Pine Island Eagle

VolumE 47, NumbEr 9

Still painting

Pine Island Art Association continues to meet, but at a new, temporary location INSIDE

Matlacha Hookers kick off Back to School Supply Drive for Pine Island Elementary

Special to The Eagle news@breezenewspapers com

T h e M a t l a c h a H o o k e r s P i n e I s l a n d

Elementary Back to School Supply Drive started the last week in June and runs through July 22

The items PIE teachers have requested include: headphones for grades K-1 and earbuds for grades 3-5, scissors (blunt tip only), #2 pencils, erasers (both cap and large pink rectangles), whiteboard markers

(erasable and fine tip), markers dry eraser, glue sticks, colored pencils, pens (black, blue and red), white-out correction tape, pocket folders with brads (green, yellow, b l u e ) , C r a y o l a m a r k e r s ( w a s h a b l e ) Crayola crayons, scotch tape, yellow highlighters, 9V and AA batteries for microphones and computer accessories, facial tissue, stickers (fun, numbers and alphabet letters), sticky or Post It notes, Ziploc bags (all sizes), bandages (large and small), dis-

Promised Land Mangoes getting off the ground

By PAULETTE LeBLANC pleblanc@breezenewspapers com

D a v e a n d C a r o l E t s c o v i t z h a v e owned Promised Land Mangoes, which sits on 15 acres, for two years now Dave Etscovitz said it wasn’t long ago they were raising and selling partridges and partridge eggs to restaurants.

“Between then and now, we’ve gotten into the goat grazing business, so w h e n w e f i n a l l y s o l d o u r f a r m i n Myakka, we found Pine Island and a week later we were here,” Etscovitz said

Goat grazing, he said, is a natural way to go about farming, on land that has remained poison free, without pesticides or other harmful chemicals In an

effort to keep the land pure, the couple brought in their 40+ goats, which made the family from which they bought the land, very happy, he explained Since Etscovitz wants nothing to do with farming equipment, he said, having the goats is integral to maintaining the land, besides being fun and very sociable animals

“ B a s i c a l l y , t h e y ( t h e g o a t s ) e a t e v e r y t h i n g T h e y k n o c k e v e r y t h i n g

See MANGOES, page 14

Promised Land Mangoes is located on Pineland Road in Bokeelia PHOTOS PROVIDED BY DAVE AND CAROL ETSCOVITZ

infectant wipes, paper towels and copy paper

School supplies may be dropped off at t h e f o l l o w i n g p a r t i c i p a t i n g b u s i n e s s e s through July 22: in Matlacha at the Post

O f f i c e , T h e P e r f e c t C u p , B l u e D o g Restaurant, Trader's Hitching Post,

See SUPPLY DRIVE, page 15

Kramer ’s Kutting Edge relocates, adds services

Shop now located at 5459 Pine Island Road

By PAULETTE LeBLANC pleblanc@breezenewspapers com

Kramer’s Kutting Edge has relocated, although Tom Kramer said the old location served its purpose at approximately 300 square feet, now he has over 900 He’s also added some new services, such as cutting and programming car keys, fobs and remotes and testing batteries In addition to his new services, Kramer now sharpens hair cutting shears for groomers and salons

“I sharpen the clipper blades for the salons and the groomers I do gardening tools and chain saws I sharpen everything but circular saw blades and hand saws I even do watch battery replacement now,” Kramer said Kramer said there is almost nothing he can’t sharpen, as he is currently taking on

sharpening food processor blades

Now he has everything placed where he wants, he said, with his key-cutting equipment on one side of his work bench and sharpening tools on the other. Miss Kitty is still with them, from the old hardware store, Kramer said

“I am still staying busy, even though we’re out of season right now I’m doing a lot of locksmith work,” Kramer said

Kramer said although he doesn’t feel that he’s in competition with anyone, he’s covering so much ground in his work, people should never have to leave the island just to have something sharpened, or to change the batteries in their watch.

Kramer’s Kutting Edge is at 5459 Pine Island Road, N W , Bokeelia For additional information, call 239-710-0600

PHOTO PROVIDED BY TOM KRAMER

The interior of the new Kramer ’s Kutting Edge in Bokeelia

‘Town center ’ project planned for northwest Cape Coral

Development to be located next to and behind German American Club along Pine Island Road

By CJ HADDAD cjhaddad@breezenewspapers com

As development constantly churns in Cape Coral, one new development already in permitting is sure to bring lots to do for residents in the northwest section of the city and beyond

Cape Coral Grove, to be located along Southwest Pine Island Road, will be a mixed-use development bringing apartments, townhouses, a hotel, an abundance of retail and dining, movie theater, and more

Renderings of Cape Coral Grove, a 130-acre mixed-use development currently in permitting, proposed along Pine Island Road. The development will feature apartments, town houses, office space, retail, eateries, bowling alley, cinema and more. It is being developed by L&L Development Group, with Design 3 International PLLC designing the master plan and architecture.

The project is being developed by L&L Development Group, with Design 3 International PLLC designing the master plan and architecture

“Our proposal for Cape Coral Grove envisions an outdoor town center animated by new residences, offices, public open spaces and retail options that will serve the needs of this vibrant and growing city,” said Justina L o m b a r d o , a s p o k e s p e r s o n f o r L & L D e v e l o p m e n t Group “We look forward to continuing our dialogue with the City of Cape Coral, FDOT, and the local community as we advance this project through the development process ”

Cape Coral Grove will be a 767,000-square-foot town center incorporating retail, office, hotel, and residential uses flanking a sequence of park spaces Design 3 International’s description of the property states these spaces are central to the experience of Coral Grove Town Center with each “district” designed with its own unique identity.

Design 3 International shows the residential district organized around the “town park,” with a lawn, shaded bosque, and numerous restaurants and dining terraces that complement the surrounding residential over retail The office district includes a hotel, features ground-level retail, small public plazas and cafe dining The entertainment district is characterized by a large open lawn suitable for concerts, light recreation and is surrounded by restaurant and entertainment tenants

On-site features according to design plans include a bowling alley, comedy club, movie theater, brewery, cafes, a myriad of restaurants, fitness center, grocer, and park

There will be residential opportunities totaling more than 1,200 units of apartments and townhouses The project has been in permitting since December of 2022

For more information on Cape Coral Grove, visit www coral-grove com

Repair crews to continue to drive sheet pile along Pine Island Road

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

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

■ CONTINUED: For the next two months, crews will continue to drive sheet piling on the south side of the roadway Expect noise

■ Pedestrians and bicyc l i s t s a r e n o t p e r m i t t e d w i t h i n t h e c o n s t r u c t i o n zone ■ E x p e c t n o i s e f r o m construction equipment in the area

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

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

For additional information, visit the FDOT project w e b p a g e a t h t t p s : / / w w w s w f l r o a d s c o m / p r oject/451937-2 or email at P i n e I s l a n d i n f o @ q c a u s a com

GRAPHIC PROVIDED

OPINIONS

County policies hinder public input

The antidemocratic creep infecting governance nationwide is showing itself in Lee County and being a watchdog is now more important than ever.

Publisher Raymond M Eckenrode reckenrode@breezenewspapers com

Executive Editor Valarie Harring vharring@breezenewspapers com

Editor Paulette LeBlanc pleblanc@breezenewspapers com

Advertising Director Laurie Ragle lragle@ breezenewspapers com Advertising Sales

Charlene Russ cruss@breezenewspapers com

Design & Layout Chris Strine cstrine@breezenewspapers com

Debbie Carletti obits@breezenewspapers com

The rezoning of Commissioner Greenwell’s property in rural North Olga was about to get final approval when a Citizens f o r G o v e r n m e n t A c c o u n t a b i l i t y / S W F L watchdog contacted county staff about documents missing from the case file Because of his vigilance, the county conceded the original hearing on this rezoning wasn’t properly noticed to the public The rezoning application reviews had to be conducted again this time with notice and resident input

A foundational element of our democracy is citizen engagement everyday people lending their voices to and participating in g o v e r n m e n t a l d e c i s i o n - m a k i n g T h e Greenwell hearing was a do-over because Florida law mandates adequate notice to the public in a “newspaper of general circulation” and the county failed to follow the law Without such notice, all subsequent actions are void That’s how important legal notices are But today this is under grave threat

The idea of advisory committees for citizen input is laudable. However, many are dormant or meet intermittently For example, the Affordable Housing Advisory Committee meets only annually, despite the affordable housing crisis we are now experiencing M a n y c o m m i t t e e s a r e s t a c k e d w i t h appointees who are large, special-interest donors to commissioners’ campaigns and consequently are anything but “public” representatives Many seats are vacant Rules and regulations discouraging citi-

Incorporate?

To the editor:

I am an MBA I use to own Pine Island Paint, Framing and Art Gallery. I have been re-evaluating our prospects for incorporating only Pine Island, as the legislature won’t allow Matlacha to be included

Web Poll

Previous Web Poll Question:

Are you concerned about hurricane season?

■ Yes, because we haven’t recovered from Hurricane Ian yet 44%

F i n a n c i a l A n a l y s i s : I h a v e s p e n t 2 months in communication with the County CFO (Chief Financial Officer), Assistant C o u n t y M a n a g e r , T a x C o l l e c t o r , T a x Appraiser, Zoning, Planning, Sheriff in the Pineland Marina office, GPIWA engineer, the Matlacha/Pine Island Fire Department, C a l u s a L a n d T r u s t p r e s i d e n t , 2 0 / 2 0 , Fish/Wildlife, municipalities of Sanibel and Bonita Spring’s budget managers, as well as the Florida DEP I emailed Commissioner Ruane, with no response I called Honc Regretfully, I didn’t get a chance to speak

zen input abound One example: to speak before the commissioners in the Greenwell case one must have testified before the Hearing Examiner at the previous hearing Another: citizen c o m m u n i c a t i o n s w i t h c o u n t y commissioners on zoning matters are prohibited and, indeed, criminalized, punishable by 60 days in the county jail and/or a $500 fine Another: the public can attend and listen to commissioner chatter at workshops, but should a resident want to voice their opinion, they must do so at a commission meeting the morning before an afternoon workshop Those are the rules

Jan Sommer

Guest Commentary

But it gets worse Under a new state law, jurisdictions can opt to cease publishing legal notices in newspapers and instead post them only on their website And that is what our Lee County commissioners have chosen to do Anyone using the county website knows it to be not very user-friendly and is sometimes offline, as happened for four days recently. Though often difficult to read, these notices can have tremendous impact on our quality of life and the financial health of our community Relegating them to a clunky w e b s i t e d o e s n o t h i n g t o f o s t e r c i t i z e n engagement

C o m m i s s i o n e r G r e e n w e l l ’ s r e z o n i n g request allowing higher density for residential and commercial development makes his land more valuable and puts dollars into his pocket It permits building on wetlands in the

with him or the Waterkeepers, yet I have reviewed the 2022 Municipality Budgets and all of county services, for Pine Island Projected Financial Report based on 2022 budgets The report has been reviewed by the County CFO He thought it was very reasonable and thinks we have a very good chance to incorporate With these incredibly favorable numbers, I am 1,000% in favor of incorporation There will be no new taxes We will have a very strong financial position with a $9 2 million reserve, once all revenue and expenses are phased in Assessed Tax Base: According to the Tax Collector, taxes collected in 2022 were $25,574,724 Per the Census, our citizens have a mean income of $57,026 Per the County Tax Appraiser, we have an assessed tax base of Bokeelia and St James City, r e s p e c t i v e l y , $ 6 4 4 , 0 2 6 , 6 9 7 +

C o a s t a l H i g h H a z a r d a r e a T h e h e a r i n g p r o c e s s o r i g i n a l l y o c c u r r e d w i t h o u t the wider public knowing it w a s h a p p e n i n g W h e n t h e county was forced to notice it properly, residents turned out a n d m a d e t h e i r v o i c e s heard If this had only been posted on the county’s webs i t e , i t i s d o u b t f u l a n y o n e would have been aware of the proceeding

Our local newspapers play a critical role in informing the public; the obvious solution is to publish these notices in both newspapers and on the website so as to reach the most people The county justifies its action by asserting that it will be saving money by not publishing this information in print In reality, it’s the residents who ultimately pay with those who know how the system works ultimately benefiting Our commissioners must reverse this exclusionary decision

Citizens for Government Accountability/ SWFL is an all-volunteer watchdog group a f f i l i a t e d w i t h t h e F l o r i d a C e n t e r f o r Government Accountability, a 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to promoting investigative journalism More information can be found at flcga org To become a watchdog, write us at cgaswfl@flcga org

Jan Sommer is trustee of Citizens for Government Accountability/SWFL

$833,331,162 = $1,477,357,859

Cost and efficiency analysis: Waste, waste, waste Both the Fire and the Sheriff report to different entities, but we pay their costs They have all been very helpful However, I still have many unanswered questions:

Fire: 1) Why do we need to replace the St James City firehouse It is a heavy gauged metal building in very good condition The building DID NOT have damage from the hurricane, unlike all other stations The budgeted rebuild was $600,000 Two 1 acre lots w e r e p u r c h a s e d i n M a r c h 2 0 2 3 , f o r $190,000 2) A bathroom costing $65,000, etc 3) Medical responses with always a fire truck in tow The fire truck doesn’t have any more medical equipment than the ambulance One reason they need the extra people is due our increase in personal weight How about a fireperson’s vehicle and pay them millage instead of using their trucks? The cost of prematurely aging $3-500,000 gas-guzzling trucks seems wasteful 4) There is still confusion over the Fire Department servicing Cabbage Key for free.

Sheriff: They are paid extra hours and hours, as well as using extra gas and vehicles, unnecessarily They drive their cars back and forth from their homes in Cape Coral, Lehigh or wherever in the county They sit in Matlacha traffic, too

Communication among bottlenose dolphins

Bottlenose dolphins are extremely intelligent Their brain to body mass is second only to humans Their brain is very large with more folds and ridges in their cerebral cortex than h u m a n s T h e y a r e v e r y social, communicative and cooperative mammals

O u r l o c a l b o t t l e n o s e dolphins spend their entire lives within a 5-mile radius of our local waters Their families are generational and they hold very tight social bonds Females care f o r t h e y o u n g , f o r m i n g nursery pods. Males leave t h e p o d w h e n t h e y a r e w e a n e d a r o u n d 3 y e a r s old Males do not participate in child rearing They form close bonds with one, maybe two, other males These bonds can last more than a decade

Dolphin Tales

Dolphin express affection with their voice as well as with touch It is interesting to note that sound travels almost 5 times faster through water than through air For this reason, dolphins rely on sound for communication more than any other mode.

Every bottlenose dolphin develops a distinctive high-pitched whistle, called a signature whistle Dolphins in distress sometimes emit their signature whistles very loudly If separated from their group members, they will do the same If a mother and young calf become separated, they will whistle frequently until reunited Whistles serve to establish and m a i n t a i n v o c a l a n d p h y s

i c a l c o n t a c t between the dolphins

Touch is also extremely important to dolphins. Calves swim close to their

m o t h e r s , b r u s h i n g t h e i r bodies with their flanks and p e c t o r a l f i n s T h i s m a y serve to strengthen their b o n d a n d p r o m o t e o r strengthen social ties.

Mothers and babies as well as courting males and females hold hands They swim with their pectoral fins overlapping They nuzzle up and rub each other or tap and stroke with their pectoral fins

Mother and calf behavior is described as stranding on the chest where the baby is inverted, and mother lifts the baby out of the w a t e r , p u t t i n g t h e b a b y between her flippers Mom and calf may exhibit stranding on the rostrum The mother lifts the baby out of the water, carrying the baby on her nostrum

Adult male and female behavior may be a little more aggressive They may push each other with their nostrum or even ram each other with their head or rostrum They also use their tail to hit The tooth rake leaves the most scars where the dolphin rakes its teeth across another dolphins’ body These wounds do not heal as our wounds The scars remain white on the animal The dorsal fin is like our thumbprint The scars on the dorsal fin help researchers to identify distinct dolphins

Capt Cathy Eagle has spent over 40 years boating in our local waters As a professional charter captain, she specializes in dolphin and nature tours V i s i t C a p t a i n C a t h y c o m o r c a l l / t e x t 239-994-2572. Welcome aboard!

M/PIFCD to hold 60th anniversary celebration

T h e M a t l a c h a / P i n e I s l a n d F i r e Control District will be hosting a 60th anniversary celebration Friday, July 14, from 5-8 p m , at Station #1 at 5700 Pine Island Road, Bokeelia, just west of The Center

T h e r e w i l l b e f r e e f o o d f r o m Mission BBQ and ice cream, along with a live vehicle extraction demonstration, games and much more F o r a d d i t i o n a l i n f o r m a t i o n , c a l l 239-283-0030

St. John’s Episcopal Church to offer Healing Eucharist Service

The new vicar, Father Bill Gilmore of St John’s Episcopal Church, will begin offering a Healing Eucharist Service on the first Thursday of every month, starting Thursday, July 7, at 6:30 p m The church celebrates a Eucharist of Healing with provision for the laying on of hands and anointing

The service includes a homily and prayers for those on the parish prayer list, as well as prayers for all of those in the community The spiritual, emotional and

physical healing that is available to all through the transforming power of this sacrament will enable all to add collective substance to the search for God’s grace and receive solace, strength and pardon

Join the church the first Thursday of every month for this quiet time of renewal The service will be followed by some light refreshments

St John’s Episcopal Church is located at 7771 Stringfellow Road, St James City

Island Mahjongg

In spite of being a small group for mahjongg on June 29, there was a lot of fun and laughter

Top scorers were Mary Anne Harms with 125 points and Peggy Finley with 160, great scores ladies!

e m o n S t r e e t a n d F o u r t h Avenue

There will always be a warm welcome if you would like to join us

Capt. Cathy Eagle

Hurricane season is here, are you prepared?

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

By NARCISSUS E. MAGTURO and KAREN TITOLO, CERT members

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

General Population shelters!

1 A shelter is a safe place to be during an evacuation But consider alternative evacuation locations before choosing to use a shelter Remember a shelter is a lifeboat and not a cruise ship.

2 Lee County operates General Population, PetFriendly and Special Needs shelters Access to electrical outlets may be limited If you require electricity for health conditions (for example, CPAP, oxygen concentrators) or require mobility support, please register for Special Needs Shelters

3 Special Needs Shelters and Pet-Friendly shelters will be covered in the next article

4 Shelters offers only the basic life-sustaining necessities The shelter may not have electricity for most of your stay It will be noisy, crowded and somewhat uncomfortable.

5 Lee County has a limited number of shelters Not all shelters will be open for every storm A list of shelters can be found in the Lee County All Hazards Guide (2022 revision), or on the EOC website at www LeeEOC com Check the website, local news and social media for a current list of openings during a storm

6 Service animals are allowed at all shelters

7 Parking is available at shelters

8 LeeTran will provide free transportation to a shelter from six locations on Pine Island and Matlacha, should evacuation orders be raised:

■ Fire Station #3, 14861 Stringfellow Road

■ Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal Catholic Church,

CERT Update

12175 Stringfellow Road

■ Pine Island Shopping Center, 9864 Stringfellow Road

■ Flamingo Bay, Stringfellow Road and Curlew Road

■ First Baptist Church, Oleander Street and Eighth Avenue

■ Matlacha Community Park Boat Ramp, 4577 Pine Island Road

9 If you will be using the free shelter transportation from LeeTran, storage room on the bus is limited Bring only those items you need to ensure your health and safety

10 Limited food and water will be available in the shelter.

11 To prepare for staying in a shelter, bring a threeday supply of your own food and water, medications, clothing, sleeping bags, wipes, face masks and disinfectant Cots are not provided

12 Bring other items, as well: snacks, special dietary needs, clothing, and medications Games and books for children are also recommended

13 When you arrive at a shelter, register with the staff Also be sure to check out with staff if you leave

14 While in the shelter, be considerate of others Consider volunteering to help while in the shelter If you

would like to be trained to volunteer at Points of Distribution (PODs) and Shelters, Lee County EOC offers training throughout the year

REMINDER: Maintain your Emergency Supply kit by adding a few pieces each week Check and rotate nonperishable food items

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

Prepare Now actions:

Know your evacuation zone Matlacha and Pine Island are Zone A

Make an Emergency Plan (Article #1)

Know your warnings and alerts (Article #2)

Register now, ahead of time, with Lee County if you have Special Needs - online at www leeEOC com or by calling Lee County Emergency Management at 239533-0622; Pre-registration is required. (Article #6)

Review important documents (Article #4)

Strengthen your home (Article #3)

Get tech ready (Article #4)

Help your neighborhood Gather supplies (Article

Vacation Bible School to begin at First Baptist Church of Pine Island

First Baptist Church of Pine Island will be having Vacation Bible School Wednesday-Friday, July 5-7, from 6:15-8:30 p m for ages kindergarten through 12th grade There is no cost or registration necessary, just arrive at 6 p m to register onsite

First Baptist Church of Pine Island is located at The Center across from Pine Island Elementary School at 5363 Avenue D , Bokeelia For more information or if you have questions, please contact Cristen Olsen at 239-283-1737

Letters to the Editor

From page 4

Mr. Cerchie’s multimillion-dollar traffic solution, for traffic at our 4-way, is to make a roundabout and ins tall traffic lights Hello, the Matlacha bottleneck is the problem

Population Requirements: The proposed area for incorporation is contiguous

The Island has a population of 8,614, per t h e 2 0 2 2 C e n s u s , w h i c h e x c e e d s t h e 5,000 required by the statutes

Density Requirements: Pine Island is 40 5 square miles or 27,520+/- acres The A p p r a i s e r ’ s D e p a r t m e n t c o n s i d e r s t h e Island to be 50-70% Agricultural per the current Zoning Map We do not meet the required density of 1 5 people per acre We only have 1/2

We will be easily approved for a few reasons 1) Density is not the objective of the 2022 Lee Plan, for Pine Island, initiall y I t i s d e m a n d f o r L D U s ( L a n d Development Units) from our agricultural land Primarily, these LDUs are for other cities and our Island Center Island agricultural landowners can still use the land they sold 2) Our Island is 27,520+/- acres, of which 12,277 or 47% of the acres are conservation land, water or mangroves

According to the County, of the first r o u n d 1 6 2 a v a i l a b l e 1 - 5 a c r e L D U s , Estero bought almost all of them Pine Island is using some behind Publix. Only 89 LDUs remain

Incorporation: The 2022 Lee Plan requires 2 7 acres per home on agricultural land Our height requirement remains in place. We are the exception to all other localities This Lee Plan should work out very well for us, if we can incorporate ASAP At that point, we will have total autonomy, regarding zoning, building and planning As many have informed me, every Land Developer has met with great losses due to lack of demand. Our greatest non-asset NO BEACHES! Currently, there are only 2 large projects with open LDOs Both are in Bocilla Seaport

Can you imagine what we can do with $9+/- million to address the issues of our Island, after the county ignoring us for decades! It is never too early to start thinking!!!!

A few facts of my interest and relief

We have 8,614 citizens, 6,814 dwellings

A c c o r d i n g t o t h e L e e C o u n t y S c h o o l System, we have 506 children grades 112 There are 247 kids, attending our “Grade A” elementary school and 259 in the Lee County School System According to the Census, we had zero births The Bert Harris Act lawsuits have all been settled, per the County CFO

Diane Cherella, MBA Bokeelia

Be prepared

To the editor:

Quick: What’s your Evacuation Zone? Not sure? Lee EOC gov

Who in the family can name a relative you can all call to contact to verify you got somewhere safe? Pick someone who is not in Florida Does everyone have that phone number on speed dial?

This is the moment to put your children through their eye roll paces to make sure your loved ones will be ready and safe this hurricane season Tank full of gas, 6 gallons of water for each member of the household, and yes, that includes pets. The FEMA food and the snack bars should be getting stashed somewhere near the extra medicine, batteries and flashlights now

Who is the person you can impose your

family on for a week’s worth of hospitality? (Yeah, you should know that now )

Climate change is a real thing Your barstool buddy who considers it a point of pride that he never evacuates, is using old data No water in the world is heating faster than the Gulf of Mexico, and warm water means storm surge Cape Coral will not be providing sand bags, and we are in the cross hairs of today’s changed climate If you and your family are two inches above sea level, be making your escape plans now

Seriously

We had virtually no looting (endless news loop of the camera hog Sheriff arresting kids collecting bottles off the beach during last year’s storm does not constitute a looting hazard.)

Pete Buttigieg’s FEMA used drones, so the day after the hurricane passes you can view your property from the comfort of a northern hotel on Zillow or Zoom

Yes, you may have emergency crews closing your street access for a few days But seriously, if the situation is that bad the day after the storm, you won the lottery if you left early enough to be inconvenienced You do not need to be here till the storm has passed

Be prepared to have someone who owes you a favor (like someone you gave a kidney to) lined up to host you and the brood Have that option open for a week during next hurricane Make sure they know you will be at their door with only a few days notice

Ellen Starbird Cape Coral

Children need playtime

To the editor:

As a child, I remember playing outside for hours with my siblings We would pretend our backyard was a magic forest and we would have grand adventures filled with wild creatures, obstacles, and picnics Screentime included a couple hours of whatever cartoon was on the local TV channel While it’s a universal child comment to say, “I’m bored,” we found plenty of activities to fill our days by using our imaginations

I have always known how important play is in the life of a child but especially now that I have three children of my own and teach preschool, I have come to realize that not only is it an important part of childhood, but vital to mental health

During the times when I tell my children to find something to do that doesn’t include screens, they inevitably tell me they’re bored I encourage them to find something to do and give them options if they need them (there’s always chores if they’re that bored) It’s amusing to watch because all of a sudden, all my blankets have disappeared from my closet and have become a giant fort in the living room! They’re using all sorts of skills to figure out how to make the blankets stay on top of the chairs, or how to expand the fort to make extra rooms

Other times, they rediscover their markers and paints to come up with some kind of masterpiece or use their magnatiles to build a castle!

It’s pretty awesome to watch what happens when they are creative, use their imaginations, and just play! I think it’s important to just let our kids be “bored” sometimes You never know what magical lands they just might find

Jenny Sample Cape Coral

Even with July’s heat and storms, fishing will be good

As we progress into the heat of summer, inshore and offshore fishing can be very good, just prepare for the heat and keep an eye on the weather Many prefer to get an early start and get off the water ahead of the midday heat and afternoon storms

S u m m e r s n a p p e r f i s h i n g heats up this month, as fish move inshore in good numbers and just off the coast If a f i s h d i n n e r i s y o u r t a r g e t , snapper is your best bet as they are as tasty as a fish can get Mangrove snapper have keen eyesight, often making it necessary to lighten up the t a c k l e t o f o o l t h e m Fluorocarbon leader from ten to 20-pound test is often necessary Small hooks and baits deliver better hook-ups I generally go with a 1 to 1/0 circle hook, or a small jig head Shrimp, small pilchards and pinfish are top baits Small pieces of cut bait are another good choice -- it’s often necessary to allow the bait to lay on bottom or drift with the current in a natural manner This is accomplished by allowing slack in the line Many times, we keep the bail open on the reel until a fish picks up and starts running line.

the Water

tactic as well No doubt, a box of chum is the simplest and easiest -- I would reco m m e n d m o r e t h a n o n e b o x I t ’ s f r u s t r a t i n g t o f i n a l l y g e t f i s h f i r e d u p then run out of chum

The best snook and redfish action will come on d a y s w i t h s t r o n g t i d e s

O f t e n , t h e y a r e c a u g h t t o g e t h e r a r o u n d d o c k s , s h o r e l i n e s a n d s t r u c t u r e around the gulf passes, as w e l l a s o y s t e r b a r s a n d shoreline overhangs on the higher tides As the water w a r m s o v e r s u m m e r months, some of the better action for trout will come from 4 to 8-foot depths in areas with a grass or sand/grass mottled bottom and good water movement

From the shallow flats inshore to reefs offshore, snapper respond well to chumming. A store-bought box of chum tied off to the boat in a chum bag is the most popular If you are cast netting your own bait, it’s possible to load up with plenty of extras Cutting the baits up and creating a continuous flow with the current is a good

Calm summer mornings give good opportunities to run offshore and target grouper and other species American red snapper season is open for recreational anglers through the month of July Most target red snapper in depths beginning around 120 feet and deeper Seventy feet is generally a good starting point for red grouper, but you may need to run past a hundred feet for larger fish. If you run out a little deeper, you may find red snapper and grouper around the same depths

Closer to land, wrecks and reefs can be productive with everything from snapper to barracuda to giant goliath grouper Anchoring up current of structure with a fresh chum bag is preferred A variety of baits is a good idea as well as an arsenal

of rods rigged and ready for light to heavy action

For fun and fast action offshore, look for bonito and Spanish mackerel harassing bait schools in depths from 30-80 feet Silver spoons or Tuna Jets in various colors can bring instant hookups when trolled or long cast around feeding activity Watch for birds and surface commotion to locate the fish Also, you can expect either species to show up in your chum line

S h a r k s a r e a s u m m e r t i m e f a v o r i t e .

Varieties of species both large and small are common both inshore and off While t h e y a r e a n u i s a n c e f o r s o m e , m a n y anglers hunt them for their fighting ability Sharks play an important role in our ecosystem; please make every effort to quickly release them unharmed Every kid loves to catch a shark of any size, now is

See JULY, page 10

Capt Bill Russell On

PHOTO PROVIDED

Over the summer you can expect cobia to make a surprise visit anytime. While visiting grandparents in St. James City, Brady Lucas hooked into this cobia in Charlotte Harbor fishing with Capt. Bill Russell.

Greater Pine Island Civic Association continues conducting post-Ian survey

It's been nearly nine months since Hurricane Ian caused catastrophic damage to the island community

The Greater Pine Island Civic Association is conducting a survey to assess how post-Ian recovery is going for members of Matlacha Isles, Matlacha, St James City, Pine Island Center, Pineland and Bokeelia

Please tell the GPICA how you're doing, whether you have unmet needs and what your most pressing concerns are. The organization will share this information with long-term recovery groups working on the island to demonstrate the community's needs in order to seek additional support and resources

Visit this link to take the survey -- https://forms gle/ vcHin7voo76m5fGx9

S p e c i a l n o t e : T h e G P I C A w i l l n o t s h a r e e m a i l

addresses with any other group or agency unless you give us explicit permission to do so in the second question of the survey

Also note that the GPICA is only collecting names of those islanders who are seeking help from long-term recovery groups so that information can be passed on to recovery groups working on the islands

Pine Island Art Association, still alive and painting

Pine Island Art Association began offering painting classes over 50 years ago in the Greater Pine Island Civic Association (Elks Building) Hurricane Ian has brought the association back to the same area. The present building is located in the county park in Matlacha which has been unusable since Ian hit last September

The PIAA is fortunate to have classrooms at the Methodist Church just down the street from where the group began. Since Ian, PIAA artists have been working on hand-painted minis and they will be selling them at Mango Mania this July 15

For the last 50 years, the PIAA has held an art show and sale every February until recently interrupted first by COVID and then Ian The association is offering classes this summer at the Methodist Church on Wednesday and Friday mornings, from 9 to noon PIAA has a more comprehensive offering of classes restarting in the fall

While the group has no idea when the regular building will be back, the members are encouraged that this will all happen

Legion Auxiliary, CPE-Project Hope to hold Ice Cream Social

Come join us for the old-fashioned Ice Cream Social, presented by the American Legion Auxiliary and CPEProject Hope This free event will be held Tuesday, July 11, from 1-3 p m , at the American Legion Post 136, located at 4106 Stringfellow Rd , St James City We will be serving up soft serve ice cream, bingo and a cake walk (Adult event only) Come join us for an old-fashioned good time

July From page 9

a good time, just make sure and do it safely for both the angler and the shark

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

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

Have a safe week and good fishin’

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

PHOTO PROVIDED

Members of the Pine Island Art Association painting

Calusa Waterkeeper issues area’s water bacteria report for June

This month out of the 30 sites throughout the watershed tested by the Calusa Waterkeeper, 23% passed and 77% failed

One of the newest sites continues to unveil high FIB numbers -- North Fort Myers Riverbend Boulevard399 MPN

The new bracketing of Manuel’s Branch continues to fascinate, and the results will be discussed in a upcoming meeting Manuel’s branch highest FIB count2,909 MPN

The new Mullock Creek site had an increase count t h i s m o n t h M u l l o c k C r e e k a t S a n C a r l o s P a r k ,

Constitution - 771 MPN

Pine Island region has Matlacha as the highest FIB count for that tidal zone this month Matlacha Pass County Park kayak launch - 160 MPN

The Calusa Waterkeeper thanks Mike Lee for being the group's Lab extraordinaire! Also, big thanks to Ken, Neil, Don, Chuck, Anthony, Sam, Christy, John, Greg and Larry for grabbing samples

Y o u c a n v i e w t h e i n t e r a c t i v e G o o g l e m a p at https://calusawaterkeeper org/issues/bacteria-monitoring/

Mangoes

From page 1

down, they sterilize all the weed seeds in their digestive system and they just leave the native grasses, making them the perfect maintenance ” he said “Since they sterilize all the weed seeds in their digestive system, their poop is like rabbit pellets it’s a slow release nitrogen it’s perfect for a grove We figure in a couple of years, the trees will really appreciate that ”

Hurricane Ian, he said, was a good pruning, as at least half of every tree in the grove ended up on the ground While they are still working to maintain the damage done by the storm, they have cleared the grove, and look forward to a thriving fruit stand in the future Last summer, the only wholesale customer for Promised Land Mangoes was Farmer Joe's in Cape Coral

Etscovitz said his goal is to be a local corner store, so islanders don’t have to leave the island, but can come in and get some fresh food, have a snack and pet the goats

“When we bought the place we knew mangoes could crash for any number of reasons, and right after our very first year, Hurricane Ian ate everything off the trees so we never even got a bloom, but we have a setup for next year so it should be a bumper crop,” Etscovitz said

For Promise Land Mangoes, recovery from Ian looked like a pile of debris that ended up on the side of the road, Etscovitz said, although there wasn’t much damage done to anything else, such as the building or animals

“The goats turned out to be a lot of fun We have friendly ones out to be social with people we’ve got some ducks and tortoise We’ve got bourbon red turkeys and a donkey They’re our pets it’s not a petting zoo but we have goat treats, so folks can come on out and pet the goats and grab a snack,” Etscovitz said Promised Land Mangoes is at 7127 Pineland Road, Bokeelia For additional information, please call 941404-1503

PHOTOS PROVIDED BY DAVE AND CAROL ETSCOVITZ

Some of the goats at Promised Land Mangoes

Mango trees on the property

Free autism screening July 21

G o l i s a n o C h i l d r e n ’ s H o s p i t a l o f 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 five years of age

The next screening will be held on July 21, 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 A u t i s m S p e c t r u m D i s o r d e r , m a k i n g i t more common than childhood cancer, juvenile diabetes and pediatric AIDS combined

Medical consultants for the project

Supply drive

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 G o l i s a n o C h i l d r e n ’ s H o s p i t a l o f Southwest Florida The screenings are administered by an Advanced Practice R e g i s t e r e d N u r s e , w h o h a s e x t e n s i v e training and experience in typical child development and developmental disorders

A physician referral is not required To schedule a screening, please call 239343-6838.

From page 1

Yogurt Shop, and Pine Island First Baptist Church.

The Hookers are once again counting on the generosity of the island residents since there are many families on Pine Island still struggling to make ends meet The 20232024 school year starts on Aug 2 for teachers and on Aug 10 for students and these supplies will go a long way to ensure they get off to a great start for a successful year Both product and monetary donations are welcome The Hookers will fill in the gaps for requested supplies and then pass o n t h e r e m a i n i n g m o n e t a r y d o n a t i o n s raised to PIE for purchase of additional technology supplies throughout the school year

This Matlacha Hookers program helps ensure PIE teachers don’t have to use their own money for these items, in order to ensure the island school continues its pro-

gram of excellence

Monetary Donations can be made by c a s h o r c h e c k , m a i l e d t o M a t l a c h a H o o k e r s , P O B o x 1 1 1 , M a t l a c h a , F L 33993 Be sure to write ‘school supplies’ into memo area Donations can also be made online at https://www matlachahookers org/ Click the donate button and select “School Supplies” in the drop down box

The PIE students, teachers and principal, as well as the Matlacha Hookers greatly appreciate islanders' generosity and willingness to help.

If you have any questions, please contact the Matlacha Hookers Back to School Co-Chairs, Christy Rau 513-703-7433 a n d J o y c e B o y e

e m a i l m a t l a c h a h o o

ers org

Cat of the Week

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

Lee County School District provides update on repairs after Hurricane Ian

By MEGHAN BRADBURY news@breezenewspapers com

The School District of Lee County continues to move forward with repairs post Hurricane Ian with bid requests pending for the replacement of a heavily damaged Cape Coral school

The solicitation for the planned Hector A Cafferata Elementary School K-8 school is due on July 14

School Superintendent Dr Christopher Bernier said it provides a unique opportunity to put solicitation out for a public, private partnership

“All local contractors are eligible to bid,” he said

Perhaps the biggest step is taking place at Fort Myers Beach Elementary School, as demolition of outbuildings is under way with half the work done as of Tuesday night

Bernier said the district is not touching the historic building of Fort Myers Beach Elementary School, as it will stay in place

“The demolition of Fort Myers Beach Elementary outer buildings is 50 percent

“The demolition of Fort Myers Beach Elementary outer buildings is 50 percent complete It will look worse before it looks better ”

Dr Christopher Bernier, superintendent of Lee County Schools

complete It will look worse before it looks better,” he said

In addition, Bernier said the design for Fort Myers Beach renovations are now complete The necessary plans to move forward are being put together with a gross project estimate cost to come back to the board

The innovation, to bid for construction purposes, was advertised last week for Fort Myers Beach Elementary School

The update shared information about the ongoing hurricane repairs for roofing, flooring, drywall and painting Bernier said approximately 88 percent of districtwide hurricane service requests to their maintenance department have been completed

The remainder of the update went through a photograph slideshow of hurricane damage to now One of the schools included Lexington Middle School, a flooddamaged building, which has had a great deal of work done on the first floor with carpet and tiles being laid as well as new drywall going up and paint being applied

The gymnasium was also touched upon, as Lee County shares the space with the school district. Bernier said the wood for the gym floor is now in the facility and is becoming accumulated to the moisture and humidity in the room before being completed

At Diplomat Middle School, where the roof was lost, photographs showed new cabinets and sinks for the science labs

Bernier also provided an update on Paul Laurence Dunbar Middle School He said

one corner of the roof had peeled back.

“The southwest corner had been exposed to the wind for so long the wind got under it and peeled it back,” Bernier said, adding that workers are removing damaged material and getting down to the core of the roof

The roof is also being fixed at Gulf Middle School to keep water from intruding inside the building

Bernier said they had a great meeting with Imperium He said the deadline for A, debris removal, and B, emergency preparedness, projects has a deadline of June 29. Everything has been filled and the district has have received partial payment

“We are working towards a better understanding when the federal government will move to the 90/10 rule,” Bernier said, adding that they will replace 90 percent, leaving 10 percent for the district to cover

He said the district is thankful for the Lee County Legislative Delegation and Gov Ron DeSantis for his signature on the state budget Bernier said there are hundreds of millions of dollars allocated to districts like Lee County which were impacted by Hurricane Ian He said there is an opportunity to receive gap dollars back from the state of Florida for that 10 percent not covered

Project Hope Resource Clinic and Support Groups

CPE - Project Hope will be holding a Resource Clinic and Support Groups at the Pine Island Community Church, located at 5320 Doug Taylor Circle, St James City, every Thursday from 5-8 p m

Resource Clinic will be held from 5-6 p m

Women's Support Group 6-7 p m

Men's Support Group 7-8 p m

Beacon programs and activities for July

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

The schedule includes:

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

■ Coffee Klatch – We have all been affected by Hurricane Ian in countless ways The Beacon of Hope wants islanders to know we are here to support you Join us for a gathering of conversation, coffee and support The Beacon is providing a safe space to share, be heard and connect with others to lift islanders spirits and honor e v e r y o n e ' s s t r e n g t h a n d r e s i l i e n c e m o v i n g f o r w a r d Ronda Czarnecke, MSW, and Nancy Buthman (director of BOH), both Pine Island residents, invite everyone to come together and share in this safe space Join the at the Beacon on Friday mornings starting July 7 at 10 a.m. For questions, call Ronda – 231-383-1302

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

■ Transportation to medical appointments and treatments is also available to anywhere in Lee County, Please call 48 hours before your appointment

■ Strange Arrangement – Mondays 6-7:30 p m Lessons given A musical experience

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

■ Grants Committee meeting – To be announced

■ Homelessness Committee – To be announced

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

■ Girl Scout Troop will meet on Fridays at 6 p m

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

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

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

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

The Beacon of Hope, located at 5090 Doug Taylor Circle, St James City, is open Monday, Wednesday and Thursday, from 9 a m to 5 p m Computers, fax and printer are available for use Case managers are available at these times. Call and make an appointment. To contact the Beacon of Hope, please call 239-283-5123

■ The Food Bank

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

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

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

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

Lee Health launches emergency preparedness website

Lee Health has unveiled a comprehensive emergency preparedness website on www LeeHealth org and it’s one of just a handful of hospital systems in Florida that has this type of resource available The website will serve as a dedicated resource for the Southwest Florida community and other individuals seeking information and resources for emergencies, such as natural disasters and public health situations The website is the result of a collaborative effort between Lee Health and its community partners

The Lee Health Emergency Preparedness Website features several different sections that the community can utilize as a one-stop-shop for information, emergency action plans, resources and helpful links It shares resources from community partners, including Lee County, the City of Fort Myers, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and more.

T h e n e w s i t e i s l o c a t e d a t h t t p s : / / w w w l e e health org/emergency-preparedness and includes several different resource sections:

■ Natural Disasters: How to stay safe before, during and after natural disasters, such as hurricanes, tornados and floods Information will also be provided for medically insecure patients

■ Public Health Emergencies: Information on any ongoing public health emergencies (like the COVID19 pandemic) This will include information on the public health emergency, testing sites and where to get vaccines, if applicable.

■ Emergency Action Plans: How to create a plan to ensure the safety and wellbeing of you and your family This will include evacuation procedures, emergency supplies, practice drills, identifying a shelter-inplace location, communication protocols, emergency contact information and more

■ Resources and Helpful Links: Direct links to resources from the CDC and FEMA There will also be information on plans for patients with asthma, food allergies and anaphylaxis

Lee Health is committed to ensuring the health and safety of our community and helping Southwest Florida families be prepared for every type of emergency We believe your safety should be your top priority

Learn more at www LeeHealth org

Pine Island

Howard Nemenoff

We are sad to announce the passing of Howard Nemenoff of St. James City, Florida. He passed away on June 19, 2023 at Lee Memorial Hospital at the age of 70 after a long battle with AL Amyloidosis. His devoted wife Jana was by his side.

Howard was born in Chicago, IL on September 13, 1952. He was preceded in death by his parents Jack Nemenoff and Sara Greenstein. He is survived by his loving wife of 40 years, Jana Nemenoff, his best friend and brother Marc Nemenoff, his doting daughter Erica Schulz (Lukas Schulz), and his adoring grandchildren Riley and Logan Schulz.

He graduated from University of Illinois UrbanaChampaign in 1974 with a B.S. in Mathematics. He worked as a Systems Analyst at Allstate Insurance, where he met his wife, Jana. They did it all together, owned stores, traveled, and, most importantly, ate at all the best restaurants. Howard later became an Enrolled Agent, preparing taxes and representing tax payers before the Internal Revenue Service and opening up his own business, Nemenoff Tax Services. He loved and was loved by his clients and truly enjoyed getting to know each one.

Howard had a sharp mind his whole life. He enjoyed reading and he did crosswords, sudoku and solitaire daily. He loved his weekly game of cards with the Street Girls. Most of all he enjoyed golf where he could drive a long ball, not always to its intended location. There are many wonderful adjectives to describe Howard but his sweetness is the one that everybody who knew him includes and best describes his outlook and kindness towards all he knew. He was loved deeply by his family and by so many others. He will be greatly missed.

We know Howard wouldn’t want us to wallow in misery, but rather celebrate his remarkable time on earth with photos, stories, and loving memories. We would love for you to join the celebration of Howard’s life on August 26, 2023 at his daughter’s home in Crystal Lake, IL. Online condolences may be sent to the family at everloved.com/life-of/howard-nemenoff/. Here you will also find additional information on Howie’s Celebration of Life

Steve Barrett

Steve Barrett of Saint James City was surrounded by family as he passed peacefully on June 24 at age 62. Steve is survived by his daughter Sabrina (27) and niece Tricia (28) of Portland, Oregon. He will be fondly remembered by his siblings Jay, Tim, Mike, Patty, Chris, and Jane, as well as many cousins, nieces, nephews, and aunts.

Steve served his country in the army and was fiercely proud to be an American. Steve was the epitome of a “good dad.” He was playful, nurturing, generous, patient, and kind. He loved his retired life in St. James City where he fished frequently, and enjoyed weekly live music at the local bars. Steve was an incredible friend and was the first person to offer help to anyone in need. He will be missed by many. To know Steve was to love Steve. He was a firm believer in good karma, and his life motto was “God is great, beer is good, and people are crazy.”

Steve had the opportunity to benefit from the medical care of the neuro team at the Jacksonville Mayo Clinic, led by world-famous neurosurgeons Dr. Alfredo Qui ones-Hinojosa and Dr. JP C. de Almedia. Dr. Q, Dr. Almedia, and their team provided compassionate care and guided the family through many difficult decisions.

In lieu of flowers, the family lovingly requests that donations be made to Mission: Brain on Steve’s behalf. Mission: Brain is a non-profit foundation led by Dr. Q that brings neurological care to underserved areas of the world. Donations can be made on Steve’s behalf at https://missionbrain.kindful.com/

Memorial service information can be requested from Sabrina, Steve’s daughter at sabrinajbarrett@gmail.com

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