Cape Coral Weekend Breeze

Travel records predicted for July 4th holiday

By CJ HADDAD cjhaddad@breezenewspapers com

It looks like 2024 will be a record-setting year for Floridians traveling for the Independence Day holiday according to top forecasters

AAA - The Auto Club Group, projects travelers will set new records both nationwide and in Florida this Fourth of July According to AAA, more than 70 9 million people around the country are expected to travel 50plus miles away from home, with nearly 4 5

million being Floridians

Debbie Haas, vice president of

“The summer travel season is off to a hot start and we expect to set new travel records

Travel for AAA

on the road and in the sky during the week of Independence Day,” stated Debbie Haas, vice president of Travel for AAA, in a release

“There will be 3 5 million more travelers than last year That means even more people at airports and popular attractions like beaches, lakes, and theme parks.”

AAA’s Independence Day travel forecast measures domestic trips of 50 miles or more during a nine-day period from June 29 to July 7

Experts state that despite concerns about inflation, total travel is increasing on growth

By CJ HADDAD cjhaddad@breezenewspapers com

Cape Coral police are actively scanning the city for credit card skimmers that have the potential to steal personal information from patrons of business

Cape Coral Police Department Public Affairs Officer Mercedes Simonds the department has seen “several” skimmers pop up throughout the city within the last 30 days

“A few businesses called in because t h e y r e c o g n i z e d a s k i m m e r h a d b e e n placed on their point-of-sale terminals,” Simonds said “The skimmers can often damage the customers’ cards, and they are not securely attached to the point-of-sale terminal ”

Cape Coral Police officials recently visited 65 businesses to inspect for skimmers, but did not discover any foul play CCPD is still actively investigating places around the city

As for how easy it is for these skimmers to be slipped over a point-of-sales system, Simonds said it depends of the level of criminal

“They often use distractionary techniques to complete an installation successfully,” she said

So, what can businesses do to stay on top of things?

“First off, it is important for businesses

LCSO opens academy to provide training in-house

By MEGHAN BRADBURY news@breezenewspapers com

Lee County Sheriff Carmine Marceno announced Wednesday that the office now has its own academy which will allow the agency to put more boots on the ground and lower response times

“It’s an iconic day for Lee County and the Lee County Sheriff’s Office,” he said during a press conference. “What you see today sets the pace and tone for decades moving forward We have always worked with our amazing partners of the Southwest Florida Criminal Justice Academy; we continue to work with them, but now have our own academy ”

A l t h o u g h t h e S o u t h w e s t F l o r i d a Criminal Justice Academy did a great job, they were limited, as the academy served five counties, leaving not many the Lee County Sheriff’s Office could hire, he said The new academy is a game changer

“It’s an iconic day for Lee County and the Lee County Sheriff ’s Office. What you see today sets the pace and tone for decades moving forward. We have always worked with our amazing partners of the Southwest Florida Criminal Justice Academy; we continue to work with them, but now have our own academy ”

Lee County Sheriff Carmine Marceno

because they will continuously be putting more boots on the street, Marceno added

“Today is a huge, huge win for not just the Sheriff’s Office, but for the entire community,” he said

The Lee County Sheriff’s Office is one of seven to have an academy in the state of Florida The Florida Department of Law Enforcement will continue with curriculum, overseeing the program and training people to custom fit the Lee County Sheriff’s Office.

“We have the ability now to continuously run classes to custom tailor the training of w h a t w e w a n t f o r o u r

agency,” Marceno said

The police academy is being paid for within their existing budget

“This building was refurbished and in our budget,” he said “We use our budget money to pay for academy classes now and sponsor individuals Right now, we have over 58 in law enforcement and over 20 in corrections ”

The instructors are top notch and have been around for decades, Marceno said

“They come from all over corrections, investigation, SWAT, and now with their knowledge they will get that knowledge to our new recruitments who will soon be graduating,” he said

The academy gives the office the ability to provided hands-on personalized training so they know exactly what and how they do things at the Sheriff’s Office Their four phases now turns into one because they already know most of what they do locally, he said

Marceno said the community will see more police presence

“We want people from all over knowing that Lee County is a safe place for people to live,” he said

Last year more than 80,000 people moved to Lee County, which Marceno said is because there is safety, security and law and order in the county With that many people moving into the area there are more calls of service than ever.

“We deliver a concierge level of service and that is an absolute must What an amazing, dedicated profession in a world where common sense is gone,” Marceno said “We have people lined up to wear the uniform to serve others before themselves This is a great place to live, and it is filled with great, amazing residents We are going to continue to keep people safe ”

School District plans for East Zone growth

10-year projections see a need for an additional 22,000-plus seats countywide

By MEGHAN BRADBURY news@breezenewspapers com

The preliminary budget presented to the School Board of Lee County Wednesday afternoon includes a reduction by two schools in the West Zone an elementary and high school over the next 10 years as the district copes with burgeoning growth in east Lee County

Planning Growth & Capacity Director Adam Molloy said the 10-year student growth projection was finalized and updated in April showing that there will be 115,619 students in traditional K-12 by 2033 He said there has been a compound annual growth rate of 1 16%, about 1,328 students.

“It exceeds our current by 22,082 seats,” Molloy said

growth: ■ Elementary: project-

High: projected student population in 20332034 is

dents

The current challenge is

capacity occupied He said

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

Red, White & BOOM! always a hometown blast

O n e o f t h e u n c o n t e s t e d b e s t o f f e r i n g s p r o v i d e d b y t h e

c i t y o f C a p e C o r a l t o r e s i d e n t s a n d v i s i t o r s a l i k e i s i t s f e s t i v a l s A n d i t s a n n u a l I n d e p e n d e n c e D a y s t r e e t p a r t y , R e d , W h i t e & B O O M ! t h e l a r g e s t F o u r t h o f J u l y b a s h i n S o u t h w e s t F l o r i d a i s a m o n g t h e b e s t o f t h e b e s t

F e a t u r i n g c o n t i n u o u s l i v e e n t e r t a i n m e n t , a m u l t i t u d e

o f f o o d a n d d r i n k v e n d o r s a n d a n u n m a t c h e d f i r e w o r k s

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t i n u e u n t i l 1 0 : 3 0 o n C a p e C o r a l P a r k w a y a t t h e f o o t o f

t h e C a p e C o r a l B r i d g e

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b e g i n n i n g a t 5 p m w i t h h e a d l i n e r P a r m a l e e , a r e n o w n e d B i l l b o a r d - t o p p i n g c o u n t r y a c t , t a k i n g t h e

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n i z e d m u s i c a n d k i c k e d o f f t h i s y e a r w i t h K i a y a S u n n

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L o o k i n g t o k i c k s t a r t t h e h o l i d a y ?

T h e F r e e d o m 5 K o v e r t h e C a p e C o r a l B r i d g e i s t h e

t r a d i t i o n a l C a p e p r e l u d e t o R e d , W h i t e & B O O M !

P a c k e t p i c k u p a n d r e g i s t r a t i o n b e g i n s a t 6 a m ; t h e

r u n b e g i n s a t 7 a . m . o n J u l y 4 a t t h e C h a m b e r o f

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T h e r e ’ s a l s o a K i d s F u n R u n f o l l o w i n g t h e 5 K w i t h a

p o s t - r a c e p a r t y f o l l o w i n g t h e e v e n t

P r o c e e d s w i l l b e n e f i t T h e B r o t h e r h o o d o f H e r o e s

R e s o u r c e C e n t e r a n d M u s e u m a n d t h e S p e c i a l

O p e r a t i o n s C o m m u n i c a t i o n s A s s o c i a t i o n

R e g i s t r a t i o n i s o p e n a n d i s $ 4 0 V e t e r a n s c a n r e g i st e r f o r t h e r a c e f o r $ 2 0 F u n R u n r e g i s t r a t i o n i s $ 1 5

C o m m u n i t y e v e n t s s u c h a s t h e s e a r e m a d e p o s s i b l e b y t h e c i t y , n u m e r o u s b u s i n e s s e s a n d h u n d r e d s o f v o l -

u n t e e r s R e d , W h i t e & B O O M ! i s o r g a n i z e d b y t h e c i t y o f

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S p e c t a c u l a r T h e F r e e d o m 5 K i s t i t l e - s p o n s o r e d t h i s y e a r b y P r i o r i t y B u s i n e s s S o l u t i o n s w h i l e W B W i l l i a m s o n

B r o s w i l l h o s t t h e K i d s F u n R u n N u m e r o u s o t h e r b u s i n e s s e s c o n t r i b u t e a s w e l l W e t h a n k a l l o f t h e s e b u s i n e s s e s f o r t h e i r g e n e r o u s d o n a t i o n s , a s w e l l a s o u r c i t y ’ s P a r k s & R e c a n d p u b l i c s a f e t y d e p a r t m e n t s f o r t h e i r e f f o r t s L e t u s n o t f o r g e t a l l t h e v o l u n t e e r s . T h a n k y o u , t h a n k y o u !

The first line of defense in a natural disaster? Nature.

Southwest Florida’s mangrove forests are a vibrant refuge for creatures of all shapes and sizes Mangrove root systems provide sanctuary for species like fish and shellfish Mangrove canopies serve as habitat for wildlife like insects and nesting coastal birds

The Florida Department of Environmental Protection estimates that 600,000 acres of mangrove forests contribute to the overall health of Southwest Florida’s coastal zones Mangroves help maintain water quality and clarity and thrive in salty environments because they’re able to extract freshwater from saltwater sources

As we enter the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season, it’s important to give credit where credit is due, and respect the impact that mangrove forests have along our coasts Mangroves are a type of “naturebased solution” for adapting to severe weather events and longer-term impacts associated with a changing climate Mangroves absorb water and wind energy produced during hurricanes, which helps protect human communities including people’s homes and other important infrastructure They slow water down and stabilize the ground, lessening coastal impacts like erosion and flooding The amount of protection that mangroves provide for inland coastal areas can depend on characteristics such as mangrove height, density (how closely trees are growing near each other), and forest width However, studies have estimated that more than half of incoming wave

energy can be reduced in the first 300 feet of mangrove forest, suggesting even smaller systems can provide advantages

While adaptable and tough, mangroves are not immune to the stressors, like storms and climate change, they are protecting us from Mangroves do have some strategies for responding to impacts like sea level rise They can build up sediment beneath their roots in the right conditions, or they can move further inland to escape deepening water

But, the added effects of human activity like increased development in coastal areas and changes to natural water flow has ultimately contributed to major decline in mangrove forest A recently released global mangrove assessment from the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Ecosystems shows that 50% of the world’s mangrove systems are at risk of collapse

It’s our job to protect these incredible trees so they can continue protecting us. This includes conserving preexisting forest, allowing them room to migrate whenever possible, and supporting efforts to protect water quality and restore mangroves

For more information, visit Conservancy org/ourwork/science/mangrove-research

Carrie Schuman, Ph D , is the Principal Climate Resilience Specialist at the Conservancy of Southwest Florida

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Suppor t candidates who suppor t wildlife

To the editor:

Yes, there were bears in Cape Coral and Pine Island, The two bears in Cape Coral were really neat Over a year ago there was another bear in the Cape Leave them alone and keep at a safe distance and you are mostly perfectly safe Black bears by nature will not attack you The one time they will attack is when you get between cubs and mama. Mama will want to protect her cubs and might come at you, but this is quite rare Wouldn’t it nice if we bought 400 or 500 acres where the Cape could support some bears? Alva has had a bear family for years

As for the panthers I knew a friend that saw a panther east of Burnt Store Road in our fair city years ago Another friend saw a panther in her backyard on Pine Island again, a few years ago

Our wildlife is diminishing in the Cape Please support environmental candidates for our town council that are green Please ask them to keep our old golf course for the thousands of wildlife that live there including the eagles. Migrating birds use it by the hundreds Tell candidates your feelings and dreams for our wildlife in the Cape

Carl Veaux Cape Coral

Reshape or escape the Cape?

To the editor:

If you read NextDoor, FaceBook, The Breeze, attend a raucous, dysfunctional city council meeting, or deal with an unresponsive city bureaucracy, you are familiar with the myriad of complaints about the decisions, behavior and apparent distain for the citizens of Cape Coral embedded in the current City Government composition

I won’t detail those issues, but I will say that I will not be voting for any incumbent currently in Cape Coral city government

Due to emerging conditions in the Cape, many residents seem to be faced with a similar dilemma “Reshape the Cape” or “Escape the Cape ” Stay or move

I choose to “Reshape the Cape” and I am hoping to see a focused slate of Council candidates, all uniformly committed to change the current status quo and to return a government by, for and of the people, back to the people of Cape Coral

I am proposing a “Reshape the Cape” platform for this opposition slate as follows:

In conjunction with a citizen consulting committee, identify, eliminate and establish quantitative and measurable safeguards (Internal Controls) to preclude cronyism, nepotism and conflicts of interest in executing government operations and expenditures High-risk areas for fraud, waste and abuse are primary targets

Eliminate the Council stipend and reconstitute the volunteer citizen advisory committees, tapping into specific expertise in functional areas Citizen advisory committees should be asking the questions “what are the benefits (quantitative and qualitative)”, “what are the downsides of a project (quantitative and qualitative)” “What are the life cycle costs (initial and maintenance )”

“WHO benefits” and “WHO pays ” If the connected few benefit and the taxpayers pay the freight via taxes, the rationale needs to be presented

In conjunction with citizen committee, identify existing, or develop new, government code of ethics comporting with elimination of cronyism, nepotism and conflicts of interest This should include council members recusing themselves from voting on any expenditure or project which impacts their personal businesses or affiliated industry partners EG look closely at builders, developers and real estate brokers voting on projects/policy that enrich themselves at the expense of citizen taxes and/or quality of life City candidates must commit to a “sunshine policy” including Florida financial disclosure form 6 to “follow the money ”

Develop an independent “Inspector General” position to oversee/investigate complaints, high-risk areas of government operations and expenditures and instances of fraud, waste and abuse in government operations and decision making EG contract bidding and award process is a high-risk activity

Independent assessment of the city contracting bid/award/administration process in accordance with government integrity standards such as the National Contract Management Association or the Federal Acquisition Regulations manual Identify processes that do not comport with free and open competition and acquiring “best value” products and services for the city in an unbiased and open manner implement remedial action

“Rightsize” city government structure and organization relative to organizational missions and functions(what they do), workload (how much of it do they do), position descriptions defining scope and complexity of duties and responsibilities, staffing levels needed to establish outcome-based mis-

See LETTERS, page 6

Carrie Schuman, PhD.

Turn summer ‘brain drain’ into brain gain

When the school year winds down, students and teachers across Southwest Florida become anxious for a well-deserved break

Although it’s important for students to step away from the daily grind, research continues to demonstrate the impact of summer learning loss also called brain drain for students who essentially stop learning cold turkey until school resumes in August Studies note that students can lose 20% or more of the learning gains from the previous school year if they’re not keeping their minds active over summer vacation

Brain drain is not just a concern for students in elementary, middle and high school Learning losses can occur for toddlers and pre-kindergartners whose minds are not challenged daily Learning is like rolling a snowball you need momentum to keep building an academic foundation That’s especially important for young learners as they approach kindergarten because hitting the ground running is the best way to prepare for the next level

Possibly the most important task parents can complete is enrolling their child in licensed program this summer Dozens of local, high-quality child care centers offer Florida’s Voluntary Prekindergarten (VPK)

program, which is free for all 4- and 5-year-olds

VPK is not daycare Classrooms have qualified teachers at the helm and maintain high literacy standards, developmentally appropriate curricula and manageable class sizes

Younger children and toddlers should partake in some type of school readiness program to begin laying an academic, emotional, social and behavioral foundation that will carry them through school and beyond

Melanie Stefanowicz Guest Commentary

For parents whose children are 5 years old or younger, focusing on these five core subjects can prevent summer learning loss:

Reading: Public libraries across Lee, Collier, Hendry and Glades counties have expansive children’s sections with books across genres

Parents can read to their younger children at bedtime, but 4- and 5-year-olds can flip the tables and read to their parents, a stuffed ani-

sion metrics, pay and benefits relative to performance, performance metrics for annual evaluations and key personnel qualifications and performance standards (pay for performance) EG City Manager, code enforcement and land use approval of variances Require specific skill sets and experience

“Rightsize” city development and growth. Articulate a “model city” approach to growth, development and infrastructure sustainability for public comment This should include the mix of single-residential, multi-family and commercial properties within a council district Isolating one region for an excess of “affordable housing” development, such as an excess number of rental side-by-side duplexes in single-family home neighborhoods, should involve neighborhood involvement and influence

Promulgate city building codes and enforce uniformly The debacle with the FEMA flood insurance discount is illustrative of not enforcing contractor certification and insurance requirements, appropriate permitting and subsequent confirmation to code of work performed. Specifically, the proliferation of rental side-by-side duplexes with multi family residents where parking on lawns and city 15-foot easements impacts traffic flow seems to be growing

Develop a “City Council Report Card” in conjunction with citizen committees that identify “what is success” in city government that distinguishes “activity” from “action ” IE from a citizen perspective, what are the measurable parameters of defining success of government Activity metrics are non-outcome based actions like attending meetings, number of transactions processed, etc Action-based parameters are quantifiable outcomes of projects approved and completed detailing the cost/benefit analysis and impact on city residents and for what and to whom is our tax dollars being spent by city

mal or a pet

Math: Big box stores and online retailers carry a range of age-appropriate math workbooks Even two or three pages daily will continue sharpening their math skills

There are other ways to practice math, too Children can count the number of steps to various spots around the house or split fruits and vegetables into halves or thirds Ask them to help you with chores and count the number of weeds they pull or dishes they dry

Social studies: Families don’t have to vacation in Rome or Munich to learn about other cultures and societies Randomly pick a city or country on a map, then ask your child to find five facts about that place YouTube is filled with kid-friendly informational videos about people and places around the world

Food is a great introduction to culture, so hosting an Italian- or German-themed dinner can extend learning to mealtime.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Freedom fighters fight for us all

To the editor:

Before I embarked on my journey to volunteer in Ukraine for the past month, I left our country with a disgusting taste in my mouth after I read self-proclaimed libertarian Larry Gillis' Memorial Day letter to our Cape Coral Breeze.

In “The World’s Policeman, No More,” the writer made the biggest contradiction, where he “thanked” our fallen veterans, and then went on to rail against U S involvement in foreign military conflict Some apparently do not realize that it is the vastness of our foreign bases around the world which leverages security in our homeland But I’m certain the thousands of veterans of foreign war within our Purple Heart City don’t need the explainer Who does need the explainer is Congressman Byron Donalds, who bestowed the city of Cape Coral with a super special town hall meeting last month, whose prior notice of the town hall to the local press seemed to disappear into thin “air ”

What Byron Donalds probably failed to inform his “quasi libertarian-conservative” base during his staged pow wow, was that within the $61 billion aid package, half of that went to fund the U S Dept of Defense (thank you very much) and out of the remainder which went to Ukraine, only $6 billion funded immediate weapons delivery. Sorry but that’s not enough to stop Russia But instead of probing the current U S administration who time after time sets up both Ukraine AND the American people for failure against the Kremlin’s war criminal terrorist regime, Byron Donalds instead follows Trump around like his paparazzi, using his seat as a Congressman as some sort of pretend-lawyer to push for the overturning of the former president’s conviction (as if even Trump’s very own supporters actually care)

Science: Take a weekly field trip to one of our region’s parks, which are full of trees, animals and other natural features Hand children your cell phone and allow them to take pictures of things they see, then create a photo album of wildlife and have them label the images

Writing: Poor penmanship is common as children learn to write, and many believe handwriting is getting worse as children write less and type more Simply copying the page of a book onto a sheet of paper can help train their hands and develop hand-eye coordination

Much like teachers create lesson plans for students, parents can create summer learning plans for their children Mapping out a plan can turn the dreaded brain drain into a summer brain gain

Melanie Stefanowicz is the CEO for Early Learning Coalition of Southwest Florida, which provides access to high-quality early education services for children in Lee, Collier, Glades and Hendry counties Learn more about summer Voluntary Prekindergarten and School Readiness programs at ELCofSWFL org

lous disregard for human life ” To paint the most honorable defenders of “human life” as bloodthirsty mercenaries just because there was one bad apple in the bunch just so the Attorney “General” can have her 10 seconds of spotlight should be considered a heinous crime in and of itself If you are familiar with my writing, you know that I am personally friends with several of Ukraine’s foreign fighters, from both the US, and other nations, as well as some Ukrainian soldiers, including a Commander I have spent time with these men, and I can attest that they are the calmest, kindest, and highest regard for human life out of all of the people I have ever met Afterall, they are the ones who fight so we as a GLOBAL SOCIETY can live free from harm and terror I have now most recently experienced this protection firsthand, as Ukraine’s Armed Forces shot down dozens of missiles coming straight toward where I resided in western Ukraine, including one of Russia’s supposedly not-interceptable new hypersonic “Kinzhal” missiles!

One would think these revelations being shoved down our throats by the “free” press would be counterbalanced with more truthful accounts of the great heroes who defend human life in the deadliest and farthest reaching global conflict known to our times But who will ever know? We don't have the megaphone like the politicians, we don’t get the “big story” in the mainstream

These are a broad outline of “some” of the initiatives I feel are requisite to “RESHAPE THE CAPE” and improve our quality of life and fiscal responsibility

While some may think this list of policy platform ideas is a bridge too far, unless you are a direct beneficiary of the current city practices, you must see the need for transparency and holding elected officials and unelected bureaucrats who spend our taxes and develop law and regulations that influence our daily lives and finances, to account

I urge all candidates who support the above platform to form a “RESHAPE THE CAPE” coalition and run on a consistent platform and be willing to hold yourselves accountable to “measurable” improvements in government operations and commitment to citizen involvement in decision making through advisory/oversight committees

Status Quo to me is not an option and I hope the Cape residents feel summery and get out and vote If you don’t vote, you can’t complain

Tony Cosenza MS, MBA, PhD Cape Coral

After spending the past month in Ukraine during which Russia magnified it’s assault amid U S policy changes which allowed Ukraine to strike at Russian military targets with American weapons (still which deeply frustrates me having to ask), I have returned to even more revolting news in Southwest Florida A former U S army veteran Craig Lang was extradited to Fort Myers from Ukraine and faces murder charges among other offenses Allow me to be very clear when I state that Craig Lang not only brings shame to the U S military, but his crime has also disparaged the cause taken up by foreign fighters in Ukraine Regrettably, the scandalization of our great military causes has been further exacerbated by Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M Argentieri, who stated that Lang, “went on an international crime spree that included a double murder in Florida, attempts to travel internationally to engage in other acts of violence outside the United States ” Any skilled, experienced, and reputable attorney within the justice system understands that words are extremely important I’m no lawyer, but in keeping this spirit, allow me provide as much specificity as possible AG Argentieri has used equivocal language to mischaracterize fighting in Ukraine as an addition to Lang’s lawlessness AG Argentieri seems to deliberately exploit the highly politicized nature of the war in Ukraine, in order to insinuate “Lang’s alleged conduct is shocking in its scope and its cal-

But I can write my letters And I’m here to tell you that a country is nothing without defense No man is free without his brothers So while our defenders fight for our freedom, we in civic society must fight for our voice, together we stand against tyranny in our country and abroad, with very few resources or lifeline or “recognition” not that we need it or anything But when only lies are being told, the least we can do is balance out that garbage being peddled against us, with some truth about the good work we’re doing… the real work. We'll see who in the “free” press will talk about that!

Alexandra Zakhvatayev Cape Coral From page 4

This week’s poll question: What do you think won the first Presidential Debate?

∫ Biden 32% ∫ Trump 7 75% ∫ Don’t care, my mind is made up 37% ∫ No opinion either way 23% Vote at capecoralbreeze com * Total votes at press time: 202

Cape Coral for the Children awards scholarships

Non-profit organization presented seven $1,000 bequests to deserving students for college or career training

By CJ HADDAD cjhaddad@breezenewspapers com

A Cape Coral based non-profit that has been working for more than a decade to lend a hand to children who are in need recently awarded its annual scholarships

“Cape Coral for the Children,” a 501(c)(3) organization, over this month and last, distributed seven, $1,000 scholarships to Cape Coral high school seniors pursuing the next step in their educational journeys

Scholarship winners included: Loretta Fields and Lesli Chavez of North Nicholas High School, who will both attend Fort Myers Technical College; Olivia Allen of Ida Baker High School who will attend Florida SouthWestern State College; Abbie Taylor of Cape Coral High School who will attend Florida Atlantic University; Diarra Cox of Island Coast High School who will attend Florida A&M University; Camden Lucas of Mariner High School who will attend the University of Central Florida; and Krystina Zavalaga of Cape Coral High School, who will attend Lynn University

“To see the look on these kids’ faces when they get these scholarships is so fulfilling,” said Cape Coral for the Children Board Member Jeannie Ritzius “Some of them come from really underprivileged homes Being able to help these children is really rewarding ”

Cape Coral for the Children sought hard-working students who would really benefit from the scholarship, not necessarily ones that boasted a high GPA (though academics were taken into account) Applicants needed a letter of r e c o m m e n d a t i o n , a r e s u m e o f t h e i r s c h o

extracurricular activities, and a written essay on their plans for the future

Ritzius said the gratitude shown by the scholarship recipients is amazing to see

Lucas, who will pursue a degree in business with a focus on finance, wrote in a letter to the non-profit: “Words cannot fully convey my appreciation for the support you have provided me on my educational journey Receiving this scholarship is not just a financial aid, but a

Fields of North Nicholas High School receives a $1,000 scholarship from non-profit Cape Coral for the Children Fields will attend Fort Myers Technical College this fall

testament to your belief in my potential and dedication to my academic pursuits Your generosity has relieved a significant burden and allowed me to focus more on my studies and personal growth ”

Cape Coral for the Children was started in 2012 and founded by Julie Lombardi after hearing a 17-year-old’s

receives a $1,000 scholarship from non-profit Cape Coral for the Children Cox will attend Florida A&M University this fall

story at a Do the Right Thing recognition The teen lived day-to-day with the help of a friend, and slept at various homes when possible His father was incarcerated, and his mother deceased Despite his hardships, he maintained a 4 0 GPA while holding a job and was accepted into

Loretta

July 4th festivities abound throughout Lee County

By CJ HADDAD cjhaddad@breezenewspapers com

The Fourth of July holds special memories for most. Gathering in the backyard while the smell of what’s on the grill wafts through the air Gazing into the night sky in awe, as colorful bursts illuminate above Tossing the ball around and going for a swim

Many of America’s favorite pastimes are rolled into one big shebang to celebrate the independence of our country

All across Southwest Florida, communities and entities are planning on commemorating the Fourth in one way or another

In addition to Cape Coral’s Red, White & BOOM! street party and fireworks, Independence Day activities include:

Freedom 5K

Freedom 5K Run/WB Williamson Bros Kid’s Fun Run takes place the morning of Independence Day

Each year, a portion of the proceeds raised from the event is donated back to two veteran organizations This year’s recipients are The Brotherhood of Heroes Resource Center and Museum in Cape C

Communicators Association

Veterans also will be honored during the awards presentation with a commemorative challenge coin presented by Coral Ridge Funeral Home and Cemetery

Participants in the 5K will take their marks and head out at 7 a m along Cape Coral Parkway adjacent to the Chamber of Commerce of Cape Coral Welcome Center at 2051 Cape Coral Parkway East and travel over the Cape Coral Bridge The kid’s fun run (for those 12 and under) will begin immediately following the completion of the 5K

Awards for the 5K will be given in a multitude of categories determined by age and gender Fun run participants will be given ribbons and T-shirts

R e g i s t r a t i o n i s o p e n a n d i s $ 4 0

Veterans can register for the race for $20 Fun run registration is $15

For more information and to register, v i s i t www runsignup com/Race/FL/CapeCoral/ Freedom5KRunWalkKidsFunRun.

Cape Coral American Legion

The American Legion Cape Coral will celebrate July 4 at Post 90 at 1401 S E 47th Street in Cape Coral There will also be a blood drive The public is invited

A flag retirement ceremony begins at 1 1 a m b y t h e P o s t H o n o r G u a r d

Attendees are encouraged to bring old unserviceable flags to be properly disposed of The blood drive will start at noon and continue to 5 p.m. Any attempt to donate blood will receive a burger, chips and soda

Downtown Fort Myers

H e a d t o t h e C a l o o s a S o u n d Amphitheater on July 4th for a celebration, featuring a star-spangled salute from the Venice Symphony Orchestra and spectacular fireworks show Under the direction of Peter Barenbregge, the 17-piece orchestra will perform patriotic favorites starting at 8 p m Fireworks are scheduled for 9:45 p m General admission is free and does not require a ticket, but seating is not provided. VIP upgrades are available, and include seating, barbecue buffet, restroom access a n d p r i v a t e c a s h b a r V i s i t www caloosasoundamp com to buy VIP tickets

Farmer Joe’s

Farmer Joe’s in Cape Coral is excited to announce its second annual 4th of July Customer Appreciation Event This familyf r i e n d l y c e l

p l a c e Thursday, July 4, from 11 a m to 2 p m at the Farmer Joe’s store at 1401 Southwest Pine Island Road The event is open to the public, with free admission

Even attendees can expect fun, food, and festivities, including free hamburgers, Nathan’s Hot Dogs, cotton candy, drinks and more S o m e o f t h e e v e n t a c t i v i t

l include:

■ Face Painting: Provided by Ritter Artwork

■ Lee County Sheriff’s Office: LCSO will be on-site with their famous Ice Cream Response Unit See the VR Truck and Robo Dog, too

■ Fun for the Whole Family: A Live deejay will be playing favorites, as well as games and other activities

■ S

: Exclusive one-day-only deals as a token of appreciation for customers

In addition, select local vendors will have booths set up

Fort Myers Beach

There will be fireworks on Fort Myers Beach this Fourth of July, and a parade as well

The parade is slated to begin at 10 a m along Estero Boulevard with fireworks show to begin at 9 p m , The parade route will begin at the Bay O

down Estero Boulevard to Times Square Estero Boulevard will be closed from 9 a m until noon for the parade

The Matanzas Pass Bridge will close at 8:30 p m to oncoming traffic Opening is subject to the direction of the Lee County Sheriff and traffic detail and is expected to remain closed until approximately 1 a m

Unlike in years past, there will be no late night trolley service after the Fourth of July fireworks

Big Carlos Pass Bridge on the south end of Estero Island will remain open throughout the fireworks show

Margaritaville on Fort Myers Beach Rooms are filling fast for the ultimate I n

t Margaritaville Beach Resort Fort Myers Beach The resort is offering convenient See ACTIVITIES, page 9

The Caloosa Sound Amphitheater is at 2101 Edwards Drive in Fort Myers

Activities: Fireworks, food, festivals, music, baseball and more lots to do around July 4th holiday

From page 8

and exclusive access to live entertainment, a Pre-Parade Pop-Up Bar and a firework viewing cookout, just steps away from Fort Myers Beach’s first Fourth of July celebration since Hurricane Ian

Margaritaville Beach Resort’s full schedule of events for Thursday, July 4:

■ 7:30 a m - 2 p m Pre-Parade Pop-Up Bar at the entrance to Fins Up! Beach Club Guests can enjoy graband-go breakfast sandwiches, Bloody Marys, margaritas and beer

■ 10 a m Fourth of July Parade

The parade route begins at the Bay Oaks Recreation Center and continues down Estero Boulevard , past Margaritaville Beach Resort to Times Square

■ 1-5 p m Live Entertainment begins with DJ 007 at Fins Up! Beach Club

■ 4-9 p m Firework Viewing Cookout at the Sunset Terrace overlooking Times Square

Enjoy hot dogs, sausages, pulled pork sandwiches and bacon cheeseburgers with prime seats to watch the fireworks display

The celebration continues on Saturday and Sunday.

Mighty Mussels

The Fort Myers Mighty Mussels will host a three-day Independence Day Celebration that includes fireworks shows, food specials and affordable family fun

On Thursday, July 4, the team’s postgame fireworks extravaganza will feature colorful pyrotechnics being launched from behind right field by Pyrotecnico, a Pennsylvania-based fireworks company that produces some of the nation’s top Fourth of July celebrations

“This will be the biggest fireworks show in the history of Hammond Stadium at Lee Health Sports Complex,” s a i d J o h n M a r t i n , m a n a g i n g p a r t n e r o f t h e M i g h t y Mussels “Just imagine the best grand finale you’ve seen Our show will be one big grand finale ”

During the game, fans will enjoy food and drink specials at Hammond Stadium’s concession stands, including Apple pie bites, Red, white and blue ICEEs and Red,

white and blue Popsicles

The menu also includes all-American ballpark favorites like hot dogs, chicken tenders, cheeseburgers and Philly cheesesteaks, as well as freshly squeezed lemonade, ICEEs, Dippin’ Dots and soft serve ice cream in a Mighty Mussels keepsake helmet Concession stands also will feature a large selection of draft beers and craft beers from breweries across the country

In 2023, the Independence Day celebration attracted a season-high 6,875 fans

“The Lee Health Sports Complex has ample parking, reserved seats and plenty of kid-friendly food options, and that’s why our Independence Day game has become so popular for families in Southwest Florida it’s affordable family fun,” Martin said “There is no better place to celebrate the Fourth of July than at a baseball game, America’s pastime ”

On Friday, July 5, the Mighty Mussels will continue the celebration with a pregame happy hour and another round of post game fireworks

Then on Saturday, July 6, the first 500 fans through the

gates will receive patriotic red, white and blue Mighty Mussels hats Players will be wearing custom patriotic jerseys that will be auctioned after the game to support Keep Lee County Beautiful The July 6 game is also Bark in the Park, a special day when pooches are allowed inside Hammond Stadium

Tickets for the three-game homestand against the Bradenton Marauders start at $10 and are available at MightyMussels.com.

Hammond Stadium is at 14100 6 Mile Cypress Blvd

4th of July Freedom Fest in Lehigh Acres

Victory Town Center will host a 4th of July Firework Show a spectacular event designed to bring the community together in celebration of Independence Day The fourth annual event takes place from 5 to 9 p m on July 4th at Victory Town Center, at 1201 Taylor Lane in Lehigh Acres

This year, organizers state they’re going “all out” with an incredible lineup of attractions, vendors, live entertainment, and mouthwatering food trucks all culminating in a professional fireworks display that will light up the night sky

Parking and admission are free As a big thank you to the Lehigh community for its continued support, organizers are making all attractions free No wristbands are needed this year

Star Spangled Bonita

The city of Bonita Springs invites the public to its annual Star-Spangled Bonita - 4th of July 2024 Event The celebration will take place on July 4 in downtown Bonita Springs at Riverside Park at 10450 Reynolds St , starting at 6 p m

The Star-Spangled Bonita celebration will follow the annual parade hosted by the Bonita Springs Professional Firefighters Local 3444 on July 4th The parade will take place starting at 9 a m along Old 41 on July 4 For more i

bonitaspringsparade com

The Cape Coral Animal Shelter won the People’s Choice Award for its dress creation, which was made out of dog and cat food bags.

Fundraiser

By MEGHAN BRADBURY news@breezenewspapers com

The Funky Fashion Show raised an excess of $32,000 while showcasing one of a kind recycled material for the dresses a model wore

P a c e C e n t e r f o r G i r l s , L e e C o m m u n i t y

E n g a g e m e n t C o o r d i n a t o r M e l a n i e

M u s i c k s a i d t h e J u n e 2 5 F u n k y F a s h i o n

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h a d t h e m o d e l s , b u s i n e s s a n d p e o p l e t h a t m a d e d o n a t i o n s f o r t h e s i l e n t , l i v e a u ct i o n a n d c h a n c e r a f f l e ” T h r e e a w a r d s w e r e g i v e n , t w o d e t e rm i n e d b y t h e j u d g e s a n d o n e b y a t t e n -

d e e s M u s i c k s a i d t h e F u n k i e s t F a s h i o n w e n t t o C u l t u r a l P a r k T h e a t r e , w h i c h c r e -

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Cultural Park Theatre, which created a dress m

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sages. The look was completed with a book as a hat.

L e f t : S o m a w o n

Runway Ready with a dress made of swatches of materials and text u r e s t h a t t h e y h a d used for testing

PHOTOS PROVIDED

Fashion: PACE provides services to girls in need

From page 12

“ W e h a d t o c l e a n t h e m a l l f i r s t , ”

M c C a u l e y s a i d “ W e w e r e d o i n g i t i n m y

o f f i c e a t o n e p o i n t A s h e l t e r d o g t h a t

l i v e s i n m y o f f i c e , R o s e a n n e , s h e w a s

g e t t i n g h u n g r y j u s t l o o k i n g a t i t ”

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“ M e l a n i e d i d a g r e a t j o b m o d e l i n g

S h e l o o k e d r e a l l y g r e a t S h e h a d h a i r a n d

m a k e u p d o n e f o r t h e o c c a s i o n E v e r y o n e

w a s r e a l l y e x c i t e d . A b u n c h o f u s w e r e

t h e r e t o c h e e r h e r o n , ” M c C a u l e y s a i d “ W e w e r e h a p p y t o b e a p a r t o f r e p r e -

s e n t i n g t h e s h e l t e r a n d h e l p i n g o n o f o u r c o m m u n i t y a g e n c i e s , l i k e P a c e , a g r e a t

c a u s e ”

M u s i c k s a i d f o r t h e f i r s t t i m e t h e P a c e

g i r l s c r e a t e d a d r e s s , w h i c h w a s n o t p a r t

o f t h e j u d g i n g S h e s a i d t h e d r e s s f e a -

t u r e d t h e i r p o i n t s h e e t s , w h i c h t h e y a r e

a w a r d e d f o r a t t e n d a n c e , c l a s s p a r t i c i p a -

t i o n a n d g e t t i n g t h e i r h o m e w o r k d o n e

“ T h e y t o o k t h e p o i n t s h e e t s a n d c u t t h e P a c e h e a r t s o u t o f t h o s e , ” M u s i c k s a i d P a c e C e n t e r f o r G i r l s L e e , i n F o r t M y e r s , “ f o c u s e s o n t h e g e n d e r s p e c i f i c n e e d s o f a t r i s k g i r l s i n t h e L e e C o u n t y a r e a ” “ P a c e C e n t e r f o r G i r l s p r o v i d e s a s a f e a n d s u p p o r t i v e e n v i r o n m e n t f o r g i r l s t o

b u i l d h e a l t h y r e l a t i o n s h i p s , p l a n f o r t h e i r f u t u r e a n d o v e r c o m e h i s t o r i e s o f t r a um a , ” i t s w e b s i t e s t a t e s S e r v i c e s p r o v i d e d i n c l u d e o u t r e a c h ,

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G i r l s L e a d e r s h i p C o u n c i l , g o a l s e t t i n g

FDOT’s biannual bridge report released

By MEGHAN BRADBURY news@breezenewspapers com

Although numerous bridges in Cape Coral have again been classified as functionally obsolete by the Florida Depart-ment of Transportation, they are safe, city officials said

The FDOT inspects all public highway bridges in the state with its most recent report dated April 2 and released earlier this month

“The bridge inventory in Florida ranks among the best in the nation, as a percentage of bridges that are considered ‘poor ’” the FDOT states

Its tables also retain two older terms, Structurally Deficient, or SD, and Functionally Obsolete, or FO

“FO means that the bridge design is outdated,” FDOT states “For example, narrow shoulders, narrow lanes, or older traffic barriers can induce the functionally obsolete classification ”

Functionally obsolete bridges are typically scheduled for replacement or rehabilitation as budgets permit

City spokesperson Kaitlyn Mullen said FO bridges are safe

“They simply don’t meet the latest design standards Based on budget availability, they are scheduled for replacement or rehabilitation, but they remain safe for

continued use,” she said

There are 157 bridges in the city of Cape Coral 138 of those are the city’s responsibility to maintain

Spans of more than 20 feet are inspected biannually by the Florida Department of Transportation Repair recommendation reports are provided to the city. The city is responsible for inspecting bridge spans that are less than 20 feet

The city’s next steps for its bridges include regular bridge maintenance and proactive planning for the future

“The ongoing Bridge Rehabilitation Program prioritizes bridges for rehab or replacement before they become structurally deficient,” she said

Bridges are inspected with data sets being submitted in the spring with public highway bridge information published by June 15 every year

In addition to being listed as FO, some Cape Coral bridges received a rating of SD, which has a rating condition of a four or less for deck, superstructure, substructure, culvert or an appraisal rating of two or less for structural condition and waterway adequacy

Those that have a SD rating include Del Prado Boulevard NB/Lido Canal

Mullen said SD bridges require repair or replacement

“Until that happens, weight restrictions may be

District summer school helping thousands of students Expanded learning

By MEGHAN BRADBURY news@breezenewspapers com

More than 7,500 students are participating in one of the many summer school programs the School District of Lee County is offering to continue learning

“The total number of prek-12 students is 7,533 The top three programs are high school credit recovery, grade 3 reading camp and K-8 summer expanded learning I can say for sure that 1,940 are in elementary,” district spokesperson Rob Spicker said “I can say for sure 4,000 of the 7,533 are in middle or high school ”

One of the many options for elementary aged students is the iReady Summer Program, which has 1,298 students registered For this program, students are expected to put in 45 minutes a week in reading and 45 minutes a week in math with a 70% pass rate on their lessons

“The learning paths are adaptive to better meet each student’s individual needs, so the lessons will increase or decrease in difficulty based on each student’s data with the program,” Spicker said “Families will receive weekly communication to help parents gauge their children’s progress An administrator is monitoring the data and contacting students/parents when data indicates a need to intervene.”

The Scholastic Summer Reading Program is another option for elementary aged students In the first two

weeks, Spicker said they had 230 students join and interact with teachers virtually to read and discuss the different books of the week, as well as work through their Scholastic Weekly Reader: Summer Express workbook

The School District also offered many face-to-face summer programs for elementary aged students One of those programs includes voluntary VPK, a summer program for 4-year-old children starting kindergarten in the 2024-2025 school year who had not participated in a VPK program in the current school year Other programs include extended year for ESE students; grade 3 reading camp for invited students; ELL Science camp and ELL Language camp for students receiving services in the ESOL program

One of the middle school in-person options includes credit recovery Spicker said this is a summer program for 8th grade students who need credit recovery for promotion He said 6th and 7th grade students may attend All students must have attended a Lee County school in the 2022-2023 school year

A few other in-person options include extended year for ESE, ELL Science Camp and ELL Language Camp for students receiving services from the ESOL program

There is also a credit recovery option for high school students, which was offered for ninth through 12th grade students

imposed, or the bridge is closed Unlike FO bridges, SD bridges have structural issues that need attention,” she said

FO-determined bridges include Del Prado Boulevard SB/Lido Canal, Del Prado SB and NB Honolulu Canal, Embers Parkway/Crete Canal, Embers Parkway EB and WB/Nova Canal, Diplomat Parkway EB and WB/Zanzabar Canal, Del Prado Blvd/Bimini Canal, Vincennes Blvd/ Melaga Canal, Country Club Boulevard over Montevideo Canal, Cultural Park Boulevard/Clover Canal, SE 8th Place over Taylor Canal and Cultural Park Boulevard/Moro Canal, Santa Barbara Boulevard/ Cadman Canal, Santa Barbara Boulevard SB and NB/Frontier Canal, Nelson Road SB and NB/Hermosa Canal, Nelson Road SB and NB/Frontier Canal, Chiquita Boulevard SB and NB over Shadroe Canal, Chiquita Boulevard SB and NB/Hermosa Canal, Chiquita Boulevard SB and NB/Horseshoe Canal, Chiquita Boulevard/Gator Slough and El Dorado Boulevard over Shadroe Canal

Mullen said the city’s Capital Improvement Projects Department is actively working on a separate project, currently in the design phase, to repair the bridges with funding from FHWA (Florida Highway Administration) and FDOT

Jury recommends death penalty for man convicted in two murders in Cape

By CJ HADDAD cjhaddad@breezenewspapers com

A jury has recommended the death penalty for a man recently found guilty of two counts of first-degree murder in the killings of two Cape Coral women

The jury's death penalty recommendation for Wade Wilson, 30, who was found guilty for the murders of Kristine Melton, 45, and Diane Ruiz, 43, came in the penalty phase of the trial Monday Wilson was convicted of two counts of first-degree murder by the same jury on June 12

Wilson was also convicted of grand theft of a motor vehicle, battery, burglary of a dwelling, and first-degree petit theft

The Cape Coral Police Department and the Fort Myers Police Department investigated the crimes which led to the identification and arrest of the defendant

“A long time coming,” Cape Coral Police Chief Anthony Sizemore said “The first step in this process was the guilty verdict, and then step number two was the sentencing I had a really good feeling that this was going to be the outcome, just from the solid prosecution by Amira Fox's team, the overwhelming evidence, the work done by our detectives and forensics personnel, and the heinous nature of the crime I hope this is the beginning of the peace process for the families of Kristine Melton and Diane Ruiz ”

According to the State Attorney's Office of the 20th Judicial Circuit, the state will be requesting that Judge Nick Thompson impose a sentence of death Thompson set the case for an evidentiary hearing, known as a Spencer hearing, for July 23 At this hearing the parties can present further evidence and make legal argument as to the sentence, according to the SAO Melton was found dead in her home on Oct 7, 2019, the same day Ruiz was reported missing On Oct 12, 2019, Ruiz’s body was found in the area of Northwest 4th Avenue and Northwest 1st Street in Cape Coral

Wade Wilson

‘Honoring of the Trees outreach’ set for Jaycee Park

By MEGHAN BRADBURY news@breezenewspapers com

An “Honoring of the Trees” outreach will be held this Saturday at Jaycee Park to honor veterans, service members, first responders and the park’s Australian pines

“Our first responders, or service people are so vital to our community, just like our trees are so vital to that park,” said Anne Berchtold, who is part of the Save Jaycee Park group, said “Those trees they are deep roots Their roots are intertwined If it had not been for trees, the park would have been washed away from Hurricane Ian Shouldn’t we think first about what we are doing? Again, that symbolism The concept of having something deep rooted like the trees Veterans are deep rooted, and service members are deep rooted

they all have a connection with our community ”

She said they wanted to do something that was an outreach, rather than an event, to bring the community together

“It's really trying to reach out to the community and hopefully touch them and give them something to think about in what they are going to lose as the Council moves forward with the efforts to completely destroy this park ”

Tony Kart, also a member of the Save Jaycee Park group, said the trees and veterans represent freedom of choice

“Veterans fought for freedom so we can be under shaded trees Because of intertwining roots, they have survived the worst hurricanes, that is why we are arguing to keep them,” he said

At 10 a.m. this Saturday, June 29, veterans, service members, and first responders

and their families are invited to Jaycee Park for the special outreach, which will include a prayer, introduction, and some kind of speech

She said they are asking the community to gather with them to understand that those trees are so meaningful to them

“They are a symbol of the freedom that we enjoy because of our veterans because of their service,” Berchtold said

A special yellow ribbon with an American flag will be handed out to participants, which will be tied around the Australian pines with a laminated index card for the individuals name

“This event is to honor our veterans, families that have veterans that may have given the ultimate sacrifice, came back with PTSD, or some kind of physical disability, or are healthy,” Kart said “We have produced 100 of premade yellow ribbons with a small American flag and the index card We are hoping to have a good showing ”

He said they know the city wants to cut all the trees down because the Australian pines are invasive trees Kart said the Americans that brought them to the U S years ago in the late 1800s did so because of their ability to provide wind breaks, and prevent erosion along rivers, canals, and rivers

“We will honor the veterans and show everybody how valuable these shade trees that certain individuals want to condemn They are really actually healthy and really useful and loved by the citizens,” he said “They are not doing any harm to anyone They are standing there They are healthy and standing strong ”

Meet the candidates for Cape Coral City Council for Districts 2, 3, 4, 5 and 7.

❑ Laurie LehMann

Age: 70

Education/degrees: BA degree in Economics/Accounting Nursing degree

Time in the district in which you are running/years of residency: Lived in southwest Cape Coral since 2004.

Occupation and place of employment:

Retired registered nurse Practiced at Lakeland Regional Medical Center and Brandon Regional Hospital Specialty was neuro intensive care

Civic/Community involvement: Actively volunteer with park groups

Craig unroe SaveCapeCor al.com

Age: 55

Education/degrees: Attended Baker College for EMT and Business Management; transferred to Southern New Hampshire University for Business management

Occupation and place of employment: Network technician

Time in the district in which you are running/years of residency: Purchased home in District 2 in 2018

Civic/Community involvement: Active in getting upgrades to a city park in previous state of residence

primAry eleCtion - DistriCt 2

ChaD bruening br ueningforCouncil.com

Age: 55 Educ

Time in the district in which you are running/years of residency: Moved to Cape Coral and purchased a home in November 2021

Occupation and place of employment: Commercial construction project manager, Envirostruct, LLC

Civic/Community involvement: Four-year member of Rotary Fundraiser for YMCA of America, contributor/volunteer for “Jakes field days,” Geffe contributor and managed/partial funded playground expansion projects for Grove, Ok school district

Breeze will ask the candidates for Cape Coral City Council an issue-related question In the interest of fairness, each candidate is limited to the same amount of space, about 100 words, for their response

Age: 61

Education/degrees: High school diploma; Trade school

Occupation and place of employment: Cape Coral City Council member for District 2; Owner of Sheppard Landscape, Inc and Palm Source Pine Island, LLC

Time in the district in which you are running/years of residency: Homeowner in southwest Cape Coral District 2 for 26 years and full-time resident for 25 years.

Political experience: Currently in fourth year as Cape Coral City Council member in District 2

Civic/Community involvement: Active in supporting and donating to many non-profit organizations throughout Cape Coral

About CApe CorAl Cit y CounCil

Cape Coral has a city manager/council form of government. A Council-appointed, contract city manager runs the day-to-day operations of the city Cape Coral City Council is an elected eight-member board comprised of a mayor and seven council members who set policy and are accountable to the voters The mayor may live in any district Council members are elected “at large” meaning while candidates must live in the district they seek to represent, the seats are filled via non-partisan, citywide elections Every registered Cape voter, no matter their party affiliation or city address, may cast a ballot in every race in both the Primary and General Election.

primAry eleCtion - DistriCt 3

Age: 53

Occupation and place of employment: Disabled veteran.

Time in the district in which you are running/years of residency: Five years, six months

Military experience: U S Navy Seabees

DerriCk DonneLL Der rickDonnell.com

Age: 60

Education/degrees: B S , Jackson State University; M S T , Jackson State University; Ed D , University of Central Florida

Occupation and place of employment: Educator - School District of Lee County - Dunbar Middle School

Adjunct Professor - Florida SouthWestern State College

Time in the district in which you are running: Two years in District 3 that was rezoned by City Council in January 2022

Political experience: Former City Council member (2007-2015)

Civic/Community involvement: Former member, Lee County Human Services Council; former MPO District 4 appointee; basketball referee; DJ for community events

Grace Church member; Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity member

Military experience: United States Marine Corps/Commissioned Officer; Gulf War veteran; U S Marine Corps Bat

Age: 68

Education/degrees: Graduated from Cypress Lake High School; Secretarial Certificate from the Fort Myers Business College; Attended FGCU for Legal Studies

Occupation and place of employment:

Retired; Former Civil Servant and Legal Secretary for 27 years

Time in the district in which you are running/years of residency: 37 continuous years in District 3; 49 years in Cape Coral

Political experience: Previously volunteered for various political campaigns

❑ Dan ShepparD (inCuMbent)

Meet the candidates for Cape Coral City Council for Districts 2, 3, 4, 5 and 7.

Primary ElEction - District 4

Breeze will ask the candidates for Cape Coral City Council an issue-related question In the interest of fairness, each candidate is limited to the same amount of space, about 100 words, for their response

RIchaRD caRR (Incumbent) VoteRichcar

r.com

Age: 59

Education/degrees: Associate in Science, Criminal Justice Bachelor of Public Administration FBI National Academy, certificate

Occupation and place of employment: Council member, city of Cape Coral Retired law enforcement

Time in the district in which you are running/years of residency: 30 years

Political experience: Appointed as council member December 2023 ❑

❑ JennIFeR nelson nelsonforDistrict4.com

Age: 54

Education/degrees: Bachelors of Fine Arts

Occupation and place of employment: Executive director, Dress for Success Southwest Florida

Time in the district in which you are running/years of residency: 10 years in District 4 16 total in Cape Coral

Political experience: Cape Coral City Council member, District 4, 2017-2022

Civic/Community involvement: PACE Center for Girls, Lee County Board of Directors, 2012- present; Lee County Economic Development Horizon Council, Executive Board, 2017- 2022; Affordable Housing Advisory Committee, Cape Coral, 20202022; Cape Coral Charter School Governing Board, 2017-2019; Recycle Florida Today-Board of Directors, 2011-2018 Chair, Recycling group, Florida Goodwill Association 2012

❑ Jason conzelman Youtube.com/@conzelman4councilman

Age: 44

Education/degrees: Graduated from Bishop Verot High School; AA in Political Science; BA in Mathematics and Poly/Sci Occupation and place of employment: Owner of Poorman’s Card and Collectibles; Part-time help as the office manager of Poorman’s Auto Repair, a small family business operating for 40 years in Cape Coral

Time in the district in which you are running/years of residency: More than 15, or up to 20 depending on how much time you’re applying for moving several times over 35 years

Probably as many as 28 if the district maps remained unchanged.

Political experience: Interned at the office of former state senator Burt Saunders in college

Civic/Community involvement: A year-long collection of toys for Toys for tots and toy donations to churches and fire station 2

❑ chaRles Pease VotecharliePease.com

Age: 40

Education/degrees: MBA

MA in Educational Policy and Leadership BS in Mathematics; National Merit Scholar

Cape Coral High School graduate, valedictorian

Occupation and place of employment: Director of Cape Coral Technical College (head of school)

Time in the district in which you are running/years of residency: 3 5 years in what is now District 5; Born & raised in Cape Coral (moved for graduate school and work; returned in 2015)

Civic/Community involvement: Board member of Cape Coral Charter School Authority Governing Board, Cape Coral Historical Society and Museum of History, Cape Coral Mayor’s Scholarship Fund and Golf Tournament chair; Keep Our Parks and Rec–Cape Coral co-founder/spokesperson and more

WIllIam mattheWs VoteWmatthews.com

Age: 45

Education/degrees: Bachelor of Science in Accounting; Bachelor of Science in Finance; AAS in Paralegal Studies

Occupation and place of employment: Financial Comptroller and Philanthropist

Time in the district in which you are running/years of residency: Part-time since I was a boy; Full-time since 2020

Civic/Community involvement: Assisting elderly in putting up shutters each year, hosting student educational activities, volunteering in environmental clean-ups, and distributing packages of water and food after Hurricane Ian, as well as removing debris from the homes of hundreds of neighbors

Age: 62

Education/degrees: Master’s degree/Internet Marketing; Earned Value Management System Certificate; Lean Six Sigma Green Belt Certification; Project Management Simulation Course; Bachelor’s degree; Business Administration

Occupation and place of employment: Consultant for Fortune 100 companies on Department of Defense programs; Future State Partners INC /Owner Time in the district in which you are running/years of residency: More than three years

Civic/Community involvement: Cape Coral VFW Post #8463; Cape Coral American Legion Post #90; Cape Coral Republican Club; Lee County Republican Executive Committee (awaiting to be sworn in)

Military experience: 20 years as an Army officer ❑ RobeRt J. sutteR Facebook (facebook.com/profile.php?id=61558157836677)

Primary ElEction - District 5

❑ JosePh KIlRaIne Kilr aineforcape.com

Age: 73

Education/degrees: BS Chemical Engineering; MBA; MS Polymer Engineering/MS Chemical Engineering; Doctorate Business Administration program

Occupation: Retired/part-time business consulting

Time in the district in which you are running: 20 years

Political experience: 2020 candidate for District 3 Cape Coral City Council and reapportioned into District 5 three years ago

Civic/Community involvement: Member of St. Katharine Drexel

Catholic Church, Cape Council for Progress, Republican Party of Lee County, Habitat for Humanity fundraising, Knights of Columbus, Harry Chapin Food Bank, Cape Coral Caring Center

Past member Rotary Club of Cape Coral Sandoval HOA BOD

President, Chair of the Finance Group & Transition Committee

❑ RobeRt Welsh (Incumbent) VoteWelsh.com

Age: 39

Education/degrees: Mariner High School graduate Post-secondary work

Occupation and place of employment: Production/Sales Manager at Arthur Printing Co-owner of Roots Salon

Time in the district in which you are running/years of residency: 37-year resident of Cape; 37-year resident of District 5

Political experience: Cape Coral City Council member, District 5, 2020-present

Civic/Community involvement: Cape Coral Rotary, Lee County MPO, Cape Coral Transportation Advisory Committee, Community Development Block Grant Committee, Planning & Zoning Commission, National League of Cities, SWFL League of Cities, Parks and Recreation Advisory Board, Community Redevelopment Agency, Aveda Earth Month Donation Drive

Meet the candidates for Cape Coral City Council for Districts 2, 3, 4, 5 and 7.

General election only - District 7

Age: 60

Education/degrees:

Graduated from Greenhills High School, Cincinnati, Ohio

Occupation and place of employment: Mortgage loan officer and owner of Edison Mortgage Services

Time in the district in which you are running: Five years total in northeast Cape and 30 years total in Cape Coral

Civic/Community involvement: Volunteer youth sports coach

Important dates . . .

∫ T h e L e e C o u n t y S u p e r v i s o r o f E l e c t i o n s ’ s o f f i c e p o s t s a l l c i t y - e l e ct i o n r e l a t e d d o c u m e n t s , i n c l u d i n g

c a m p a i g n r e p o r t s a t l e e . v o te

∫ T h e L e e C o u n t y S u p e r v i s o r o f

E l e c t i o n s h a s a w e a l t h o f e l e c t i o n sr e l a t e d i n f o r m a t i o n c o n c e r n i n g r e

n f o r m a t i o n o n t h e 2 0 2 4

r a c e s a n d c a n d i d a t e s :

∫ T h e B r e e z e w i l l p o s t a l l o f i t s

e l e c t i o n s s t o r i e s t o o u r w e b s i t e ,

Cape c o ral bre e z e . c o m

Breeze will ask the candidates for Cape Coral City Council an issue-related question In the interest of fairness, each candidate is limited to the same amount of space, about 100 words, for their response.

Rachel

Age: 34

Education/degrees: Graduated from Mariner High School

Occupation and place of employment: Loan officer at Sanibel Captiva Community Bank.

Time in the district in which you are running: Life-long resident of District 7

Civic/Community involvement: Past board member of Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Suncoast and Greater Fort Myers Chamber of Commerce Past member of Advocacy Committee Chamber of Commerce of Cape Coral Leadership Program graduate 2018 Past Government Affairs Committee chair, trustee, and present board member Guardian Angels for Special Populations board member The Chamber of Southwest Florida, secretary SWFL Tallahassee Days participant 2023, 2024 Southwest Florida Symphony, Board of Trustees Fort Myers Community Concert Association board

District 7 is a General Election-only race

Races with more than two qualifying candidates are placed on the primary ballot, which this year will be held Aug 20 with Seats 2, 3, 4 and 5 on the ballot

The two primary candidates receiving the most votes in each race will then be candidates in the City General Election

which also will include the District 7 seat (If there are fewer than three qualifying candidates in any a given race, their names will not appear on the primary election ballot They will appear on the City General Election ballot only )

Voters can cast a ballot in every race

every

Cape voter, no matter their party affiliation or city address, may cast a ballot in every race in both the Primary and General Election

The 2024 municipal election for Cape Coral City Council features five races the seats Districts 2, 3, 4, 5 and 7 with the District 7 race to appear only on the General Election ballot While candidates must live in the district they seek to represent, Cape Coral City Council races are n

Local groups host chances to meet the candidates

There are a number of forums at which voters can meet the candidates

Among the upcoming opportunities:

Kiwanis Candidates HobNob

On July 23, the Cape Coral Chamber of Commerce will host a 2024 Candidates HobNob at the Kiwanis Club of Cape Coral

The free and open-to-the-public event will run from 5:30 to p m

federal candidates

There will e a straw poll c o n d

d

t h e Lee County Supervisor of Elections

To RSVP, visit capecoralchamber com

The Kiwanis Club of Cape Coral is at 360 Santa Barbara Blvd.

LWVLee Candidate Forums

The League of Women Voters of Lee County will sponsor a pair of Candidate Forums to provide opportunities for voters to learn each candidates’ philosophy and positions prior to the Primary Election on Aug 20

The public is invited to the LWVLee

Candidate Forums for Cape Coral City Council Districts 2, 3, 4, 5, and 7 to be held Monday, July 8, from 5:30-7 p.m. at the Cape Coral Library, 921 S W 39th Terrace, Cape Coral Registration will begin at 5 p m This program is not sponsored/endorsed b th Lee County Libra System You also m a y r e g i s t e r a t R e g i s t e r a t eventbrite com

T h e s e c o n d forum will be held at the Alliance for t Arts on Thursday, July 11, 6-8 p m Registration will begin at 5:30 p m

McGregor Blvd , Fort Myers

The league is taking an active role, stressing voter turnout while also providing information issues and candidates

“Elected leaders make the decisions that affect us, our jobs, healthcare, energy costs, education and more Every eligible voter should exercise their right to be heard at the ballot box,” said Sandy Frank, president of the League of Women Voters of Lee County, Inc said in a prepared statement. A

without a party affiliation, may vote in the Aug 20 election

The LWVLee Combined Candidate Forum will feature candidates for Lee County Commission Districts 3 and 5; Lee County School Board Districts 2, 3, and 7 and Fort Myers City Council Wards 2 and 4

Ballots will include non-partisan races for Lee County School Board, Cape C

yers City Council and

voters with

include their party’s candidates

information and resources:

■ Register to vote: Confirm your address and party affiliation by July 22 to vote in the Aug 20 Election Request your Vote-by-Mail Ballot by Aug 8 Contact the Supervisor of Elections, lee vote

■ VOTE411: Vote411 org by the League of Women Voters Education Fund

, resources and voter guides 2024 candidate information will be available mid-July

■ Returning Citizens Voting Rights: Restoration information and assistance is available from League of Women Voters of Florida Call 407-710-5496 or email canivote@lwvfl org

For Voter Identification Assistance, contact VoteRiders org 866-432-8683 Visit LWVLee org for more information on candidate forums and to sign up for email updates.

CCCIA monthly dinner

The Cape Coral Construction Industry Association will host Cape Coral City Council candidates at its monthly dinner meeting on Aug 8

The meeting will run from 5:30 to 8 p m and will take place at Cape Cabaret at 4725 Vincennes Blvd

For more information, visit cccia org

❑ Michael david haRpeR

❑

KaduK R achelK aduk com

COMMUNITY

Enjoy bromeliads

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

By SHERIE BLEILER news@breezenewspapers

com

When I saw my first bromeliad, I thought, “What a perfectly arranged plant, shaped like a flower ” Yes, the leaves spiral out of the center of the plant and arrange themselves to circle the middle in a “rosette ” This is especially true for the neos, short for Neoregelia, one type of bromeliad As they grow up, the center becomes more colorful and tiny flowers appear for several weeks But the main attraction are the center leaves that “blush” with color as the plant comes into bloom They have been bred to flush out in a variety of bright hues from purple to peach, with red as the most common

Most neos like some shade and look beautiful under a tree, where not much else will grow They will also easily grow in a small pot for the size of the plant and happily bloom on the patio

T h e r e a r e o t h e r b r omeliads in the family called

A e c h m e a , w h i c h b l o o m differently They have a stem coming out of the middle and hold the flower a b o v e t h e p l a n t T h e s e flowers take a wide variety o f i n t e r e s t i n g f o r m s

GARDEN CLUB OF CAPE CORAL

Although the flowers last just a day, the bracts that hold them are colorful structures that sometimes last for months Many of these will grow in full sun, such as the bright orange leaf blanchetianna, which you see growing in many Cape Coral yards It reaches an impressive 3 to 5 feet Their bloom spike divides into orange-red branches which last for months

Another beautiful Aechmea is called silver vase with gray and cream striped leaves and a round pink ball with blue flowers This pink ball lasts several months It is happy as a houseplant or outside in shade

As in the photo of this neo called "Yin," water collects in the center Leaves and other debris land in the center, decompose and provide nutrients for the plant While the roots do provide some nutrients, mostly they anchor the plant to the ground Most bromeliads are epiphytic, meaning they can grow on a tree branch, palm trunk or rock, and get what they need by the water held in their center cup One example is Aechmea orlandiana, which has attractive stripes

Besides having seeds, bromeliads multiply by putting out a side shoot, called a “pup ” By planting an orlandiana at the base of a tree, each pup will attach to the tree a little higher on the trunk After a few years, the pups will appear to be climbing the tree This will not hurt the tree What a fun look!

Billbergia is another family member with flowers that are held above the plant These plants are often shaped like an urn, long and tall Flaming torch is one variety whose bloom is a red ball with blue flowers, lasting a week I have seen it blooming away in sunny front yards, but they appreciate a bit of shade to keep rich green leaves

A i r p l a n t s a r e a l s o b r o m e l i a d s , i n t h e f a m i l y

Tillandsia These are totally epiphytic They just have a few roots that stick to a piece of driftwood or a branch of your tree You will often see our native air plants in live oak trees Storms may knock them out of the tree to the ground I pick these up and place in my own trees or on a wooden plaque with fishing line or a tie wrap By the way, pineapples are bromeliads, too!

Care of bromeliads is so easy! They prefer to grow in soil that drains freely Regular potting soil with one third sand or perlite added works well Planting directly in our sandy soil works fine, too Water with rain water or tap water, keeping water in the cups. Well water usually contains salt and will slowly kill a bromeliad If you wish to fertilize, dilute it to half strength or you may burn the leaves

American Legion Post 90 Riders work to help end veteran suicides

Local American Legion Riders recently joined a Florida statewide effort to help end veteran suicide Called “PROJECT: VetRelief Suicide Prevention Initiative,” they raised over $330,000 Florida has almost a million veterans and over 100,000 of them are American Legion members of which 15,000 are here in Southwest Florida

From Marco Island to Punta Gorda, hundreds of local legionnaires rode their motorcycles for the cause At local American Legion posts, thousands more donated and hosted rides, dinners and other activities. They also created fundraising pages to collect donations Riders not only volunteer their time and pay for their own lodging and fuel but also make personal contributions

Across the United States, about 22 veterans a day commit suicide (and many of them are here in Florida ) That is over 8,000 a year The Florida American Legion Riders find this unacceptable In 2019, they chose to do their part to eradicate this statistic and dedicate the funds raised through their annual In-State Unity Ride towards ending veteran suicides Since then, they have raised over $520,000 for PROJECT: VetRelief’s Suicide Prevention Initiative The funding sponsors veterans through existing programs and services focused on mental health Detailed information on the program is available at www projectvetrelief org/spi

The In-State Unity Ride is one of the largest multiroutes, multi-day, statewide motorcycle events, with many of the American Legion Riders traveling from across the state to join in unified support for this important cause PROJECT: VetRelief, established in 2014, is a program of The American Legion, Department of Florida The program focuses on two services: emergency assistance and suicide prevention When dealing with a life emergency, they support our service members and their families with immediate financial assistance. The suicide prevention initiative focuses on training or mentoring veterans through existing mental health treatments, programs, or processes to prevent suicide Their mission is to keep food on the table or the lights on while a family works through a trying time and to decrease the suicide rate to zero Riders on the tour traveled in three different routes, East, West and Central, covering a total of 2,970 miles in the state of Florida Chapter 90 Cape Coral American Legion Riders travelled 1,610 miles on their portion of the trip There was a total of 160 motorcycles and 205 participants for the event The Central District Riders, which Cape Coral Post 90 was part of, donated the most money

Jack Fitzgerald, center, head of the Cape Coral Post 90 Legion Riders, presents a check for $6,000 to Mike Raymond, left, State of Florida Commander and Joseph Marcheggiani, Area Commander at Post 136, St. James City.

of the three routes. Chapter 90 presented a check for $6,000 to PROJECT VetRelief suicide prevention initiative at Post 136 in St James City on April 26 The 13th District contributed over $17,000 that day from the four legion families at their Post’s in Cape Coral, Fort Myers, St James City and Bonita Springs

The American Legion was founded in 1919 on the four pillars of strong national security, veterans’ affairs, Americanism and youth programs The Department of Florida Legionnaires support their communities through nearly 300 posts across Florida Currently, more than 6,000 members are American Legion Riders

T o f i n d o u t m o r

Department of Florida, please visit www floridalegion org If you are a veteran and have not joined, please consider becoming part of a great organization

July programs set at Northwest Regional Library

Next month’s roster of activities at Northwest Regional Library offers topics for all ages The following activities are free to the public:

Adult Programs

Knit and Stitch

10 a.m., Wednesday, July 3

A casual, self-guided group of knitters and crocheters that join together to share projects, ideas and techniques Participants are encouraged to bring their own projects and tools Basic materials and supplies are available for newcomers

Chess at the Library

5:30 p.m., Tuesday, July 9

Enjoy chess at the library in a casual environment Chess boards will be provided, but you can also bring your own People of all ages and skill levels are invited

Summer Classic Film Series

2 p.m., Thursday, July 11

A casino boss hires a down-and-out gambler to manage his business, unaware that the bettor is his wife's former lover Rated PG

Dementia Sensitivity

10 a m , Wednesday, July 17

Join us for a special program on dementia, presented by Lee Health Participants will gain a better understanding of

Alzheimer's disease and related dementias, including common symptoms, causes and progressive stages The presenter will help attendees increase awareness of behavioral symptoms associated with dementia, equip others to communicate effectively with persons with dementia and discuss local resources available to assist those with dementia, their families and caregivers

Adult Crafternoon: Self-Care Sugar Scrubs

1 p m , Thursday, July 18

Make a simple scented sugar scrub to enjoy the next time you need a little relaxation and pampering All supplies will be provided Dress for a mess Registration is required

Summer Classic Film Series

2 p.m., Thursday, July 25

An aspiring actress feigns humility and naiveté to connive her way under the wing of a veteran Broadway star She manipulates those in the star's circle in hopes of cheating her way to the top Rated PG

Children's Programs

Kids Read Down Fines

4:30-5:30 p m , Wednesday, July 3, 10

11 a m , Saturday, July 20

Children and teens can earn a $2 credit on overdue fines

HEALTH

HEALTH NOTES

Legion Post 90 to hold flag retirement ceremony, blood drive on July 4

The American Legion Cape Coral is celebrating Thursday, July 4, at Post 90 at 1401 S E 47th St , in Cape Coral There will be a flag retirement ceremony and a blood drive The public is invited

A flag retirement ceremony begins at 11 a m and will be attended by the Post Honor Guard Please bring your old unserviceable flags and the legion properly dispose of them

The Lee Health Bloodmobile Blood drive will start at noon and continue to 5 p m Anyone donating blood will get a free hamburger, soda and chips.

Blood donations will remain in the four Lee Health acute care hospitals -- Cape Coral Hospital, Gulf Coast Medical Center, HealthPark Medical Center and Lee Memorial Hospital, which houses the only trauma center within a five-county area

SCHEA to hold blood drive July 6

SCHEA will host a Lee Health blood drive Saturday, July 6, from 11 a m to 4 p m The bus will be parked in Club Square, behind the BackStreets Sports Bar on Southeast 47th Terrace

Donors will also receive a punch card with complimentary offers from the a number of local businesses

All blood donated will stay local to Lee County, and appointments are available to eliminate wait times Please text Shannon at 239-900-4028 (Monday-Friday, 10 a m to 4 p m ) or email info@southcapeentertainment com to secure a time slot

Stay tuned to everything SCHEA via Facebook and SCHEA's website

DOH-Lee offices to close in obser vance of Independence Day

All Florida Department of Health offices in Lee County (DOH-Lee) will close on Thursday, July 4, and Friday, July 5, in observance of Independence Day

Regular office hours will resume on Monday, July 8 DOH-Lee reminds residents and visitors to celebrate safely over the holiday weekend

For medical emergencies that need immediate assistance, call 911

The Department, nationally accredited by the Public Health Accreditation Board, works to protect, promote, and improve the health of all people in Florida through integrated state, county, and community efforts

Follow us on X at @HealthyFla and on Facebook For more information about the Florida Department of Health, visit FloridaHealth.gov.

Free autism screening for young children July 19

Golisano Children’s Hospital of Southwest Florida, in partnership with Ronald McDonald House Charities of Southwest Florida, offers a free monthly autism spectrum disorder screening for toddlers 18 months to 5 years of age

The next screening will be held Friday, July 19, from 9 a m to 2 p m , at the Pediatric Specialist Office, 15901 Bass Road, Suite 102, Fort Myers

It is estimated that one in every 44 children is diagnosed with some form of Autism Spectrum Disorder, making it more common than childhood cancer, juvenile diabetes and pediatric AIDS combined

Medical consultants for the project stress that an early diagnosis can make a vast difference for toddlers and their families They say early intensive behavioral intervention can make an immense difference not just in the development of the child, but in their families as well

The ASD screening is conducted by the Golisano Children’s Hospital of Southwest Florida The screeni

Registered Nurse, who has extensive training and experience in typical child development and developmental disorders

A physician referral is not required To schedule a screening, please call 239-343-6838

Palmview at Gulf Coast Village wins Futures Fund Annual Pitch Competition

Palmview at Gulf Coast Village, Cape Coral’s only life plan community and a nonprofit partner of Volunteers of America, was named the winner of the VOA Futures Fund

A

Conference on May 7 VOA hosts the competition at its annual conference, where three affiliates within the VOA network pitch innovative concepts to a panel of judges to receive funding to bring their concepts to life

Since 2017, VOA has hosted the Futures Fund Annual Pitch Competition to celebrate innovators and innovation within the organization. Over the past seven years, 13 VOA affiliates have been awarded over $120,000 in grants Past winning concepts include health vending machines, mobile access to primary care for adolescents in treatment and music therapy for seniors

As the winner, Palmview at Gulf Coast Village will receive a $15,000 grant to develop its new concept, “Practical Magic Kitchen,” which will use innovative cooking techniques, including molecular gastronomy, to create engaging and creative cuisine for its residents with dietary restrictions As a result, all residents can enjoy the products of their weekly cooking classes

Gulf Coast Village submitted a three-minute pitch

video and a written application detailing its “Practical Magic Kitchen” concept to VOA and was declared the winner at the 2024 National Conference in Maryland

Each week, Palmview, Gulf Coast Village’s assisted living and memory support community, hosts weekly cooking classes for its residents, where residents collaborate with the community’s activity team to cook and bake Residents with dietary restrictions, such as those who require a mechanical soft texture diet or puree diet, are often not able to enjoy the weekly creations For example, carrot cake with nuts and chocolate covered strawberries are both prohibited on specialty diets So, the Palmview team began looking for alternatives, and the Practical Magic Kitchen was born

With the $15,000 grant, Gulf Coast Village will upgrade one of Palmview’s resident kitchen and dining areas into the Practical Magic Kitchen, purchase specialty cooking and baking equipment, and host on-site events for residents featuring local chefs

Through its partnership with VOA, Gulf Coast Village is committed to serving and bettering the lives of Cape Coral seniors To learn more about Palmview at Gulf Coast Village, call 239-510-8712 or visit GulfCoastVillage org

SalusCare working with community partners

to link patients to detoxification and treatment

SalusCare is coordinating with community partners including Lee County EMS and Family Health Centers to link overdose patients to treatment, including detoxification and Medication-Assisted Treatment The program, funded by grants from the state’s Opioid Settlement

Behavioral Health Network in partnership with the state’s Department of Health, Department of Children and Families and the Agency for Health Care Administration

“We are utilizing this program to create a pathway for individuals with substance use disorder to lifesaving information and treatment,” said Jessica Plazewski, vice president and COO of SalusCare, which has 24/7 detoxification services and is a free distribution site for Narcan, an emergency nasal spray used by others to reverse the effects of an opioid overdose “We are working with Lee County EMS to link patients to substance use disorder treatment where appropriate instead of taking them to the emergency room The goal is to help patients receive treatment and tools necessary to help break the cycle of addiction ”

The statewide CORE program was the first of its kind in the nation and started in 2022 in 12 counties with an announcement from Gov Ron DeSantis Lee County was added to the program in 2024 along with 16 other counties According to state data, EMS in Lee responded to 4,453 overdose calls in 2022

Lee County has received $1 5 million in funding so far for the program, which includes increased staffing, training, a vehicle to transport participants to appointments and

treatment, take-home fentanyl drug tests and other support items Florida will receive more than $3 1 billion over 18 years from more than $50 billion in national opioid settlements from pharmaceutical companies and distributors

The CORE program operates under a connected care model starting with first responders, who help connect overdose patients to specialized substance use disorder care where patients are stabilized and connected with treatment programs In the sustainable recovery portion of the care model, patients are connected with MAT, mental health support, primary care and social services

“Since its inception, CORE has helped to facilitate connections with key stakeholders and health care networks across our state to combat overdose and addiction and connect individuals suffering from substance use disorder with life-saving care,” said Department of Child and Families Secretary Shevaun Harris in a press release about the program. “The work that the CORE program has done in its first year is unprecedented, and the Department is so proud to work alongside the Department of Health and other partners in continuing the fight to end the opioid epidemic ”

Lee Health earns No. 4 ranking in U.S., No. 1 in Florida for social responsibility

Lee Health announced this week that it is ranked fourth out of 311 health systems in the United States as one of the most socially responsible by the Lown Institute All Lee Health acute care hospitals also received “A” grades in various metrics

This is the health system’s second year in a row ranking in the top five in the country for its commitment to social responsibility and health equity Lee Memorial Hospital, which includes HealthPark Medical Center under the same license, ranked number one in Florida for social responsibility and was also in the top 5 in Florida for value of care and avoiding overuse

The Lown Hospitals Index for Social Responsibility is the only ranking to combine metrics of health equity and value of care alongside patient outcomes, for more than 2,700 acute care and 800 critical access hospitals across

the nation

The Lown Index evaluates hospitals on more than 50 measures, including community benefit, racial inclusivity and avoidance of overuse The Lown Institute was launched in 2020 as the first ranking system to assess the social responsibility of U S hospitals by applying measures, including diversity, pay equity, and limiting unnecessary procedures and treatments for patients

Lee Health as a system of care placed fourth in the U.S. for health equity, value of care and patient safety

The Lown Institute awarded Lee Memorial Hospital, HealthPark Medical Center, Cape Coral Hospital and Gulf Coast Medical Center “A” Grades in social responsibility, patient outcomes, clinical outcomes, patient safety, inclusivity, and cost efficiency

Learn more at www LeeHealth org

BOOM: City of Cape Coral’s Fourth of July celebration, fireworks display, the

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Headliner Parmalee is made up of brothers Matt and Scott Thomas, along with their cousin Barry Knox and long-time friend Josh McSwain. The group put out Billboard’s most played country song of 2022 in “Take My Name.” Parmalee has accumulated more than 1 billion ondemand streams and three No. 1 hits that include “Carolina,” “Just The Way,” and the aforementioned “Take My Name ”

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Travel: Expect heavy traffic on roadways and waterways for the long July 4th holiday weekend

From page 1

in consumer confidence, wages, and continued strength in consumer spending

AAA projects a record 60 6 million people will travel by car over Independence Day week, up from 2 8 million last year This year’s number also surpasses 2019, when 55 3 million people traveled by car during the period

Road travel in Florida will set a record for the second consecutive year, as more than 3 9 million Floridians are expected to take a road trip (up 183,000 more than last year)

“Road travelers should prepare for congestion in the afternoon and evening hours, particularly near larger metro areas, theme parks and popular attractions,” stated Mark Jenkins, AAA spokesman, in a release “With so many people on the road it’s important to be patient, minimize distractions while driving, and move over for people on the roadside ”

When it comes to the skies, the number of domestic air travelers is also expected to set a record Nationally, AAA projects 5 74 million people will fly to their July 4th destinations -- an increase of nearly 7% compared to last year and a 12% increase from 2019

AAA booking data shows domestic airfare is 2% cheaper this Independence Day week compared to last year, and the average price for a domestic roundtrip ticket is $800 Airports will be packed throughout the week AAA recommends arriving 2 hours early, reserving parking ahead of time, and traveling with carry-on luggage versus checked bags to save time and money

More than 4 6 million people are expected to travel by other modes of transportation, such as buses, cruises, and trains This category is seeing an increase of 9% compared to last year, but shy of 2019’s figure of 4 79 million

“Cruising continues experiencing remarkable growth,” Haas stated “This time of year, Alaska cruises are in high demand, making Seattle and Anchorage top domestic destinations Cruise travelers are also finding deals this summer With new ships coming onto the market and going for a premium working with a Travel Advisor is a great way to ensure you’re getting the best value for your vacation Travel Advisors are also able to help you choose a travel insurance policy that protects you and your investment for the impact of unexpected events before and during your trip ”

According to experts at INRIX, a provider of transportation data and insights, the worst times to travel by car before and on July 4th are between 2 p m and 7 p m Experts state you should hit the road in the morning, and travelers returning on Monday should avoid rush hour traffic in the morning and afternoon

“Drivers in large metro areas can expect the worst traffic delays on Wednesday, July 3rd, as they leave town, and Sunday, July 7th, as they return,” stated Bob Pishue, transportation analyst at INRIX, in a release “Road trips over the holiday week could take up to 67% longer than normal Travelers should monitor 511 services, local news stations, and traffic apps for up-to-the-minute road conditions ”

AAA urges drivers to make sure their vehicle is ready for the road, expecting to rescue nearly 800,000 stranded motorists during the nine-day holiday period The most common problems AAA expects stranded motorists to have are dead batteries, flat tires, and lockouts

“The hotter summer months take a toll on your vehicle’s battery and tires,” said Jenkins “That’s why it’s so important to get a pre-trip vehicle inspection Doing so could uncover potential vehicle problems that might not otherwise reveal themselves until your trip ”

On the water

According to the nationwide TowBoatUS on-water towing fleet, the busiest time of the year for America’s recreational boat owners is “hands down” the Fourth of July holiday period It also may be the longest time many boaters will spend the day on the water at anchor, enjoying fireworks shows, fishing holes and raft-ups

The BoatUS Foundation for Boating Safety and Clean Water provided four tips to help boaters spend America’s birthday safely at anchor

1 Be anchor smart Before heading out, is your anchoring gear is up to snuff? Bitter end secured? You may not have used it yet this boating season, so be sure all is good to go for whatever anchoring arrangement When arriving to your celebration spot and setting anchor, ensure you let out enough scope for the depth and predicted weather conditions Show some courtesy if things get crowded

2 Avoid CO poisoning Generators give boaters the creature comforts they want However, don’t run the generator if you’ve got swimmers in the water at the back of the boat This is where exhaust ports often located, spewing dangerous, odorless carbon monoxide

3 Don’t stress it It’s a long day on the water Be careful with stressors including noise, vibration, sun, wind, waves and other motion U S Coast Guard research shows that four hours of exposure to these can produce a kind of fatigue, or “boater’s hypnosis,” which slows reaction time almost as much as if you were legally drunk Adding alcohol makes it worse For your boat, don’t stress your battery playing music all day

4 Get home safely Before departing an anchorage, wait to turn on the engine until everyone is back aboard and ladder is up If you’re leaving a fireworks show, proceed with utmost caution It’s always better to wait a few minutes for everyone to clear out and give a chance for wakes to subside before departing. Be patient and, again, give as much courtesy as you can Everyone aboard should be acting as a lookout Never take a shortcut home after dark

According to the American Boating Association, the Fourth of July, along with Memorial Day and Labor Day, typically account for more than one-third of all boating-related accidents and fatalities

Experts state that with more than 85 million Americans who go boating each year, the holiday weekend is one of the busiest and most dangerous times of the boating season and brings an increased risk of accidents, either from human error or lack of training and experience with the vessel

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is participating in Operation Dry Water for heightened BUI enforcement, and education on the dangers of impaired boating

Operation Dry Water is a year-round national effort to educate recreational boaters about the dangers of boating under the influence of alcohol or drugs A heightened enforcement weekend July 4 through 6 will see FWC and other law enforcement partners focusing efforts on Boating Under the

Skimmers: Secret Service, multiple agencies, involved in statewide effort against point-of-sale thefts

to be aware of what is going on,” Simonds said “Check their machines regularly They can even use colored security tape to ensure their point-of-sale terminals have not been tampered with A gentle tug on the terminals will often reveal if a skimmer is present ”

Simonds said for residents and individuals shopping around local businesses, “Based on what we have seen recently in the area, tap-to-pay is a safer alternative than inserting your card Don’t forget to check your credit card account frequently and look for fraudulent activity ”

Police officials said if you find a skimmer, call the local police department

“We will come out to the scene, investigate, and keep our community’s information safe,” Simonds said

State-wide effort

According to a release from the U S Secret Service, the federal law enforcement

Travel: Boating-related

From page 24

Influence detection and enforcement

agency, in conjunction with state and local partners in three major Florida cities, conducted a payment card skimming and Electronic Benefit Transfer fraud outreach program last week

More than 470 businesses were inspect-

ATMs, gas pumps, and point-of-sales ter-

Orlando and Tampa Police Departments, O

Sheriff's Offices, Hillsborough, Pinellas, and Pasco County Sheriff's Offices, the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Offices, and the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services

Officials said in total, 13 skimming devices were recovered during the operation preventing an estimated potential loss of $1 3 million Overall, more than 3,500 point-of-sale terminals, gas pumps and ATMs were inspected

Secret Service officials stated that this is

the first time an outreach operation such as this has been conducted in the state of Florida by the entity, and may be used as a model for other cities around the country where EBT fraud and skimming is prevalent

“EBT information and other payment card numbers are stolen by installing an illegal skimming device that criminals use to capture card information from and then encode the stolen data onto another card with a magnetic strip, such as a gift card or hotel key,” officials stated in a release “It is estimated that skimming costs consumers and financial institutions more than $1 billion each year

”

Secret Service officials stated there are several precautions consumers can take to protect themselves:

■ Inspect ATMs, point-of-sale terminals, and other card readers before using Look for anything loose, crooked, damaged, or scratched Don't use a card reader

if you notice anything unusual

■ If you use a debit card at a gas station, run it as a credit card instead of entering a PIN That way, the PIN is safe, and the money isn’t deducted immediately from your account If that’s not an option, cover they keypad with your hand when entering your PIN Scammers sometimes use tiny pinhole cameras, situated above the keypad area, to record PIN entries Use ATMs in a well-lit, indoor location, which are less vulnerable targets

■ Be alert for skimming devices in tourist areas, which are popular targets

■ Utilize debit and credit cards with chip technology In the U S , there are fewer devices that steal chip data versus magnetic strip data

accidents, mishaps and BUIs increase during holiday weekends

“The mission of Operation Dry Water is to reduce the number of alcohol- and drug-related incidents and fatalities on the water,” FWC officials stated “The FWC has been involved with the Operation Dry Water campaign since its inception in 2009 and this year will continue to play a vital role in protecting lives, promoting safe boating practices, ensuring legal compliance and fostering a culture of responsible behavior on the water during the Operation Dry Water weekend taking place July 4-6 ”

Experts state that alcohol use continues to be the leading known contributing factor in recreational boater deaths and leading contributor to boating accidents Officials said operat-

ing a vessel while under the influence of alcohol or drugs is illegal on all bodies of water and the use of both legal and illegal drugs impairs judgement and reaction time that can lead to series injuries and consequences In Florida, it is illegal to operate a vessel with a blood alcohol content of 08 or higher, the same as in a vehicle

During Operation Dry Water weekend, boating safety advocates, volunteers and law enforcement personnel will collaborate to educate boaters on safe boating practices at marinas and on the water in every U.S. state and territory. The FWC and other participating law enforcement agencies will work to identify and remove dangerous or impaired vessel operators Last year, FWC law enforcement officers removed 94 impaired operators from Florida waterways during Operation Dry Water

“The Fourth of July is one of the busiest boating holidays in the country,” said Col Brian Smith, Director of FWC’s Division of Law Enforcement, in a release “And with more than a million registered recreational vessels in Florida, our officers are committed to ensuring the safety of everyone on the water We will be educating the public in the days leading up to the holiday and will increase patrols statewide looking for any signs of boater impairment ”

FWC reminds boaters that the best way to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience on the water is to choose to remain sober and alert, to wear a life jacket and take a boating education course

More information about boating and boating regulations in Florida can be found by visiting MyFWC com/Boating

Growth: West Zone

has two K-8 schools in the queue, including new construction for Hector A. Cafferata

The plan also includes the delay of two schools in the West Zone, which includes Cape Coral and parts of North Fort Myers, an elementary and high school

Molloy said the delay of the West Zone high school is because of the seats available at Island Coast High School

“Our team took a look at OOO in the West and took a look at the 600 unoccupied seats at Island Coast The issue out east is much more severe in terms of E2 and E3 seats It puts us further behind in terms of seats needed,” he said

Ross said the delay is because they are a lower priority than the proposed new schools at other levels and zones

The two West Zone schools in the plan are for Hector A Cafferata K-8 school, which will have 1,620 seats for an esti-

$50,000,000

Molloy said there will be a deficit of 8,443 student seats as opposed to the Jan 9 capital plan of a deficit of 3,633 student seats

The presentation also touched on the budget cuts $122 million for maintenance projects for the 10-year capital plan

Coordinator of Operations Danielle Jensen said there are 945 specific projects that need to be addressed with 54 6% of those, or 516, at the elementary school level There are 170 projects for middle school, 169 for high school and 90 special center projects

With the unmet needs of the school

improvement maintenance projects, delay in the West Zone elementary and high school there is a total reduction of $423 million, which Chief Financial Officer Dr Ami Desamours said is significant and continues to compound the current situation

The school district will also have debt of $1 3 billion in 10 years with the preliminary plan, which is among one of the challenges

Director of Budget Kelly Letcher said the general fund is the biggest part of their budget with a focus on schools and students. She said they allocated an additional $11 million to the schools with the new allocation formula

The budget focuses on the whole child mental wellness, resources for English

learners, as well as resources for additional needs and intervention and recapturing the learning loss, while retaining employees

The general fund is about $1 2 billion 71%, or $856 million, goes to schools for instruction and direct school expenses

Letcher said that falls within salaries and benefits

The remaining funds 12% for operation and maintenance, 8% contingency and reserves, 5% in transportation, 4% in support services and 4% in fee supported programs

Letcher said they are looking at an estimated $153 billion in tax roll, a $2 billion increase

“We could be looking at $1 5 million in the general fund,” she said

Scholarships: Upcoming fundraiser will help raise money for next year ’ s awards; tickets available

From page 7

lege

The non-profit started out giving $500 scholarships, then to $700, and over the last few years, have been able to distribute seven, $1,000 scholarships to Cape Coral high school students who qualify

To date, the organization has awarded more than $70,000 in scholarships

Ritzius said these students have a drive to succeed and uplift themselves and their families

“For the kids that really have to work for it, you don’t see a sense of entitlement,” she said “When you see a child coming from a (economically challenged) background, that has the drive to do better, it is so rewarding to see that, because they’re breaking that chain. These kids want to do

better They’re encouraged to do better Hopefully they sustain that drive with the help of these scholarships ”

Ritzius added it’s worth it for those who can, to help shape the future for local youth

“The youth are our future,” she said “And in this day and age, the way the economy is, it’s harder to go to college And we’re starting to see some of the college enrollment decreasing, but we’re also starting to see some of the trade school enrollment increasing We’ve awarded scholarships to kids going to trade schools, as well That’s our future If we don’t have people that are well-educated and able to sustain themselves, we could be in a sad state. So giving back to the youth of today

is very important ” According to the most recent informat i o n f r o m t h e S c h o o l D i s t r

County, there are a total of 2,419 students identified under “Project ACCESS,” with 493 active in West Zone schools, which encompasses Cape Coral, Pine Island and much of North Fort Myers Cape Coral for the Children’s main fundraiser takes place each fall, as they put on a fashion show where all proceeds go towards funding scholarships The charity organization is fully run by non-paid volunteers Cape Coral for the Children also hosts a luncheon the second Wednesday of each month where participating establishments provide gift cards for the charity to raffle off at the fashion show.

This year’s annual Charity Fashion Show and Luncheon will take place on Oct 1 9

Ladies Apparel Special raffle prizes, gift baskets, cash raffle, and more will be available to attendees

Tickets for the fashion show can be purchased in advance Those interested in taking part in the monthly luncheons can stay up-to-date by sending an email to ccfclunchbunch@comcast net

For more information on Cape Coral for the Children, visit capecoralforthechildren org

Student achievement decline continues

Lee now sits at ninth among top-10 largest districts in Florida; lowest ranking in 15 years

By MEGHAN BRADBURY news@breezenewspapers com

The School Board of Lee County heard some bleak statistics on student success this week, a starting point in a conversation for a transformation that will bring regional associate superintendents to the organizational chart to help student achievement increase, rather than decline

Interim Superintendent Dr Ken Savage said since the 2009-2010 school year, the school district earned its lowest ranking ninth in the top 10 ever for the 20222023 school year

Other data showed that the district ranked 25 out of the largest 25 Florida districts for kindergarten readiness for 2016-2017

“That ranking started to climb during that same time period, the third-grade achievement ranking went in the opposite direction,” Savage said from the 13th to the 22nd “Those two don’t match ”

For the 10 largest districts for math, the school district ranks ninth

For graduation for the 2022-2023 school year, the district had an 85 1% graduation rate, which gave them a 47th statewide ranking Savage said the year the district had a record graduation rate, the entire state waived the state testing requirements

“Were they truly successful graduates, or less accountable to prior standards?” Savage said “We are still in the bottom third of the state ”

He said Pasco County, which has an elected superintendent, had the highest outcome for the 10 largest districts of 91 1% for the 2022-2023 school year

“We have been neglecting children for 12 years Our job is to identify deficiencies and do something about it. The data is quite clear and for me I have always spoken about identifying the problems and taking ownership. I am prepared to move forward today because we can’t waste another year. Let’s do something about it. I don’t know how you go about making a meaningful change without really doing change. It’s about the children We failed because the data shows that ”

The average superintendent tenure in an appointed environment is between two and two and a half years. An elected increases beyond four years, Savage said

He said the district does not have official results for the 2023-2024 school year and will not receive those until the end of July With early reporting, Savage said in most cases the district’s gaps continue to widen

“What we will find is pockets of significant improvements the overall system is not narrowing the gaps,” he said “We have not been competitive in gains either ”

Savage said it is important to note that the D and F schools are 90% elementary schools because they do not have acceleration categories to offset the overall achievement He said it makes it harder because they have the third-grade achievement as its own separate category

In order to have a more school supported model, the district is now entering into an academic transformation that includes four regional associate superintendents, all of whom were approved at Wednesday night’s meeting Angela Nadar, Cheryl Neely, Cherise Trent and Charles Vilardi

“We have been neglecting children for 12

Board member Melisa Giovannelli

years Our job is to identify deficiencies and do something about it,” Board member Melisa Giovannelli said. “The data is quite clear and for me I have always spoken about identifying the problems and taking ownership I am prepared to move forward today because we can’t waste another year Let’s do something about it I don’t know how you go about making a meaningful change without really doing change It’s about the children We failed because the data shows that ” Savage said with a regional model it provides the opportunity for people to get to know families and work vertically through the system integrating instead of siloing positions. He said challenges are not happening at the central office, they are happening at the schools

The top sentiment from principals is the district should act as a team, and not the district verse schools

“It’s broke, so we need to fix it The data is clear, to do nothing is not responsible for this board,” Board member Armor Persons said

Board member Cathleen Morgan, who completely supported the regional concept, had a lot of questions of how it would be

implemented because she did not believe as presented would be successful

“We all agree we want the regional concept What we want to talk about is how is it going to work and how is it going to matter Three elementary principals responsible for 15-20 principles with no predecessor to know what the job is, what the expectations are, clarity for the role,” Morgan said “They are going to be reporting to three people. We will end up with four school districts run by people making it up as we go ”

She said she loves the concept but wants the people who created it to run it Deputy Superintendent Dr Jennifer Cupid-McCoy and Chief Academic Officer Dr Jeff Spiro

“I am so afraid that this structure is so fragile and so disorganized in terms of multiple people responsible for responsible across multiple lines,” Morgan said In the first year under Dr Cupid-McCoy working with the vision that she and Dr Spiro created, there is a good chance there will be a solid foundation with clear lines of authority, clarity about expectations, accountability, and professional development We are going to end up with four independent operators I don’t believe in this I think this is a prescription for failure of a fabulous plan ”

Board member Chris Patricca said it was a massive change to the district during a time when they have an interim superintendent and an elected superintendent to take the position in November

“I am surprised to find us here,” she said, adding that there could be more disruption again in five months, which would be devastating to the students

years loved:’ Milestone birthday celebrated

By JOHNATHAN MINEHAN news@breezenewspapers com

Cape Coral resident Thelma Gunter celebrated her 100th birthday Thursday

Gunter is a pillar of the community, volunteering for the PEO Sisterhood, Chapter DF, Southwest Florida Symphony, Cape Coral Hospital, and Cape Coral United Methodist Church. She also is the oldest member of PEO.

The community gathered to celebrate her birthday with five different parties, including a large celebration at “Fins,” a restaurant owned by one of her five granddaughters

Throughout her life, Gunter has always prioritized getting involved and helping out as much as possible She has served the Cape Coral Hospital with 43 years of volunteer service and is proud of the work she has done for her community and the people she loves

“I like to keep busy I did the symphony and worked with a group of women called PEO, and I liked to be involved in their cause,” Gunter said

Originally from South Philadelphia, Gunter and her late husband of more than 40 years moved to Albion and later Cape Coral in the mid-’80s The couple always made their lives about what they could for others and the impact they could have on their friends and families in the community and people they may not know

Gunter’s husband, Jack, was in the Navy, and she had other relatives serving She thanks her husband for giving her the time to volunteer and get involved while he served the country and moved into the ranks Jack Gunter worked on the railroad in Pennsylvania and provided for Thelma, allowing her to give her time to local organizations and become involved in the community.

“When war broke out, women had to take over; a lot of it included taking care of people who were losing relatives or family in the war and being acquainted with everyone in the community,” Gunter said “It was a hard four-year period of taking on many responsibilities ” World War II left many f

g h t b u t despite the hardships they endured, Gunter persevered and did her part to make families feel safe and comforted in the difficult times ahead

What got her through it all was family and the ability to help others Gunter

m

a n d involvement in the community, which helped keep her in good health and happy

H

Marie Holmes, helped set up the party for Gunter, and she admires her social skills and volunteerism

and she also was a very, very frequent volunteer at Cape Coral United Methodist Church,” Holmes said “That was like her job and her hobby altogether; she spent a full-time job, length on volunteering ” Holmes was excited to celebrate Gunter’s birthday and was amazed to see all the people who came together to honor Thelma

“Yes, so we had about 50 or 60 people there. It was a beautiful celebration We did a photo album for her where people we had photos of from her youth,” granddaughter Marie Holmes said “There are some screenshots of when she was at her wedding and stuff like that, and then people would each add a photo of a different time in her life with them, whether they were family or friends And, you know, it was great, it was a great celebration Everybody got to talk to her, and she had a great time

Through the years, the family has enjoyed spending time together and loves enjoying a sweet treat or a trip to the beach

“She’s a big dessert person So we would always take her to different restaurants That’s something she’s always enjoyed And, you know, she loved the beach So we would go boating quite a bit She loves Sanibel,” Holmes said

Gunter enjoys spending time with her two grandsons, Chris Holmes and Drew Holmes, and has fond memories of her late daughter, Gwen Feather, who was an active member of the community and Director of Patient Care at Hospice

Gunter now enjoys spending her days playing bingo at Gulf Coast Village and being a part of the local church

When asked about her advice for the younger generation, she mentioned the need to be open to perspectives.

“A lot of people may look at things a certain way, but I think we need always to be accepting of others,” Gunter said

PHOTO PROVIDED

Thelma Gunter, 100, celebrates her birthday with family including great granddaughters Reagan Holmes, 19, and Addison Holmes, 16, at the far left and right

BUSINESS

BUSINESS BRIEFS

Achieva Credit Union to hold two virtual Cash Classes in July

Achieva Credit Union will hold two virtual Cash Classes in July 2024

Anyone can attend Achieva’s financial literacy workshops held each month The events are free and open to the public To register, visit https://www achievacu com/Events

July topics will include:

July 11 – 10-11 a m : Budgeting 101 This workshop is designed to introduce budgeting basics. Attendees will learn how to create a personal/family budget, various methods of budgeting, common budgeting pitfalls and other tips and tricks for sticking to a budget

June 25 – 1-2 p m : Using Credit Cards Wisely Learn the advantages and disadvantages of credit cards, card options, percentage rates and common fees

Achieva Credit Union was founded in 1937 in Pinellas County Anyone who lives or works in Charlotte, Collier, DeSoto, Hernando, Hillsborough, Lee, Manatee, Pasco, Pinellas and Sarasota counties, or whose family member has an Achieva Credit Union account can bank with Achieva. For more, visit www.achievacu.com.

Henderson Franklin attorneys recognized as Florida Super Lawyers and Rising Stars

Henderson, Franklin, Starnes & Holt, P A , this week announced the outstanding achievement of 22 attorneys having been selected as 2024 Florida Super Lawyers and Rising Stars

Founded in 1991, Florida Super Lawyers recognizes the top 5% of lawyers in the entire State who have attained a high degree of peer recognition and professional achievement Even more remarkable, less than 2 5% of lawyers are honored with a spot on the distinguished Rising Stars list

Henderson Franklin's six attorneys who were selected as Rising Stars are Matthew Brust, Anthony Cetrangelo, Jr , Steven Gendreau, Spencer Shaw, Madison Allen Tanner and Iman Zekri

Henderson Franklin's 16 attorneys recognized as 2024 Florida Super Lawyers are Scott Atwood, Matthew Belcastro, William Boltrek, Michael Corso, Ronald Eisenberg, Nicole Goetz, Thomas Gunderson, Eric Gurgold, Erin Houck-Toll, Carlos Kelly, Shannon Puopolo, Amanda Sharkey Ross, Douglas Szabo, Donald Thomson, Beth Vogelsang and Guy Whitesman

For more information on Henderson Franklin, please visit www henlaw com

SWFL Inc. announces speakers for Insurance Summit 2024

SWFL Inc this week announced the lineup of speakers who will contribute their expertise to this year’s first ever Insurance Summit Among the speakers are Mike Yaworsky and Tiffany Esposito, who will jointly lead a session on regulatory insights and industry advocacy

Yaworsky, Florida Insurance Commissioner, brings a wealth of experience from his tenure at the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation and a background in legal counsel and legislative affairs

Joining him is Esposito, president and CEO of SWFL Inc , renowned for her advocacy in fostering small business growth in Southwest Florida

A panel discussion will feature industry leaders Chris Cibula of RTI Insurance Services, Brian Chapman Jr of Chapman Insurance Group and Blake Day, of Day Adjusting and Consulting Each will bring a unique perspective: Cibula is a specialist in commercial risk management; Chapman is founder of a prominent Southwest Florida insurance agency; and Day is an expert in firstparty property insurance claims and President of Day Adjusting & Consulting.

The 2024 Insurance Summit will take place on Tuesday, July 16, at The Caloosa Sound Convention Center, offering networking opportunities and in-depth discussions on key issues the insurance industry is facing today For more information and to register, please visit swflinc com/2024-insurance-summit

Tickets still available for SCHEA’s first Red, White & Booze Pub Crawl

By CJ HADDAD cjhaddad@breezenewspapers com

Association’s inaugural Red, White & Booze Pub Crawl hits South Cape where attendees can enjoy patriotic food and appetizer options at various local establishments Tickets are moving fast, but still available

The event runs from 7-11 p m , and a wristband secures patrons a drink and appetizer sample at each location

“SCHEA is incredibly excited to celebrate the nation’s birthday with the community through this patriotic pub crawl,” said SCHEA spokesperson Shannon Quinn “We are thrilled to bring together friends, neighbors and visitors alike to South Cape to join in the festivities It’s a fantastic opportunity to showcase our vibrant community spirit while enjoying great company and exploring local venues ”

Instead of the usual trolley transportation, pub-crawlers will be transported via limo buses to four designated areas, where you can then walk to multiple participating locations

“The trolleys are currently undergoing refurbishment, so we’ve introduced a new element to recent events,” Quinn said “While we encourage participants to walk the crawl, we also have two limo buses available for transportation to four designated locations These limos feature vibrant lighting, music and air conditioning–perfect for a June event ”

As always, attendees are encouraged to dress up and show off their patriotism The “best dressed” who enter the photo booth contest will also score tickets to SCHEA’s upcoming BaconFest Trolley Event Aug 31

“Participants should dress in red, white and blue patriotic attire to add to the festive atmosphere of the event,” Quinn said “It’s a fun way to show national pride, connect with others and enjoy the lively celebration together ”

Participating locations and their samples include:

■ BackStreets Sports Bar – Bomb Pop & BBQ Pulled Pork Sliders

■ Cruisers – Blue Sweet Tart & Hot Dogs

■ The Dive – TBD

Bank

■ Hooked Island Grill – TBD & Prime Rib Sliders

■ Ralph’s Place – Jello Shots & Whiskey Smokies

■ Rusty’s Raw Bar & Grill – TBD & BBQ Ribs

■ R

&

Ricky Bobby & Beanie Weenies

■ Dixie Roadhouse – Firecracker & Apple Pie

■ Tiki Hut – Watermelon Peach Lemonade & Bourbon BBQ Meatballs

■ T

Lollipop & Mini Empanadas

Quinn said it’s sure to be a great evening out on the town for all who attend. Be sure to get your passport stamped at each location to enter into a drawing for the grand prize

“Participants can expect an evening filled with patriotic flair and community spirit at the Red, White & Booze Pub Crawl,” she said “They’ll get to sample patriotic-themed appetizers and drinks, dress in festive attire and we are adding special entertainment a stilt walker, ‘Way Too Tall Torrie ’”

It’s also always exciting to see what concoctions the establishments can create

“I’m really looking forward to discovering what the participating establishments have prepared for the event,” Quinn said “We’ve got two new additions, Tito’s Cantina and Hooked Island Grill Attendees should be especially excited to try each location’s patriotic-themed drinks and appetizers, showcasing the colors of red, white and blue, along with classic American appetizers It’s going to be a delicious journey celebrating the holiday ”

Regular check-in is from 6-7:30 p m at Big John’s Plaza (near Pinch-a-Penny) and Dolphin Key Resort (under the entry awning) Late check-in is until 10 p m at Dolphin Key Resort The official photo booth is also located at Dolphin Key under the awning

This is a 21-plus event Valid ID at check-in will be required, per ticket. You cannot pick up wristbands for other people Tickets are $25 in advance and $20 for designated driver tickets

For tickets and additional information, visit southcapeentertainment com

of America grant supports summer camp, job experiences through Boys & Girls Clubs of Lee County

Bank of America has provided Boys & Girls Clubs of Lee County with a $30,000 grant to support summer programs and provide employment experiences for local youth

Boys & Girls Clubs’ Summer Enrichment Camp offers project-based learning activities, reading programs, health and wellness classes, service-learning projects, field trips, guest speakers and athletic activities The bank’s grant will help fund projects and initiatives that reduce summer learning loss

The funding also supports Boys & Girls Clubs’ youth employment program, which provides high school students with job opportunities to earn an income while obtaining valuable work experience as they prepare to advance to college or enter the workforce.

Club programs are designed for youth ages six through 18 and focus on five core areas: education and career, service and leadership, health and wellness, the arts, and sports and recreation Boys & Girls Clubs of Lee County offers after-school and summer programs at eight schoolbased, neighborhood and community club locations

Youth workers, along with club members, in Lee County also have benefited from Bank of America’s acclaimed Better Money Habits curriculum, a financial education platform that offers practical, easy-to-understand knowledge about money with topics such as budget-

ing, saving, retirement planning, owning a home, credit recovery and more, allowing participants to make smarter, more-confident financial decisions. Additionally, Bank of America offered Boys & Girls Clubs access to “The Academy,” which offers sessions for youth employment program participants that cover time management, workplace conduct, communications, customer interactions and other topics to help prepare individuals for a career, foster economic mobility, build skills and inspire confidence

Boys & Girls Clubs of Lee County is just one of 15 Southwest Florida nonprofits the bank is supporting with economic mobility grants awarded to local nonprofits throughout the year to help tackle society’s biggest challenges This first round of grants is focused on improving the lives of individuals and families by investing in health and jobs

Established in 1974, Boys & Girls Clubs of Lee County serve children and teens through school-based, neighborhood and community club locations The nonprofit’s mission is to enable all young people, especially those who need us most, to reach their full potential as productive, caring and responsible citizens After-school and summer programs focus on five core areas: education and career, service and leadership, health and wellness, the arts, and sports and recreation For more information, please visit BGClee org or call 239-334-1886

Sports Bistreaux to bring Cajun cuisine option to the Cape

By CJ HADDAD cjhaddad@breezenewspapers com

Ground broke last week for a new restaurant coming to Cape Coral that combines a sporty environment with top-notch food offerings

W a l k - O n ’ s S p o r t s B i s t r e a u x , a

Louisiana-inspired restaurant, is being constructed at 1127 Southwest Pine Island Road, where it will bring scratch-made culinary options and, according to its new f r a n c

warm atmosphere

The new Walk-On’s franchisee, Len Lemmer, who owns various Southwest Florida establishments, is looking forward to bringing the new restaurant concept to the area Lemmer’s family makes up a large part of the team, including daughter Erin as administrative manager, son Tyler

a

S

daughter Kiera as Front of House manager

“We’re kind of a family company,” Lemmer said “We’re all involved in the business and as a result of that, we wanted to build our company. We love the WalkOn’s story a story about people that maybe didn’t have the greatest God-given gifts, but work harder, and that’s kind of the corporate ethic that runs through all of the restaurants And we’ve been in the restaurant business for a long time, and we like to think that’s the kind of ethic we have as a company So it was a natural match for us ”

Walk-On’s was founded in 2003 by

B r a n d o n L a n d r y a n d J a c k W

n e r , Louisiana State University walk-on basketball players. During their playing time, they discovered shared interests and decid-

PHOTO PROVIDED

Construction has commenced for Walk-On’s Sports Bistreaux, a Louisiana-inspired restaurant, at 1127

Southwest Pine Island Road

ed to push their dreams beyond the basketball court, later receiving financial backing

Brees. There are currently 78 Walk-On’s in 15 states, with six in Florida Walk-On’s Sports Bistreaux was celebrated as the No 1 sports bar in the country by ESPN

“There are a lot of very popular sports

bars out there right now, but none of them are renowned for their food,” Lemmer said “And Walk-On’s has a scratch kitchen, where all of the items are produced from scratch Plus the fact we have this Cajun menu which is really popular The combination of the two, and multiple selections of beer and good times, made this attractive to us ”

Lemmer said another aspect that made him want to jump in was that Walk-On’s gets involved in the community, specifically youth sports

“We’re all about that,” he said “We’re very much driven to be a local entity that supports local charities and ventures in our town And being able to support youth sports is right up our ally

“We’re going to be reaching out to the schools We’ll be reaching out to Little Leagues, soccer leagues, etcetera That’s all part of what we do ”

The 8,900-square-foot restaurant, built by Curran Young Construction, will feature indoor/outdoor seating, with completion planned for Spring 2025 Steve Myli and Dylan Porier of CYC will serve as senior project manager and assistant project Manager for the project. Rob Wyman and Sergio Nascimento of Incredible Bank of Cape Coral are providing construction

financing

Chris Curran, CEO of Curran Young Construction, said, “We love to build restaurants because they are places where our team, friends and family can enjoy long after it’s been built With the menu and family atmosphere of Walk-On’s, we know this is going to be wildly successful and we are thrilled to be part of it ”

Lemmer said the growth along Pine Island Road made it an ideal spot for WalkOn’s to find a home He added another Walk-On’s location is to be built in the future in Fort Myers

A s f o r w h y C a p e r e s i d e n t s s h o u l d patronize Walk-On’s when it opens its doors, Lemmer said, “We appeal to all segments of the population We’re especially strong with families and young kids We have a value-driven scratch menu that is within everybody’s price point With times being a little bit tougher, that’s a big thing for us People that enjoy getting together and watching sports, will find Walk-On’s to be a great place to go and just hang out "

Director of Operations Tyler Lemmer added: “We’re confident it will become a go-to spot for residents and visitors alike, with more locations on the horizon.”

To learn more about Walk-On's, visit www walk-ons com

Community Cooperative announces mobile food pantry times and locations for July

Community Cooperative has released its July 2024 mobile food pantry schedule

With a commitment to serve the community, they have adjusted their operating hours to better accommodate the summer weather Community Cooperative’s Mobile Food Pantry Schedule:

Tuesday, July 2

Trafalgar Middle School, 2120 Trafalgar Parkway, Cape Coral 10-11:30 a m

Wednesday, July 3

VA Healthcare Center, 2489 Diplomat Parkway, E , Cape Coral - use Corbett Road entrance

(For veterans and veteran families only) 9-11 a m

Tuesday, July 9

Literacy Council Gulf Coast, 26820 Old 41 Road, Bonita Springs 9:30-11:30 a m

Wednesday, July 10

Cape Coral Technical College, 360 Santa Barbra Blvd , N , Cape Coral

3-4:30 p m

Thursday, July 11

Presbyterian Apartments, 925 Virginia Ave , Fort Myers

10 a m to noon

Friday, July 12

North Fort Myers Regional Park, 2000 N Recreation Park Way, North Fort Myers

10 a.m. to noon

Monday, July 15

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

Tuesday, July 16

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

Wednesday, July 17

VA Healthcare Center, 2489 Diplomat Parkway, E , Cape Coral - use Corbett Road entrance (For veterans and veteran families only) 9-11 a m

Thursday, July 18

Lehigh Senior High School, 901 Gunnery Road, N , Lehigh Acres 10-11:30 a m

Friday, July 19

Pine Island United Methodist Church, 5701 Pine Island Road, Bokeelia 10-11:30 a m

Tuesday, July 23

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

Wednesday, July 24

North Fort Myers High School, 5000 Orange Grove Blvd ,

North Fort Myers 10-11:30 a m

Thursday, July 25

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

About Community Cooperative Since 1984, Community Cooperative has worked to effectively eliminate hunger and homelessness in southwest Florida while simultaneously inspiring and supporting sustained positive change in its clients by delivering innovative food, edu-

Through collaboration and ongoing education, Community Cooperative supports and strengthens those whose lives have been

ensuring that they have access to the resources necessary to transform their lives with dignity For more information, visit communitycooperative com

Deadline to enter annual GCWA Writing Contest is Sunday

The Annual Gulf Coast Writers Association Writing Contest will soon be closing to submissions Sunday, June 30, at 11:59 p.m. The writing contest is open to fiction, nonfiction and poetry writers

“Each of us has a story to tell Here's an opportunity to be rewarded for yours,” shared Mary Charles, president of the Fort Myers-based non-profit

To learn details about the contest and submit entries, visit GulfWriters Org

The first-place winner in each category will receive $200; the second place, $75; and the third, $50

The entry fee for non-GCWA members is $20 for up to 1,500 words of prose or 40 lines of poetry Subsequent submissions are $10 Writers may submit as often as they wish but can only receive one prize Members receive discounted entry fees

All submissions are judged blind by

members of the GCWA and/or qualified members of the local literary community W i n n e r s w i l l b e a n n o u n c e d a t t h e

GCWA monthly meeting on Saturday, Aug 17, 2024, and will have an opportunity to read from their work in subsequent meetings

Winning pieces will be published on GCWA’s website

This contest has received recognition from Reedsy, a marketplace of freelance

publishing professionals, as among the best of writing contests

Entry forms, guidelines, judging criteria and additional information are posted on the GCWA website Additional information for entrants is also available by emailing specialprojects@gulfwriters org Only entries submitted online will be considered

For more information, visit GCWA’s website is www GulfWriters Org

Forecasts say it should be a decent weekend to fish

Depending on what forecast you have faith in, looks like scattered showers and winds under 10 for the weekend Now after saying that, there will most likely be heavy rain and 40 mph gusts with hail, so updates are obviously in order

When it comes to far

o f f s h o r e a d v e n t u r e s i n chancy weather, unless you have a sizable boat,

m y f r i e n d f r o m t h e Bronx says it best: “If in doubt - forget about it!”

Fortunately there are

q u i t e a f e w n e a r s h o r e

r e e f s a n d s t r u c t u r e s a r o u n d S o u t h w e s t Florida to keep fish and a n g l e r s h a p p y w i t h

r i s k i n g e v e r y t h i n g I f you’re new to the area, the FWC website contains all the information

Capt. George Tunison

y o u n e e d i n c l u d i n g maps, GPS numbers, as well as fishing rules and regulations

Spanish mackerel are showing up inshore, around the passes, moving along the coast to several miles offshore Scan the skies for bird activity to lead you to the feeding frenzy where a live shrimp under a float will quickly disappear Cast or troll small chrome spoons along the edges of the action

Don’t drive over or through the feeding frenzy unless you like being alone with no fish around, which also ruins everyone else’s day, especially those who where there having a great time, til you decided to spoil the party. Fly rod types will do well to purchase some cheap flies or spin up a dozen at your tying bench to present to these razor toothed, fly-shredding, eating machines When tying your own, using long shank hooks helps reduce bite-offs

Spin casters can tie on a short piece of single strand wire or opt for more bites (and bite-offs) using 40-pound fluorocarbon When using wire, learn to tie an Albright knot to securely attach your wire to your main line be it braid or mono (See YouTube) This is a time-tested knot and very strong if tied properly The other end of your wire leader uses a Haywire twist to attach the lure to the leader Both wire knots require a bit of practice to perfect and should be in your angling knowledge base.

Gotch-Plugs are classic mackerel casting plugs that are very effective and can also be trolled Clark spoons are a well-known lure for casting as well as trolling, JUNE

Mussels, Tarpons split first two games

For t Myers team erases six-run deficit to beat Tampa in slugfest, 11-9

FORT MYERS – The Fort Myers Mighty Mussels erased a six-run deficit and overcame six errors to stun the Tampa Tarpons, 11-9, Wednesday night at Hammond Stadium

Fort Myers (35-35, 4-1) saw all nine starters reach base as the Mussels scored in six of eight innings The Mussels totaled 13 hits, eight walks, four hit by pitches and a season-high eight stolen bases in the game Walker Jenkins led the offense, going 2-for-5 with four RBI and recorded the hardest hit ball of his professional career at 108.8 mph. Maddux Houghton provided a spark out of the nine spot, going 3-for-4 with two RBI and two runs scored

After the Tarpons (26-44, 2-2) scored nine runs (three earned) off Mussels starter Tanner Hall, the Fort Myers bullpen dominated for the final 6 2 innings Paulshawn Pasqualotto, Julio Bonilla and Nolan Santos (3-2) combined to strike out 11 batters without a walk, and allowed just two hits while the offense mounted its comeback

The Tarpons sent 11 men to the plate in the first inning and scored six runs on fiv hi hi h lighted by a 2-run single from le Coby Morales and an RBI double George Lombard Jr

In the bottom of the first, the Mussels quickly began to cut into the deficit Jenkins worked a leadoff walk, which was followed by s i n g l e s f

o n C h

i o a Brandon Winokur to load the ba First baseman Rixon Wingrove followed with a sacrifice fly to center field to make it 6-1 With two outs, Carlos Aguiar singled to the opposite field to drive in Chourio and Winokur to make it 6-3

Hurdle to headline Family Faith Night this Saturday

Former MLB player and manager Clint Hurdle will headline the Fort Myers Mighty Mussels’ 2024 Family Faith Night, a June 29 celebration of fellowship, family and baseball at Hammond Stadium

Hurdle played 10 years in the Majors with the Kansas City Royals, Cincinnati Reds, New York Mets and St Louis Cardinals

First pitch for Family Faith Night is scheduled for 6:05 p m Hurdle will sign autographs for fans from 7:15 to 8:45 p.m. before delivering a 60-minute postgame discussion focused on faith and baseball

For more information, visit MightyMussels com

The Tarpons would go on to score three runs across the second and third innings as the Fort Myers defense committed four errors The Mussels responded with a run in the bottom half of both innings as Houghton had an RBI single in the second and Aguiar blasted a 103 4 mph double in the third to make it a 9-5 game after three complete

With the same score in the bottom of the fifth, the Mussels loaded the bases on a Tarpons’ error, a walk and a hit batter to the bottom third of the order Jenkins then laced a 101 7 mph double over the head of center fielder Jackson Castillo to clear the bases and make it a 9-8 game

In the bottom of the seventh, Houghton pushed a leadoff single to right field to put the tying run aboard The next batter was Jenkins, who pulled his 108 8 mph single through the right side of the infield. Houghton scored all the way from first on the play to tie the game 9-9

Still tied with two outs in the bottom of the eighth, Isaac Pena beat out an infield single to third to put the go-ahead run on base Pena then stole second and third during a Yohander Martinez plate appearance that ended with a walk Pena scored the go-ahead run on a wild pitch from Montana Semmel (4-4) which put Martinez on second Houghton then singled to shallow left to bring home Martinez and make it an 11-9 game

Santos slammed the door and earned the win after retiring the side on five pitches in the eighth and striking out the side in the ninth.

The Mussels were set to return to action Thursday, with the series continuing today, Saturday and Sunday at Hamond Stadium

Tarpons win series opener, 15-4 FORT MYERS

– The Fort Myers Mighty Mussels’ four-game winning streak was snapped Tuesday, dropping their series opener against the mpa Tarpons 15-4 at Hammond Stadium e Tarpons (26-43, 2-1) had all nine starters reach d eight of the nine scored as Tampa tallied 13 red runs from the third through sixth inning after ers (34-35, 3-1) took an early lead The loss was the first of the second half of the season for Fort Myers as the Mussels were the last undefeated team in the Florida State League The 15 runs scored matched a season high for the Tarpons

In a scoreless game, the Mussels' Walker Jenkins led off the bottom of the first with a single up the middle Byron Chourio followed with a first-pitch bunt single to put two aboard After a caught stealing, Poncho Ruiz worked a walk to put men at first and second Matthew Clayton then opened the scoring with a 104 5 mph double to left field, putting the Mussels ahead 2-0

Tampa got a run back in the second on a solo homer from Jackson Castillo to make it a 2-1 game

In the bottom of the second, the Mussels' Isaac Pena led off with a single up the middle Two batters later, Angel Del Rosario pulled a double down the third base line, plating Pena and putting Fort Myers back in front by two Mussels’ starter Ricky Castro (2-1) was unable to hold the lead as Tampa sent seven men to the plate in the third Coby Morales reached on an error to start the frame and was followed by George Lombaro Jr , who laced with a single The next batter, Enmanuel Tejeda connected on a sacrifice fly to center to make it a 3-2 Roderick Arias then pulled a single to right to tie the game 3-3. Third baseman Dylan Jasso followed with an opposite field two-run home run to put Tampa ahead 5-3

Tampa starter Gabriel Barbosa (3-7) settled in after having the lead, retiring the side in order in the third That began a streak of five straight scoreless innings from Tarpon pitching Barbosa threw 5+ innings for the fifth time in his last six appearances

In the fifth, it was Jasso again who burned the Mussels,

See MIGHTY MUSSELS, page 39

Next America’s Boating Course to begin July 8

12-hour, on-the-water safety class to be presented by the Cape Coral Sail and Power Squadron

The Cape Coral Sail and Power Squadron is offering three more America's Boating Courses before the end of the year

The first of the in-depth 12-hour safe boating courses will be start Monday, July 8, at 7 p m Additional dates for the start of the boating course are Monday, Sept 9, and Monday, Nov. 4. This course is approved by the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators, the State of Florida and recognized by the U S Coast Guard Graduates will receive their State of Florida Boater Education I D Card

America’s Boating Course helps a boater become safer on the water Covered in the course are federal, state and local regulations, along with boating basics and what to do during an emergency The instructors also work help students apply this information to situations that can arise in local waters

All of the courses will be held at the Power Squadron offices at 917 S E 47th Terrace in South Cape

For additional information, call 239-549-9754 or visit h t t p s : / / w w w c c s a p s o r g , o r o n F a c e b o o k , https://www facebook com/CCSAPS/

Catch all the action on The Mighty Mussels Baseball Network

Forecasts

: Favorable weather conditions should make it a good weekend for fishing

where they really shine Sometimes the fish are not on the surface so trolling an inline cigar weight several feet in front of the lure gets it down to the action as well as using planers

If you don’t see bird activity but you suspect fish are in the area, save fuel by anchoring and chumming them to the back of the boat, creating your own feeding frenzy

From page 19

for every 15 minutes they read in the designated area for a total of $8 in one session Please bring your library card

Super Fun Saturday

10 a m , Saturday, July 6

Come play with us at the library Activities change monthly and vary from dancing, storytelling, art projects and more Fun for the whole family

Baby Rhyme Time

10:30 a.m., Monday, July 8, 15, 22

For babies up to 18 months Babies and caregivers wiggle and giggle in a supportive environment Space is limited Arrive early and visit the Youth Desk to check in

Chess at the Library

5:30 p.m., Tuesday, July 9

Enjoy chess at the library in a casual environment Chess boards will be provided, but you can also bring your own People of all ages and skill levels are invited

Didgeridoo “Adventure” Down Under 6:15 p.m., Tuesday, July 9

Join us on an epic adventure to the Land Down Under where we'll hear otherworldly sounds from the didgeridoo, explore the Great Barrier Reef and the Outback and learn about amazing creatures like kangaroos, koalas and much more For ages 6-11

Although not nearly as big as their kingfish cousins, Spanish macs are still a high speed blast on ultra-lite to lite tackle and a great family, easy to catch, fun fish Many folks also enjoy eating mackerel prepared in the usual variety of ways, although many have concerns about mercury Being relatively short-lived, mercury contamination isn’t as bad in Spanish macs when comp

cousins, the king mackerel If you’re looking to break the Spanish

years Registration is required

Family Storytime

11 a.m., Thursday, July 11, 18, 25

mac world record that was certified back in 1987 and caught in North Carolina, it will have to be over 13 pounds! If your regular inshore game isn’t producing, try moving your hunt westward More food, cooler, cleaner, more oxygenated near-Gulf waters or some combination of these factors, is drawing the fish Get out of your Cape comfort zone and head north to explore the “west wall,” or simply the west side of Charlotte Harbor, which as of late has been more productive than the

Burnt Store Marina side of the harbor There's been good numbers of fish under the mangroves and in and around rainy creek mouths End your north to south west wall trip by exploring Bull and Turtle bays, which have also been producing good numbers of fish

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

Northwest Library: Activities, programs and events scheduled for the month of July

lenges the whole family will enjoy No registration required All materials are provided

For children through age 5 years and caregivers Families with young children enjoy a variety of stories, songs, rhymes and movement.

Don't Try This at Home

6:15 p m , Tuesday, July 16

Get ready for a messy, hair-raising, explosive, freezing and dangerous show

This summer reading program will be a unique mix of some of The IMAG's craziest demonstrations For ages 6-11 years

Pre-K Fun: Mini Golf

10 a.m., Saturday, July 20

Join us for some mini golf made just for preschoolers For ages 2-5 years

Adam's Animal Encounters for Kids

6:15 p m , Tuesday, July 23

Learn more about animals living in Southwest Florida with wildlife biologist Adam Pottruck This hands-on, interactive summer reading program gives an up-close perspective on wildlife management, rescue and conservation For ages 6-11 years Registration is required

LEGO Club

2 p m , Saturday, July 27

For all ages Drop in for building chal-

Mighty Mussels: Series with the Tampa Tarpons

From page 38

From page 38 this time connecting on a three-run homer to make it an 8-3 game The blast was 101 9 mph off the bat as it cleared the wall in left-center The Tarpons then batted around in the sixth inning and scored six runs off of Ross Dunn to take a 14-3 lead Fort Myers got a run back in the eighth on an RBI single from Ruiz to make it 144 The Tarpons responded with a run in the ninth on a double from Morales to make it 15-4

Bromeliads: Bring a tropical feel to your home

From page 19

Bromeliads add a uniquely tropical feel to your home and landscape There are more families and varieties than I can describe here They are a fascinating group of plants to explore

To see more bromeliads, see the new additions to the Edison/Ford Gardens, where they are growing in the ground and

on the trees Most local nurseries have bromeliads, too

For more information, please visit the University of Florida site at https://edis

Bromeliad Society International: bsi org

Garden Club of Cape Coral Visit us at www gardenclubofcapecoral com

Death penalty: Jury recommends sentence

From page 14

According to the SAO, Melton was strangled to death by Wilson who attacked her as she slept in her bed He then stole her car from her Cape Coral home and went to see his girlfriend and attacked her She immediately contacted law enforcement

I n D e

Teen Programs

Kids Read Down Fines

4:30-5:30 p.m., Wednesday, July 3, 10

11 a.m., Saturday, July 20

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

Chess at the Library

5:30 p.m., Tuesday, July 9

Enjoy chess at the library in a casual environment Chess boards will be provided, but you can also bring your own People of all ages and skill levels are invited.

Make a Home Recording Studio

4 p m , Wednesday, July 10

Learn how to start your own home recording studio We'll cover room layout and basic sound proofing and acoustic treatment Then, you'll learn how to set up and use Digital Audio Workstation software to write and record your own music Finally, you'll get to participate in recording your own rap/pop vocals while learning mic and headphone techniques For ages 12-18 years. Registration is required.

Paint Like Pollock

4:30 p m , Wednesday, July 17

It's time to get messy with this action

Looking

painting art project inspired by Jackson Pollock This project results in a spontaneous painting Dress for a mess For ages 12-18 years Registration is required

Totally Twisted Tie-Dye

4 p.m., Wednesday, July 24

It's time for some timeless fun, full of peaceful good vibes and bright bursts of color All supplies are provided while they last For ages 12-18 years Registration is required

The Northwest Regional Library is located at 519 Chiquita Blvd , N in Cape Coral For more information about a program or to register, please call the library at 239-533-4700 Check the Lee County Library System's website at www leelibrary net to find out about programs at other locations Call the host library, or Telephone Reference at 239-479-INFO (4636), for more information about a specific program

In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, Lee County will not discriminate against qualified individuals with disabilities in its services, programs or activities To request an auxiliary aid or service for effective communication or a reasonable modification to participate, contact Raphaela Morais-Peroba, 239533-8782, Florida Relay Service 711, or rperoba@leegov com Accommodation will be provided at no cost to the requester Requests should be made at least five business days in advance

Attorney’s Office filed a “Notice Of Intent To Seek Death Penalty” against Wilson for each of the two victims in the case He was indicted on by a Lee County Grand Jury on Nov. 19, 2019.

The Grand Jury also indicted Wilson for one count each of battery, grand theft of a motor vehicle, burglary of a dwelling and first degree petit theft

Details from the SAO stated a short time later, Wilson saw Ruiz walking along a street in Cape Coral He pulled over and lured her into the car as he asked for directions He then beat and strangled her, eventually pushing her out of the car, and repeatedly ran her over Assistant State Attorneys Sara Miller and Andreas Gardiner, both of the State Attorney’s Office Homicide Unit, prosecuted the case

Nell is a 1-3-year-old female Don’t let her stubby legs fool you Nell can play fetch like a pro and have the energy to match! She will happily chase after a ball until your arm gets tired Nell is super friendly and love making new friends Meadow is a 1–3-year-old female cat Meadow is a lovable and silly girl who absolutely adores humans She is a friendly and sweet, always ready to share my affection with anyone who crosses her path Her playful antics will keep you entertained, and her loving nature will

warm your heart

If you are interested in meeting any of the animals available for adoption at The Cape Coral Animal Shelter, visit its website at www capecoralanimalshelter com for additional information

The shelter is located at 325 S W 2nd Ave , Cape Coral, and hours of operation are Tuesday and Thursday, noon to 5 p m , and Friday through Sunday, noon to 4 p m

Please call the CCAS at 239-5732002 for additional information

Meadow

Help Wanted

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Garage Sales

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Recreation Vehicles Power Boats

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Annual Rentals

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For Sale By Owner

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