VolumE 48, NumbEr 10
Celebrating Pine Islanders: Darcy Conner
By PAULETTE LeBLANC pleblanc@breezenewspapers com
Pine Islander Darcy Conner said while she considers her husband, Dave, to be her partner in crime, she would describe herself as a mom, and a grandma
“I’m a travel agent but that doesn’t define who I am,” Conner said
Having grown up on Fort Myers Beach, Conner wasn’t far from Pine Island, but explains that she didn’t have a formal visit here until she and Dave came to Matlacha for a weekend getaway around 2009 It was during this trip that the Conners fell in love with the island, saying it was just an amazing place
After the global pandemic hit in 2020, Conner said
she and Dave were afraid they might get stuck where they were living in Ft Lauderdale It was then the couple began to search for a new neighborhood and
they had the fantastic getaway, years before
“We came over here Father’s Day weekend and did a drive-by of this house and the area The next weekend they were having an open house, we came to the open house, we made an offer
2024 MangoMania Saturday
Island tropical fruit fair to be held at Our Lady of Miraculous Medal Church
Special to The Eagle news@breezenewspapers com
The Greater Pine Island Chamber of Commerce is gearing up for MangoMania 2024, Pine Island's tropical fruit fair, which will be held this Saturday, July 13, at Our Lady of Miraculous Medal Church from noon to 4 p m
According to Chamber Board Member Cynthia Welch, it’s high time for summer fun and MangoMania is just that fun and family friendly event that attracts both locals and tourists who enjoy tropical fruits and want to experience the vibrant culture of our island
The festival features various activities, such as tropical plants, trees and fruit for sale, a recipe contest, biggest mango contest, Creative mango games for kids of all ages, live music, mango and tropical fruit food and beverages, planting seminars, arts, crafts and island businesses
While this is a free event, Welch said, a $5 donation is appreciated at the gate to benefit island business recovery and Samaritan Health and Wellness at the Beacon of Hope This event will showcase local entertainment starting at 9 a m
“The music begins with DJ Isaac and will be playing some great tunes to get the day started At 12:45 p m , folks can catch one of our island favorites, Rudy Cox, live on stage,” Welch said
She also reminds everyone to join in the mangothemed event fun, such as the recipe contest Sign in between 9-11 a m Make sure you sign in and drop off your mango bread, dessert, jams, salsa or condiments at the food contest tent
More fun abounds in the Mango Maniac Contest If you have Pine Island’s biggest mango, you could win a prize Weigh in starts at noon at the seminar tent Winners will be announced at 12:30 p m See the chamber website for a full list of contest categories
Create your own Mr Mango head before the contest or create your own at the festival between 9-11:30 a m
There will also be seminars where you are invited to join island experts in the seminar tent to learn more
LEE COUNTY VISITOR AND CONVENTION BUREAU
Some of the items previously featured at the MangoMania festival on Pine Island.
about the mango, such as Steve Cucura of FruitScapes Fruit Market, who will share some history of the Pine Island mango Har Madeem will teach the art of grafting your mango tree and Matt Reece will speak on
Permaculture Farm will give a seminar Tim Watkins shares mango pruning for tree size control and fruit production Erica Klopf will teach perennial gardening with mangoes and Donna Schneider of Pine Island Tropicals will educate on canning and cooking with mangoes and tropical fruit To check activities and
See MANGOMANIA, page 13
and that was it We sold our house that weekend,” Conner said
When it comes to showing her devotion to Pine Island, Conner said it’s in her love for giving back to the community through groups such as the Pine Island Kiwanis Club and the Matlacha Hookers, both of which are organizations where Conner serves on the board of directors
In addition to these, Conner is a member of FISH (Fellow Islanders Sending Help) for the Basket Brigade and regularly helps the Pine Island Food Pantry
She said, even if there were no organizations on the island that needed her, she would find a way somehow to
13
County code regulations topic of discussion at GPICA meeting
By PAULETTE LeBLANC pleblanc@breezenewspapers com
Last Tuesday, July 2, at its monthly meeting, the Greater Pine Island Civic Association invited William Diaz, code enforcement manager from the Lee County Department of Community Development, to answer q u e s t
Island/Matlacha, including updates on code enforcement activities related to Hurricane Ian
An islander inquired as to what, if anything, can be done about island homes that have b
d since Hurricane Ian
Diaz said his department is currently functioning at norm a l o p e r a t i o n W h i l e h e admits as a lifelong Southwest Floridian, he’s seen the many storms that have hit this area, and in his opinion, Ian was the worst of them Diaz asked that everyone send concerns or contact the county if their property is still in need of surveying
Diaz explained a false assumption held by many and made evident after Hurricane Ian was that the county could step in and condemn property
“We do not condemn structures,” Diaz said Neither does the county padlock businesses, he said
A member asked if there was a way to reach the coding office if an assumed violation was in question Diaz encouraged anyone with a potential violation to send an email to the county, as the preferred way of communication
The office email address is CodeEnforcement@leegov com You can also call 239-533-8895
To see more of this meeting, please visit the GPICA
See DARCY CONNER, page
Darcy Conner
District summer school helping thousands of students
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
Matlacha Hookers Pine Island Elementary School Supply Drive underway
The Matlacha Hookers Pine Island Elementary School Supply Drive started July 1 and runs through Saturday, July 27
The "Wish List" for PIE teachers and staff includes: copy paper ("we would really appreciate this one!"), backpacks, notebook paper, composition notebooks, spiral notebooks, headphones and earbuds, #2 pencils, erasers (large pink rectangle and cap), electric pencil sharpeners, Expo dry erase markers, glue sticks, pens (black, blue and red), Wite-Out correction tape, pocket folders with brads/prongs (green, yellow, blue, red), Crayola markers (washable), Crayola crayons, Crayola colored pencils, Scotch Tape, highlighters, 9V and AA batteries (for microphones and computer accessories), facial tissue with aloe/lotion, stickers, Post-It notes, bandages (large and small), disinfectant wipes, paper towels and hand sanitizer
School supplies may be dropped off at the following participating businesses through July 27: in Matlacha --
the Post Office, The Perfect Cup, Blue Dog Restaurant, Trader’s Hitching Post, CW Fudge Factory, Yucatan Waterfront and Miceli’s Restaurant; at the Center -- Ace Hardware, Pine Island First Baptist Church and Pine Island United Methodist Church; in Bokeelia -- Salty Girls Island Cafe, Spots Ice Cream and Crepes, the Pine Island Library, Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal Catholic Church and the Bokeelia Post Office; in St James City -- Moose Lodge, Winn-Dixie, Centennial Bank, Fishers of Men Lutheran Church, Pine Island Community Church, Pine Island Auto Care and First Baptist Church of St. James City.
The Hookers are, once again, counting on the generosity of the island residents There are many families on Pine Island still struggling to make ends meet The 2024-2025 school year starts on Aug 2 for teachers and Aug 12 for students These supplies will go a long way to ensure they get off to a great start for a successful 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 program of excellence Both product and monetary donations are welcome and will passed on directly to Pine Island Elementary
Monetary donations can be made by cash or check, mailed to Matlacha Hookers, PO Box 111, Matlacha, FL 33993 Be sure to write "school supplies" into memo
at https://www matlachahookers org/ Click the "Donate Now" button and select “School Supplies” in the drop down box.
PIE students, teachers and staff, as well as the Matlacha Hookers, greatly appreciate islanders’ generosity and willingness to help If you have any questions, please contact the Matlacha Hookers School Supply Drive Co-Chairs Christy Rau at 513-703-7433 and Joyce Boyer at 314-401-9354, or email matlachahookers@matlachahookers org
OPINIONS
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
Obituaries
Debbie Carletti
obits@breezenewspapers com
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
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-yearolds
VPK is not daycare Classrooms have qualified teachers at the helm and maintain h
appropriate curricula and manageable class sizes Younger children and toddlers should partake in some type of school readiness program to begin laying an academic, emo-
Pine Island FISH need volunteer help
To the editor:
To those of you who may know and those who are new to the area, Pine Island FISH has been helping our fellow islanders since 1988.
Web Poll
We provide mobility equipment, nonmedical transportation and some financial assistance to those in need
Unfortunately, FISH is now the one in need
We are in need of volunteers to continue our service to our neighbors
The time commitment is minimal and the rewards are great!
tional, social and behavioral
beyond
For parents whose children are 5 years old or younger, focusing on these five core subjects can prevent summer learning loss:
across Lee, Collier, Hendry
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 animal 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 informa-
Letters to the Editor
www Pineislandfish org
Please stop by our booth at Mang Mania and let us give you more information about what we do
phone volunteer
DeSantis’ veto of war nings bill confir ms need for Florida Right to Clean Water
To the editor:
The Fourth of July was just celebrated and many Floridians headed to the beaches for fun and to swim and get cool Wouldn’t you like to know if those beach waters were
Wednesday, June 26, Gov DeSantis vetoed
views are welcome. Letters to the Editor or guest columns may be mailed to: Pine Island Eagle, 10700 Stringfellow Road, Ste. 60, Bokeelia, FL 33922; e-mailed to pineisland@ breezenewspapers.com; posted to our Virtual Newsroom at www breezenewspapers com or faxed to 283-0232 All letters and guest columns must be signed and must contain a phone number for verification purposes You also can comment on any letter or editorial opinion online at: pineisland-eagle com
tional videos about people and places around the world
Food is a great introduction to culture, so hosting an
dinner can extend learning to mealtime
Science: Take a weekly
region’s parks, which are full of trees, animals and other natural features Hand chil-
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 e
Collier, Glades and Hendry counties Learn m
y Prekindergarten and School Readiness programs at ELCofSWFL org
a bill that would have alerted Florida citizens if a beach or waterway isn’t safe What was supposed to be a health and safety concern that would involve alerting the public and posting signs if waters were unsafe was tossed out by our governor.
,
DeSantis is quoted as saying the bill was “ill-advised” and had a “fatal infirmity,” because it would have given the Florida Department of Health the authority to make these closures and put out notifications of them Supporting the governor’s veto was Florida Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo
Local communities have made decisions about beach and water closures up till now, but data regarding fecal (e-coli) contamination that is regularly published by Calusa Waterkeepers and SCCF is generally not
Health would not be able to ignore this information however, if this bill had been passed
Once again it must be up to us to stop this lack of regard for our health and the health of our waters
@gmail com or FloridaRighttoCleanWater org to download our petition, sign and mail it in so we can make clean and healthy waters a fundamental right for all of us Mary Tracy Sigman Fort
Melanie Stefanowicz Guest Commentary
‘Strand to Slough Expedition’ offers rare opportunity
By CJ HADDAD cjhaddad@breezenewspapers com
A s t a t e w i d e f o u n d a t i o n i s s e e k i n g applicants with a desire for connection to local lands, wildlife, and waterways, to take on a seven-day expedition around Lee County and surrounding areas
The Florida Wildlife Corridor Foundation is searching for three to four participants for its upcoming trek, titled “Strand t o S l o u g h E x p e d i t i o n : E x p l o r i n g t h e
Critical Connections of Southwest Florida ” Applications are being accepted until July 26 for the adventure that takes place Nov 15-22, which will also have a documentary crew capturing the experience
According to the foundation, the expedition will explore the Florida Wildlife Corridor from the coastal wetlands to cattle country, starting in Picayune Strand State Forest and traveling north through Audubon Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary, the Okaloacoochee Slough, and ending near the Caloosahatchee River The core of the trek, which runs through Collier, Glades, Hendry, and Lee Counties, will involve a multi-day journey of hiking, biking, and paddling through private and public lands vital to conserving Corridor connectivity The expedition will feature family heritage, community and spiritual connections to the land, and local engagement with the corridor The trek will also highlight agricultural lands critical to maintaining corridor connections
Collaborative Conservation Manager for Florida Wildlife Corridor Foundation and Strand to Slough expedition planner Alex Freeze, said the habitat and ecosystem types that are to be explored on this
journey are quite unique
“There’s so much incredible biodiversity that our documentary film will really focus on The strands and the sloughs and the swamps in between, and how that biodiversity is so important to Florida, and the larger landscape keeping it connected,” she said “It’s a human story, as well as a wildlife and wildlands story ”
Trekkers will be taken though both public and private lands, taking in wildlife and nature to its fullest extent Participants will be guided along by experts, such as F l o r i d a W i l d
CEO Mallory Dimmitt, Ecologist and
Archbold Biological Station Joe Guthrie, and Founder of Florida Wildlife Corridor Foundation Carlton Ward Jr, who is a
National Geographic Explorer and photographer
“They will sporadically meet up with our regional expeditioners to give them a really in-depth look at what it’s like to trek in the corridor, share their experiences and expertise with them, but we’ll also meet with excellent and dedicated conservation patterns on multiple levels,” Freeze said Trekkers will also meet with various private landowners to get their insight on
various realms related to ecology
“The expertise will span everything from deep wildlife biology, ecology, natural history backgrounds, to people who have been stewards of their lands for many years and have seen the changes and are very wise to the vision of keeping the corridor connected, protected, and restored moving forward and what that’s going to take,” Freeze said
So, who are the ideal applicants?
“One of the things we’ve done very intentionally as an organization for our past few expeditions, is to really intentionally highlight people connected to the local corridor areas,” Freeze said “This time around, we want to highlight and allow a really great experience for people with deep connections, either to the natural history, or cultural heritage, of Southwest Florida ”
Organizers state there are four different categories into which a to-be-selected applicant could fall
They are:
■ Multigenerational – A Floridian with longstanding ties to southwest Florida, whether that be through family heritage in land ownership, stewardship, or deeply rooted community ties going back multiple generations
■ New Floridian – Someone who has recently moved to Florida (in the past five years), who is interested in learning more about and connecting to the natural and cultural resources and heritage of the land, water, wildlife, and people of southwest Florida
See ‘EXPEDITION,’ page 8
PHOTO PROVIDED
Trekkers will be taken though both public and private lands, taking in wildlife and nature to its fullest extent.
Dolphin metabolism slows down with age
Quite often on my tours in Pine Island Sound, I see an exceptionally large dolphin riding in my wake Its girth is huge As the dolphin jumps in the wake, it lands on its side rather than its belly I’ve wondered if maybe it is a pregnant female It is just so large that it doesn’t seem to have the agility of the leaner dolphins
The Dolphin Research Center in Sarasota cooperates with many dolphin research centers around the world A study led by Duke University in cooperation with the dolphin program in Grassy Key, Fla , and Dolphin Quest, Hawaii, has shed light on the fact that dolphin metabolism slows down with age
I just turned 69 years old I swim I do yoga But I can’t seem to get rid of this belly fat Dolphins can relate Dolphins burn calories at a much lower rate as they get older, just as we do
The researchers studied 10 bottlenose dolphins aged 10 to 45 years old living at the Dolphin Research Center in Grassy Key, Fla., and Dolphin Quest in Hawaii The oldest dolphins in the study, both in their
40s, used fewer calories each day than expected for their body weight Similar to humans, most of those calories ended up as fat rather than muscle Dolphins in their 40s had body fat percentages that were 2 5 times higher than the dolphins in their 20s It wasn’t for lack of exercise. And dolphins can live well into their 60s, almost 70 years old!
Dolphins are amazing athletes All of the dolphins studied, including those in their 40s, showed athletic ability, including doing flips and spins, walking on their tails, jumping clear out of the water and going fast enough to leave a wake Even though the older dolphins ate fewer calories and exercised as much as the younger dolphins, they had more body fat
Male dolphins tend to be larger than females Adult males can reach lengths of
Dolphin Tales
up to 13 feet and weigh between 600 to 1,000 pounds
Adult female bottlenose dolphins can reach lengths of 9 feet and weigh between 300 and 600 pounds Regardless, slower m e t a b o l i s m a f
females.
In conclusion, dolphins get 40s flab, too It makes me feel so much better! Our metabolism just isn’t what it used to be But let’s keep doing flips and spins, walking on our tails, jumping clear out of the water and leaving a wake!
Captain Cathy Eagle has spent over 40 years boating on our local waters As a professional charter captain, she specializes in dolphin and nature tours Visit CaptainCathy.com or call /text 239 9942572 Welcome aboard!
Community Cooperative mobile food pantry schedule for July
Pine Island visit July 19 at PIUMC
Community Cooperative has released its July 2024 mobile food pantry schedule. The center has adjusted its operating hours to better accommodate the summer weather The Mobile Food Pantry schedule includes:
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
Southwest Florida while simultaneously inspiring and supporting sustained positive change in its clients by delivering innovative food, education, and social service programs Through collaboration and ongoing education, Community Cooperative supports and strengthens those whose lives have been affected by hunger and homelessness, ensuring that they have access to the resources necessary to transform their lives with dignity For additional information, please visit communitycooperative.com.
Capt. Cathy Eagle
Calusa Waterkeeper ’s State of Our Water Quality Meeting
Saturday at Northwest Regional Library open to full membership
With growing water quality concerns across our state and Southwest Florida
r e g i o n , C a l u s a W a t e r k e e p e r h a s announced that it will open its State of Our Water Quarterly Meetings to a wider audience Saturday, July 13, from 9:30 a m to noon at the Northwest Regional Library in Cape Coral. For the first time, the quarterly ranger meeting will be open to Calusa Waterkeeper’s full membership at no cost Current and new members are welcome
Guests will get to meet our local waterkeeper, the trained rangers who are the organization’s boots on the ground and
fins in the water that protect waterways, as well as enjoy and informative and engaging speaker
“Our members are water warriors who not only support our mission to protect and restore local waterways, but who advocate, stay engaged and help champio
Williams “We are pleased to extend an invitation to have them join us for these very informative sessions and give them an opportunity to get more involved ”
Pierce will open the meeting, providing a
From the Firehouse
Island firefighters get new gear
Exciting district news!
We are the first fire department in Florida that has received PFAS-free
comprehensive report on the current state of our water, followed by reports presented by Zone Ranger Leaders that will discuss the conditions around the watershed Featured guest speaker Amanda Zirzow,
Florida SouthWestern State College, will deliver a presentation on the detection of bacteria in waterways and the testing
Waterkeeper
These quarterly meetings provide an opportunity to network with members and rangers and learn more about water quality issues and how to get more involved Annual membership starts as low as $50 If you would like to become a member of Calusa Waterkeeper and join us at this quarterly meeting or future meetings, visit calusawaterkeeper.org/membership, send
an email to info@calusawaterkeeper org or call 239-899-1440
About Calusa Waterkeeper
Calusa Waterkeeper, Inc is a non-profit organization dedicated to the protection, c
Caloosahatchee River and its watershed. CWK’s jurisdiction covers four counties in Southwest Florida and encompasses 1
Through advocacy, education, community engagement and science-based programs and research, Calusa Waterkeeper strives to ensure clean water for current and future generations that is drinkable, fishable, and swimmable For more information about Calusa Waterkeeper visit calusawaterkeeper org or call 239-899-1440
In addition, this was only possible thanks to the Gary Sinise Foundation for their donation of funds that paid for a large portion of this purchase
Benjamin Mickuleit Fire Chief
structure fire gear from LION PFAS has been known to increase the risk of cancer This is a huge accomplishment by the district to protect our firefighters. This new gear replaces our 10-year-old structure fire gear
‘Expedition’
■ Livelihood Corridor Connection – A Floridian whose livelihood/occupation is d i r e c t l y c o n n e c t e d t o t h e c o r r i d o r .
Examples include people working in the agricultural sector, ecotourism, aquacult u r e , s p o r t s m a n g u i d e s , e n v i r o n m e n t a l educators, or community leaders These occupations could be active, or the person can be retired
■ Spiritual Practice – A Floridian whose spirituality is connected to the significance of caring for the land This connection can come from any background of spirituality there is no one religion, practice, or spiritual journey being sought, rather the authentic ability to share a personal sense of connection to the lands, w
Florida
A l l t r a n s p o r
i o n n e e d s , h
n g requirements, and food will be provided to participants during the expedition All dietary requirements and restrictions will be documented and honored upon request There will be no cost to the trekkers who are selected
The foundation produces award-winning documentary films featuring those who undertake expeditions to explore atrisk connections in the corridor and the need for protection of the local lands and waterways
“We use high-quality storytelling to connect people to the Florida Wildlife Corridor, and the celebrations and challenges that happen around protecting the lands, waters, and wildlife of the corridor,” Freeze said
For this trek, the documentary will highlight “Corridor-connected communities” and the vision for connectivity across the landscape, and how the lands connect to the health and wellbeing of Southwest Floridians
“Keeping these lands open and connected as part of the Florida Wildlife Corridor brings so much value to the economy of Southwest Florida,” Freeze said “That’s a huge thing that we want to highlight in this documentary -- that livelihood connection that we really want represented in our trekkers The economy and the ecology of
Southwest Florida are inextricably connected ”
This is the seventh expedition of its kind, the first in this region of the corridor, organized by the foundation, the first having taken place in 2012
“What we’re doing now is really highlighting ‘hot-spots’ and critical areas that have yet to receive permanent conservation status within the Florida Wildlife Corridor geography,” Freeze said
The Florida Wildlife Corridor encompasses nearly 18 million acres 11 million acres are already protected, and 7 million acres of remaining irreplaceable gaps that do not have conservation protections Foundation officials state development throughout Florida is rapidly increasing, with an average of 1,000 people moving to the Sunshine State each day There are 900,000 acres of unprotected, high-priority vulnerable areas left in the corridor 500,000 of those acres are projected to be lost by 2030
“Southwest Florida has some of the highest development pressures in the entire state It’s a really ideal place for people to move We are not an organization that is anti-development, we just want to develop smart and figure out how communities can be built while maintaining corridor connection We have a vision for being able to speak to and provide resources to people to develop Corridor compatible communities
“The Southwest Florida area has some of the most fragile connections left in the corridor, with some of the greatest development pressures So we felt like it was important for us to turn our lenses to this region, and bring attention to and highlight the amazing people who are doing incredible work in this area ”
Don’t fret if you’re interested and are not selected, as Freeze said many aspects of the trek can be explored on one’s own
“No matter if you get picked to be an expeditioner or not, everybody in the Southwest Florida region can do parts of this expedition,” Freeze said. “We are traveling through some beautiful public lands in this region You can go and do exactly what we’re going to do through some of these incredible spaces ” Applicants must be at least 18 years old and a res-
C
, Glades, or Hendry Counties (proof of residency will be required) Trekkers will be chosen based on the quality of their answers in their
availability during the expedition and film rollout timeline Upon completing the
Foundation will notify the chosen applicants and all other applicants not selected by the end of August. All
application must be submitted no later than July 19
about the Florida Wildlife Corridor Foundation and to apply to take part in the expedition, visit www flori-
Pine Island FISH kicks off annual Basket Brigade clothing drive for island students
The 24th Annual Pine Island F I S H Basket Brigade
Clothes for Kids drive is currently in progress, offering assistance to families in need to ensure the children of Greater Pine Island have new clothing for the start of the school year
FISH needs donations and/or volunteers to help with purchasing items Others are needed onsite to either sharing services with our families or to provide samples or discount coupons for each student’s gift bag Personal care and grooming products, socks and other items designed to help island children prepare for school would be welcome Last year there were 198 students and similar numbers are expected this year in this program There is no charge for being involved
The clothing distribution will be Saturday, Aug 3, from 10 a.m. to noon in the Pine Island United Methodist Church parking lot, at 5701 Pine Island Road, at The Center by Fire Station 1 This will give parents almost a week before school starts to make exchanges and pur-
Summer school
From page 2
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
Spicker said they also offered a graduation boot camp, a summer program for students who need additional support in preparation for applicable EOC or state ELA FAST
“Students will take the EOC/FAST/Concordant Test during the summer state testing window,” he said High school students also had the opportunity to participate in a summer enrichment program, SOS, which offers exceptional learning opportunities through the arts, leadership, and career enrichment activities
chases, as needed
Some portions of the event may be inside to take advantage of the quiet and electricity
This year, FISH will be giving children 5-11 years of age, two tops, two bottoms, one package of underwear and a $40 gift card to purchase gym shoes and socks so they can take part in gym or recess Children 12-18 years of age will each receive $100 in gift cards designated as
$60 for clothes and $40 for gym shoes and socks A motivational note will be included in each child’s gift bag indicating what the gift cards are for and encouraging them to have a great school year.
Donations can be made online at Pine Island FISH website or by check, made out to Pine Island FISH Please note “Basket Brigade” in the memo section
For additional information, please contact Darcy Conner, Pine Island FISH Basket Brigade Chair, at 954816-9779
Pine Island FISH (Fellow Islanders Sending Help), is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and all-volunteer association of neighbors organized to help those living in the Matlacha and Pine Island communities The organization is currently seeking volunteers in a number of areas For more information visit www.pineislandfish.org.
Cat of the Week
Pickles
Poor Pickles was returned to us when his owner left him behind in her dorm room, and her roommates were unable to keep him He's only a year old and desperately looking for someone to love him. Like any young cat, Pickles loves to play. He also likes to help with the dishes - anything involving the sink intrigues him. Please give him another chance at a furever home! C
- 9
for more information If you’d
r
a
Parkway E, Unit D, St James City, FL, 33956, or there’s
sanctuary.com
Traffic reduction to single lane to continue during bridge construction in Matlacha
BARTOW, Fla – This weekly report was prepared by the Florida Department of Transportation to inform the public about upcoming road work in Southwest Florida.
Pine Island Road Causeway and Bridge Permanent Repairs
Construction project: As part of the Emergency Restoration of the Pine Island Road Causeway and Bridge, crews will b
in th
ies along CR 78 Pine Island Road from west of Little Pine Island Bridge (Bridge No 120111) to West of Shoreview Drive
■ Phase 1 of construction on Little Pine Island Bridge has begun. The bridge is reduced to one lane as part of the Phase 1 c o n s t
remain one lane through the duration of Phase 1 Temporary signals are placed on both ends of the bridge and variable message signs are in place to alert drivers
■ Motorists can expect occasional lane closures on the causeway for delivery/ removal of materials, transfer of equipment as crews perform work on the south side.
■ Please be alerted to construction equipment in the construction zone To maintain safety, motorists should find alternate parking areas
■ Pedestrians and bicyclists are not permitted within the construction zone
■ Please use caution and watch for workers and construction vehicles entering and exiting the roadway
■ Noise from construction equipment in the area is to be expected
Drivers are asked to please be patient and plan for additional travel time as it may be slower than usual in the area
Travelers can visit www FL511 com or dial “511” from their phone to learn about traffic conditions on major roadways across the state
United Policyholders available for hurricane recovery information
questions? Roadmap to recovery help is available Tuesday, July 16, from 10 a m to 2 p m , at the Greater Pine Island Alliance office at 10484 Stringfellow Road, Suite 2, St James City For addi-
tional information, contact Julitza Perez @julitza@uphelp org or 787-454-3353
o m U n i t e d Policyholders, which has been providing disaster recovery for over 30 years, is available at uphelp org/Ian
Darcy Conner
give back to the community
“I just like to be involved,” Conner said If Conner found herself somewhere other than here, where those around her had never heard of Pine Island, she said she would explain that this is a place like no other The opportunity to live in other cities has offered her a chance to experience the community offered here, which is more like being a part of a family, she said
“We are one big family and we help each other out, no matter what is happening, we are here for each other, and you don’t find that anywhere else,” Conner said
Even considering all the benefits of being a part of this community, which
GPICA
From page 1
Facebook page for the livestream For
o t h e r q u e s t i o n s , v i s i t G P I C A o r g F o r inquiries, email Info@GPICA org GPICA meetings take place at 6:30
From page 1
“We are one big family and we help each other out, no matter what is happening, we are here for each other, and you don’t find that anywhere else,”
Darcy Conner describing the island community
operates more like a family, in her opinion, Conner said her greatest wish for Pine Island would be that everyone could finally heal from Hurricane Ian
“We all need to fully recover and move past this Some of us have and some of us have not. I’m talking about all of us there are some people that are still struggling a lot and it’s painful,” Conner said
p m on the first Tuesday of every month at the First Baptist Church of Pine Island, 5363 Avenue D, Bokeelia, FL 33922 Members and non-members are welcome
GPICA recruiting new board members
If you’ve been wanting to be more involved in charting the course for Pine Island’s future, now is your opportunity! The GPICA is recruiting new members to fill out the remaining terms for recently vacated posts and to fill open seats on the board
To become a board member, you must s u p p o r t t h e o r g a n i z a t i o n ’ s i d e a l s o f responsible, smart-growth planning, the preservation of sensitive natural areas
and the importance of protecting the unique character of our rural and agricultural island community Board members must have joined the GPICA at least six months ago and be current in their dues If you have questions about serving on the board, would like to be considered for a term on the board or would like to nominate a fellow islander, please email y o u r c o n t a c t i n f o r m a t i o n t o I n f o @ GPICA org
The 2024
MangoMania
chamber events/mango mania/
“Overall, MangoMania is a celebration of all things mango, bringing together farmers and enthusiasts to enjoy the bounty of this beloved fruit We need everyone’s support of the island more than ever So, If you have a passion for mangoes or just want to have a fun day out with fami-
From page 1
ly and friends, be sure to mark your calendar for MangoMania It’s an experience you won’t want to miss,” Welch said Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal Church is at 2175 String Fellow Road, Bokeelia
For more about MangoMania, contact the chamber at 239-283-0888
LEE COUNTY VISITOR AND CONVENTION BUREAU
MangoMania tropical fruit fair will feature a plant sale, several mango competitions and educational seminars.
Fishing was good over holiday week
With the exception of random thunderstorms and heat, it was a good week on the water Calm seas and high new moon tides gave anglers ample fishing opportunities
T h e i n s h o r e m a n g r o v e snapper bite gets better each week as they are now abun-
d a n t t h r o u g h o u t t h e a r e a
Snapper up to 16 inches were caught from St James City up to Bokeelia in Pine Island
S o u n d a n d M a t l a c h a P a s s
The average size is larger in the Sound
With high water over most days they were caught around mangrove shorelines, off the
e d g e s o f o y s t e r b a r s a n d structure like docks, bridges and piers
During times of slow-moving water, limits of snapper were also caught fishing hard bottom and ledges around the Gulf passes.
To fool the larger snapper, it’s often necessary to lighten up the tackle Several
f e e t o f 1 2 t o 2 0 - p o u n d f l u o r o c a r b o n leader and a small #1 or 1/0 circle hook is a good start, rigged weightless or just enough weight to get in the target
z o n e I n s h o r e waters are abun-
d a n t w i t h s m a l l
b a i t f i s h s u c h a s pilchards, herring a n d p i n f i s h A l l are good baits as
are shrimp -- snapper have a small mouth, so smaller baits work best Small cut baits out-fish live baits at times Every day is different -- don’t be afraid to experiment to get the bite
d i a l e d i n N o
e snapper a great fight on light tackle, they are one of o
table
e a s e snook fishing gave good action over the incoming tides around the Gulf passe
C h a r l o t t e H a r b o r a n d around oyster bars on the western side of Pine Island
Sound Most were caught on live baitfish, however top-water lures worked over the early morning calm water got attention as well Many anglers hooked into snapper mixed with the snook.
Redfish and seatrout were reported in north Matlacha Pass and mid-Pine Island Sound Mixed size trout were caught over 4 to 7-foot grass flats from Red Light Shoals north to the fish shacks in the S o u n
Smokehouse Bay Larger seatrout, some over 20 inches, were hooked around oyster bars on the high water
Redfish up to 29 inches were sighted along bar edges around Charlotte Harbor and northern Pine Island Sound. Smaller reds, from 18-24 inches were caught along shorelines near Big Jim Creek, the east side of Captiva Island, and Indian Fields in northern Matlacha Pass
PHOTO PROVIDED
Happy anglers with American red snapper and a mix of other fish They were fishing west of Boca Grande Pass with Salty Boy Charters out of Jug Creek Marina in Bokeelia
With calm seas, anglers are making the long run to fill the box with large snapper Running west to depths 140 and d
snapper, plus porgy and an occasional black or scamp grouper Red snapper season is closed for the month of August
Keep up to date with fishing regulations and seasons in the area you fish, as
state and federal regulations. Also, you can upload the Fish Rules app on your phone It has current regulations and seasons with pictures to help identify fish If you have a fishing report or for charter information, please contact us at Gulf Coast Guide Service at (239) 4108576, on the web at www fishpineisland com or email: 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 a
Southwest Florida, and as a
guide for the past 23 years
Prescribed fire cancelled
A prescribed fire on the island that was scheduled for Saturday, July 6, was
conducted by the Conservation Foundation of the Gulf Coast, was set for the
Matlacha Pass. The fire will be conducted at a later date
For more information on prescribed fires, please see the Florida Forest Service
Fire or Conservation Foundation’s video blog, Episode 31 - fire methods or 32-34 – Fire benefits.
Capt. Bill Russell On the Water
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