarten through 12th grade

Recovering

From page 1

declined, only to be lost anyway, she said

The Schneiders were able to help those around them, however, as they used their FruitScapes retail location as a distribution center for fellow islanders in need following Hurricane Ian

“People could come and get food, clothing, kids toys and finally we got with the daycare and distributed the rest to them,” Schneider said of Creative Coast Daycare

There is no cost or registration necessary, just arrive at 6 p m to register onsite

First Baptist Church of Pine Island is located at The Center across from Pine Island Elementary School at

Loss of irrigation made last season a very short one for Pine Island Tropicals, as well as Mama Donna products, since they are made from most of the fruit grown on site, Schneider said Counting themselves fortunate for having been able to stay on the island through the hurricane because she was able to salvage the fruit she’d had in her six freezers, Schneider said, a present issue is for next year, due to a lack of fruit on the trees now In an attempt to tackle the problem, they find themselves purchasing inventory from growers out of the area, admitting this to be a foreign problem, as Pine Island has been plentiful in live inventory, especially mangoes

“We are open at the market FruitScapes so I do have my Momma Donna products there. Right now, we are sourcing out of the area for fruit, but we are fully stocked at the moment as well at the market The only thing I am not doing at the moment is, I’m unable to provide any of my tropicals at the moment Right now, people can look at the fresh fruit any of the tropical fruit and obviously trees that FruitScapes provide and any of my Momma Donna products I’m still making my breads jam, chutney, salsa, barbecue sauce,” Schneider said Schneider thanks islanders for their support, saying

5363 Avenue D , Bokeelia

For additional information about the VBS or if you have questions, please contact Cristen Olsen at 239283-1737

they’ve been on Pine Island since 1980, with plans to continue

“Things may look a little different right now but we’re striving to get back to normalcy and provide all the products we’ve been able to provide through the years, particularly feeding families with organic fruits and vegetab l e s , a n d , o f c o u r s e , w e ’ l l b e a t M a n g o M a n i a , ” Schneider said Pine Island Tropicals is at 12870 Stringfellow Road, B o k e e l i a T h e b u s i n e s s i s o p e n M o n d a y , T u e s d a y , Thursday and Saturday, from 9 a m to 4 p m For additional information, call 239-283-4874, visit Pineisland tropicals com or email Pineislandtropicals@gmail com

Better week

From page 7

glasses Dark is generally grass and lighter color is sand, fish the transition or breaks of color change for the best results

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

If you have a fishing report or for charter information, contact Gulf Coast Guide Service at 239-410-8576 (call or text); on the web at www fishpine island com; or via email at gcl2fish@ live com

Have a safe week and good fishin’

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

A sample of some of the Momma Donna’s items available at Pine Island Tropicals and FruitScapes

PHOTOS PROVIDED Gary Schneider at Pine Island Tropicals on Stringfellow Road in Bokeelia.

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