Cape Coral Weekend Breeze

City to break ground for Festival Park

Keith Long, Cape Coral City Councilmember

By MEGHAN BRADBURY news@breezenewspapers

By CHUCK BALLARO news@breezenewspapers com

Sympathy and donations continue to come in for the family of a Cape Coral teen who drowned last week off a beach on Sanibel

Isaac Breese, 17, went missing on July 2 after a swimming accident at Sanibel’s Blind Pass that also involved two other swimmers

A GoFundMe set up for the family of the youth describes Breese as “kindhearted, determined, genuine friend, leader, role model, and team player ”

It states he was trying to save one of his friends

His body was found on July 4 following a two-day search that involved local agencies. The two other swimmers who were in distress in the rough waters were rescued Breese played soccer at North Fort Myers High School, where he had been the Red Knights’ starting goalkeeper for two years, where he was also captain, and helped the team to its first winning season since 2006-07

He was about to start his senior year

Breese had also played with the Florida West FC team since 2020, which sent out a statement in the wake his death

Statewide system shutdown delaying death certificates

Funeral parlors using manual system to provide documents while Department of Vital Statistics works to resolve issue

By MEGHAN BRADBURY news@breezenewspapers com

It’s taking longer to process and receive death certificates in Florida

The Florida Department of Health Vital Statistics system has been down since last month, leaving funeral homes and health care facilities forced to process certificates offline and by hand

Efforts are continuing to resolve the problem, state officials said

“We are working around the clock to restore the online Vital Statistics system,” said State Surgeon General Dr Joseph Ladapo in a prepared statement “The majority of department operations and services remain operational and unchanged ”

Florida Department of Health Deputy Communications Director Jae Williams wrote in an email that the agency is working diligently to resolve the temporary outage impacting the online Vital Statistics system

“To facilitate continued operations of death certificates, the Department has worked closely with funeral homes

“We are still functioning We are able to function and create death certificates and get copies It’s just in a much slower manner than typically what happened before ”

Timothy Hauck, managing partner and funeral director of Fuller Metz Cremation & Funeral Services, who said they first noticed that the statewide system was down on June 28

and health care facilities to implement offline procedures during this period These instructions have been provided to all licensed funeral directors statewide In addition, all county health departments have been provided the necessary resources to issue death certificates offline during this time,” Williams wrote “We also request the support from health care facilities and physicians to expedite handsigned death certificates This collaboration across all partners will assist families in navigating difficult times with minimal disruption.”

Timothy Hauck, managing partner and funeral director of Fuller Metz Cremation & Funeral Services said they first noticed that the statewide system was down on June 28

“It’s statewide They really haven’t conveyed to us what the issue is All we know is it’s down,” he said With the electronic system down, Hauck said they have

reverted back to a more manual system, which is how they used to do things before the digital format was provided Now, without the digital format, most death certificates are done via fax The paperwork is sent to the physician, who completes the medical portion and returns it with a signature From there the form is hand delivered to the local health department

“We are still functioning,” Hauck said “We are able to function and create death certificates and get copies It’s just in a much slower manner than typically what happened before ”

Although there are a lot of factors involved on how quickly a death certificate becomes available it is taking probably a week to two weeks longer to process, he said Hauck said in a normal world it would take roughly 10 to 14 days for families to get copies of death certificates back

“We weren’t able to order death certificates until this week,” Hauck said of ordering the copies

Williams said that county health departments are still able to issue copies of birth certificates for individuals born before June 28, 2024, and those on or after the date, the department is working with hospitals to continue manual processing of birth certificates

“For families seeking assistance, all county health departments are prepared to provide guidance and support,” Williams said

Individuals can locate their local county health department at: FloridaHealth gov, and email any questions or

VitalStats@flhealth gov

OPINIONS

CAPE CORAL BREE ZE

RAYMOND M. ECKENRODE Publisher

VALARIE HARRING, Executive Editor

CHRIS STRINE, Editor

2510 Del Prado Blvd • Cape Coral, FL, 33904

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

Member Florida Press Association

Voter Anthem

Election 2024 is a full-bore train wreck in the making:

Competing freighters shakin’ and quakin’ at full speed, collision course be damned

B o x c a r s l o a d e d w i t h a m m u n i t i o n , e x p l o s i v e s a n d rhetorical bombshells

Stockcars packed with the oblivious and the faithful. Aging engines afire, it’s full throttle ahead

And here we are, the voters, tied to the tracks

Who said politics aren’t exciting?

Or, at times, wretchedly melodramatic

This is one of those times

Fortunately, we, the voters, are loosely bound

We, the voters, have the ability to throw off the shackles of partisan politics as they currently exist

We, the voters, have the power to shed the colors of “team” loyalty when warranted

For it is the precepts of us-against-them, win-by-anymeans, party-first politics that have set both trains on the track

We, the voters, have the responsibility to demand better of both candidates and their respective sides of the aisle

We, the voters, have an obligation, a duty a constitutional duty to focus on the man, the message and the mission no matter whether he wears a lapel pin of the red or the blue

For in our constitutional republic, our loyalty is to our system of government with its balances of power, its adherence to law and its guarantee of individual rights

To that end, we, the silent appalled majority, must demand campaigns of honor and commitment to the core principles upon which our country was built.

We, the silent appalled majority, must demand campaigns that focus less on demagoguery and more on facts

We, the silent appalled majority, must eschew hyperbole, grandiose promises and raging rhetoric and concentrate on policy, platform, past performance and future potential

We, the silent appalled majority, must pull the brake cord and demand leadership and full presidential presence on the campaign trail by those who seek our vote

We each must then cast our ballot accordingly

Or we must accept that we, the people, are the fuel that is powering the current off-the-rails political engine of America.

Breeze editorial

This week’s poll question:

Should Biden step out of the Presidential race?

∫ Yes

∫ No

∫ It doesn’t matter to me

Vote at capecoralbreeze com

Previous poll question

Do you use city parks or take part in programs?

∫

∫

∫

*

City has utmost respect for veterans, Jaycee Park controversy was self-made

Last week, I received a personally upsetting email accusing Cape Coral City Council and the city of dishonoring veterans by taking down over 200 yellow ribbons, flags and veterans’ names that were attached to trees at Jaycee Park The person who wrote the email called me and the rest of council “a disgrace to this city ”

To someone who holds veterans and first responders in the highest esteem for their actions in protecting our freedoms and our safety, this was a blatant assault on my character and integrity as well as the rest of council’s.

In no way would myself, other members of council or city staff ever disrespect who veterans are, what they stand for and the sacrifices they have made What this inappropriate email illustrated was the disrespect this person and others involved in the Save Jaycee Park and “Honoring the Trees” campaigns clearly have for our veterans This act of placing ribbons, pictures and flags on the trees wasn’t about veterans at all It was a shameful example of using veterans as pawns and as leverage to lash out at the city for wanting to remove environmentally harmful and invasive Australian pines on the shoreline of the park and to renovate the park.

Let’s put the facts in place:

One, this group that placed the ribbons, flags and names around the Australian pines did not have permission to do so City maintenance workers did remove the items They are instructed to do so when groups do not have permission in any of our parks Unpermitted items are removed to help keep our parks clean The Jaycee Park items were not discarded but placed in a bin for the organizers to pick up

Two, and as our city manager Mike Ilczyszyn, who is a veteran, has stated in a previous article, the city, county and state, as well as our municipalities, have rules in place pertaining to memorials, flags, ribbons, advertising and other items to keep our parks clean and free of debris

Three, Cape Coral honors its veterans in many ways We are a designated Purple Heart City We have a downtown parade for Veterans Day We have three parking spaces in the city reserved for veterans, including one Purple Heart space at City Hall We worked with Lee County to open an office in Cape Coral for veterans services Last year, for the first time, we honored our country and military with a Flag Day When people pass over the Veterans

See GUEST COMMENTARY, page 8

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Help celebrate city’s owl grant

To the editor:

Please come out to the Cape Coral City Council meeting next Wednesday to celebrate the council approving a Florida Wildlife Commission’s Grant for $900,000 to the city of Cape Coral to buy lots with burrowing owls on them

Cape Coral Friends of Wildlife asked for the grant, and we got it for the city. Help us cheer the council chambers for the Cape’s wildlife Before I go any further, I want to emphasize that no taxpayer money will be used to buy the lots This money all comes from the money you give to destroy an owl burrow when you wish to build on the lot with a burrow on it They call this a mitigation fee

So please come to the City Council meeting on July 17 at 4:30 p m in chambers and help CCFW’s mission Tell the council green space makes happy voters and thank them for voting to buy environmental lots with owls on them

Then come right after the vote to party with us at Maria’s Pizzeria and Italian Restaurant at 1224 S E 46th Lane in Cape Coral after the council passes the grant and congratulate CCWT and CCFW buying more than 70 lots with burrowing owls and gopher tortoises on them and even the city now doing this for the owls We get a percentage on everything you will purchase that evening so eat lots of pizza or a huge dinner Or donate a large sum and help us buy a lot Everyone is welcome Of course, if not a member we urge you to become one Don’t have to be a member to eat with us but mention us so we can get our percentage of money There will be a mystery birthday cake as well

Hope to see you there The owls thank you

Carl Veaux Cape Coral

Flags, veterans and code double standards

To the editor:

I am not happy to see that our Cape city manager, as a veteran himself, supported the taking down of flags honoring veterans “The policies are to keep parks clean and free of clutter It’s just a matter of practice ” The Parks and Rec director, Mr Petrella, is so knowledgeable of First Amendment rights he gives us a discourse on it Is the

First Amendment clutter as well?

Where is the matter of practice for the city utilities to come and plant grass after they dig for a leak? Or the city road crew to fix pot holes in the streets or our Code Enforcement being proactive in keeping the Cape blight free?

We can be a Purple Heart city and honor veterans which the city and Council does a good job of doing Let’s put the council’s money where their mouth is. Any 100% disabled veteran still pays the city fees of over $800 a year The city needs to pay this for the disabled veterans The council gave themselves a huge stipend going around the city charter So give us veterans an $800 stipend a year

Mr Ilczyszyn closes with “city staff administers the code There are no winners or losers ” Yes The WINNERS are all the city hall bureaucrats making six figures in salary as well as City Council The LOSERS are veterans, elderly, young men and women Cape citizens trying to stay afloat financially, all committees, including the code enforcement committee formed to deal with substandard contractors Caveat emptor

Is that the First Amendment, Mr Ilczyszyn and Mr Petrella? Is this following the codes or eliminating the First Amendment and any input from the citizens because the City Council and the administrators want to do it their way or no way?

Lou Navarra Cape Coral

Vote Kilraine

To the editor:

I am Joe Kilraine’s wife We have been married for 52 years I know him to be one of the kindest, gentlest, warmest men you would ever hope to meet But, when a problem, a concern enters into his life, he becomes a warrior He will not be intimidated by anyone Joe will listen and he will fight for what is right

He has been a leader and has risen to the top in every instance from early school days and through his entire career Entry level to senior exec I am very proud to say, on every occasion he has never forgotten his humble coal mining family roots and has always been a defender and fighter for those left behind

We have been blessed to have raised four beautiful, well- accomplished daughters and have five grandkids After traveling the world, we chose the Cape 20 years ago,

See LETTERS, page 6

Tom Hayden Guest Commentary

The stakes are high: Two years after the fall of Roe

Two years ago, the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v Wade marked a seismic shift in American reproductive rights The repercussions have been swift and severe, with sweeping changes that jeopardize the health and autonomy of countless individuals As we navigate the post-Roe landscape, the stakes could not be higher

In the aftermath of the Supreme Court’s decision, nearly half of the states in the U.S. have enacted strict abortion bans or severe restrictions States such as Texas, Oklahoma, Missouri, and 11 other states have implemented near-total bans, effectively cutting off access to abortion care for millions of people These laws have created a patchwork of reproductive healthcare access, where the legality and availability of abortion are determined by geographic location rather than personal choice and medical need This inconsistency forces many to travel long distances, often at great personal and financial cost, to seek the care they need At the Women’s Reproductive Rights Assistance Project, we have noticed 54% of patients are traveling this year to another state for care

One of the critical fronts in the war against reproductive rights is the battle over mifepristone, a medication used in over half of all abortions in the U S Mifepristone, combined with misoprostol, and approved by the FDA has been a safe and effective method for medication abortion for decades However, while the recent SCOTUS ruling is a victory, it only addressed the issue of “standing,” leaving the abortion pill still under threat Anti-abortion legislators and activists have targeted mifepristone with the aim of limiting its distribution or banning it altogether This would have devastating consequences, further reducing

access to safe abortion care and disproportionately affecting those in marginalized communities who already face significant barriers to healthcare

The fall of Roe has also emboldened efforts to restrict or ban other aspects of reproductive health, including IVF and contraception. Legislative attempts to define personhood at the moment of fertilization could severely impact IVF treatments Such measures could drastically limit the options for individuals and couples struggling with infertility

Sylvia Ghazarian Guest

Commentary

Moreover, contraception, once considered a settled issue, is now under scrutiny Proposals to ban certain forms of contraception, such as emergency contraception and IUDs, are gaining traction These efforts threaten to roll back decades of progress in reproductive health and autonomy, potentially leading to higher rates of unintended pregnancies and further exacerbating social and economic inequalities.

Perhaps most alarming is a national abortion ban Project 2025, a comprehensive plan put forth by conservative activists, outlines a strategy to implement nationwide restrictions on abortion This plan, if enacted, would override state laws that protect abortion rights and impose a uniform ban across the country Such a move would represent an unprecedented federal intrusion into personal healthcare decisions and fundamentally alter the landscape of reproductive rights in America

In addition to restrictive laws, there is a

From page 4

to be our home for however long the Lord blesses us to survive

I have watched him agonize over recent developments and the current state of our city under its current elected leadership I knew his next mission to get things on track and lead the way to make the future Cape great for all was destined to soon be launched.

He will be that champion and defender of the citizens’ voice and ensure the Cape becomes that great place we all love and call home for today, tomorrow and into the future I would also like to send a message to those who might be aligned to some other agenda than the above, it is only a matter of time until this ground swell of resident support will bring positive change, join the team

If you care about our city our community as Joe does, then please vote for him Our August Primary is critically important Help Joe Kilraine be your voice on our City Council You won’t be sorry

Pat Kilraine, Cape Coral

Read, research, before you vote

To the editor:

Agenda 47 is the formal policy plan of Donald Trump if he returns to the White House He finds Project 2025 to be too explicit especially now that SCOTUS has given him the green light to do anything he wants as an “official” act as President no matter how illegal that act would be for any other U S citizen or Democratic POTUS Only SCOTUS can decide what is “official” and what is not Trump already appointed three untruthful judges I seem to recall all three stating that Roe v Wade was settled law in order to get confirmation That was part of the scheme and now the person who appointed them wants us to believe that if he becomes POTUS again he would not support a national law making abortion, birth control or gay marriage illegal Hahahaha! I hate shell games

The 2024 Election is not about two old white guy candidates either of whom could be dead or incarcerated by election day It is about good vs evil in the Party Platforms It is about uplifting the rights and benefits of working class people in our country vs the right of our oligarchs to make and keep more MONEY and POWER for themselves and doing so by destroying every part of

growing trend to criminalize doctors, patients, and anyone who assists individuals seeking abortion care These punitive measures not only create a climate of fear but also deter healthcare providers from offering essential services

Criminalizing abortion care endangers both the providers and the patients, discouraging the practice and further reducing access to safe abortions

The implications of these developments extend far beyond those directly seeking abortion care The erosion of reproductive rights is a threat to the fundamental principle of bodily autonomy, a cornerstone of personal freedom and dignity When the state can dictate whether and when individuals can have children, it undermines the ability of all people to make essential decisions about their lives and futures

Moreover, these restrictions disproportionately impact marginalized communities, including people of color, low-income individuals, and LGBTQ+ individuals These groups often face the highest barriers to healthcare and are least able to travel long distances or navigate complex legal landscapes to obtain care As such, the ongoing assault on reproductive rights exacerbates existing social and health inequities, entrenching systemic injustices even further

In this critical moment, it is imperative to recognize that reproductive rights are human rights The fight to preserve and expand

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

our government as we know it: World class education in every ZIP code, regulatory agencies that keep us safe from toxic air and water, the right to decide if and when to have children, who to love and marry, maintaining our infrastructure, creating jobs, affordable healthcare for all, reforming our courts and criminal justice system, combating the climate crisis, dealing with immigration and international problems, separation of church (which one?) and state Do we want to be an autocracy like Putin’s Russia, Orban’s Hungary or do we want to improve our own fragile Democracy? Unless you are a bazilionaire, the only logical votes cast should be to support the Democratic platform and give the Democratic POTUS the Senate and House members needed to right this ship

If you can read this, you can Google Democratic Party Platform, Project 2025 and Agenda 47 Or watch “Bad Faith” documentary on Apple TV, Amazon Prime, Google Play or YouTube on how Christian Nationalists are tearing apart our Democracy by spreading fear and anger And encourage everyone you know to do a little research before they vote

Lynn A. Hagedorn Cape Coral

The Sunshine State

To the editor:

If the author(s)’intent was for the “Sunshine Law” to make available anything most citizens want to know, they gave us a Rubik Cube challenge

I have asked different basic questions of many officials, state and local, elected and managerial to which the answers should be straight forward SILENCE!

One question in particular I asked of Gov DeSantis, Rep Jenna Persons-Mulicka, Sen Bob Rommel, and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection is how much the cleanup at Piney Point is costing the taxpayers and how much of the cost is being borne by the polluter SILENCE!

In Lee County I have asked numerous questions about the Lee County Board of County Commissioner meetings I was given some answers, mostly incomplete, and when I followed up there was SILENCE When questioned specifically about the June meeting, Commissioner Pendergrass told me it was not the commissioners’ responsibility to answer my questions, that I should go directly to the responsible department I thought the county manager would have the answers so I

access to abortion, contraception, and other reproductive health services is not just a women’s issue it is a human issue The ability to control one’s reproductive destiny is fundamental to achieving equality and justice for all

We must resist efforts to impose draconian restrictions on reproductive healthcare and work towards policies that ensure everyone has the freedom to make their own healthcare decisions. This means supporting local and national organizations like WRRAP, advocating for laws that protect reproductive rights, and voting for leaders who are committed to upholding these fundamental freedoms This November, two years after the overturning of Roe v Wade, Floridians get the chance to enshrine abortion access into their constitution with Amendment 4, Florida Right to Reproductive Freedom Initiative Several other states are also working to protect abortion rights through their state constitutions

The stakes are high, but we cannot afford to be complacent The future of reproductive rights and the broader fight for human dignity and equality depends on our collective action Now more than ever, we must stand together to protect the right to safe, legal, and accessible reproductive healthcare for all

Sylvia Ghazarian is executive director of the Women’s Reproductive Rights Assistance Project, WRRAP, a nonprofit abortion fund that provides financial assistance on a national level to those seeking abortion or emergency contraception She is an active Council member on the California Future of Abortion Council and past Chair of The Commission on the Status of Women

reached out to County Manager Dave Harner He told me to look at the agenda and find my answers there I did and followed every link available, finding that almost none of the answers were available I sent my questions back to County Manager Harner, highlighting in yellow the ones for which there were no answers SILENCE!

At the Fort Myers City level, Mayor Anderson has always responded to my questions I asked questions of Ms HyltonTerry, CRA, and Councilperson Darla Bonk about different city subjects SILENCE! I mentioned this lack of response to Mayor Anderson. SILENCE!

Looking for sunshine? Look to the sky That’s the only place in Florida where you will find “sunshine ” Norman Cannon Fort Myers

Clean water is Florida’s lifeline

To the editor:

Clean water is fundamental for the well-being of both humans and the environment With its extensive coastal areas, wetlands, and diverse ecosystems, Florida heavily relies on clean water for drinking, agriculture, tourism, and wildlife conservation.

Ten ways in which water quality is important:

1 Drinking water: Access to high-quality drinking water is essential to protect against waterborne illnesses and safeguard public health

2 Recreation: Clean water supports recreational activities like swimming, boating, and fishing

3 Ecosystem health: For rivers, lakes, and oceans to thrive and remain strong, they depend on clean water being available

4 Housing development: Poor water quality leads to lower home values

5 Economic growth: Industries rely on water for manufacturing, energy production, and other commercial activities.

6 Agriculture: Quality water is essential for irrigation and livestock watering to sustain productivity and prevent contamination of food crops

7 Biodiversity: Water quality impacts the diversity of aquatic life by providing suitable habitats for various species

8 Natural resource management: Water quality plays a key role in managing natural resources such as wetlands, f o r e s t s , a n d w i l d l i f e h a b i t a t s

Guest Commentary: Veterans owed an apology

From page 4

Memorial Bridge into Cape Coral, they see several monuments honoring veterans from many wars in our memorial area at Eco Park We also have a Veterans Park in the city

The real dishonesty by those who placed the ribbons, flags and names was using those who have sacrificed for our country as a ruse to advance their cause to save the trees I believe it was purposely done to draw attention to their cause of saving the park, not to honor veterans My guess is they knew the park rules, knew they didn’t have permission to put these up and knew they would be taken down so they could mislead the public into believing this was another attempt by the city to punish residents. Australian pines are listed as invasive by

From page 6

many reputable and respected organizations who have the scientific research to support these trees erode coastlines and choke out other native vegetation that provide critical wildlife habitat Its wind-driven seeds will only cause more invasive trees to grow and provide continued environmental damage

We are always looking for new and respectful ways to honor our veterans In the future, we can look at allowing groups to put up veterans tributes or memorials at our parks for a short time during designated times of the year when we honor our veterans

But for now, the Save Jaycee Park organizers owe our veterans and this city an apology

Tom Hayden is a Cape Coral City Council member, representing District 3

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Trump is not a ‘convicted felon’

To the editor:

i r , a n d b i o d i v e r s i t y

I n F l o r i d a , c l e a n w a t e r i s n ’ t j u s t a

n e c e s s i t y b u t a l i f e l i n e E n s u r i n g c l e a n

w a t e r i s c r u c i a l t o p r o t e c t p u b l i c h e a l t h ,

s u p p o r t o u r e c o n o m y , a n d p r e s e r v e o u r

s t a t e ’ s n a t u r a l b e a u t y . L e t ’ s j o i n f o r

President Trump is not yet considered a convicted felon and will not be until the judge enters a judgment of guilt In New York, this judgment was expected to be entered on July 11, which was the same day as Trump’s sentencing The sentencing was postponed until at least September after the judge agreed to weigh the possible impact of a new Supreme Court ruling on presidential immunity Trump was convicted on May 30 on 34 counts of falsifying business records related to a hush money payment to porn actor Stormy Daniels just before the 2016 presidential election2 However, until the judge formally enters the judgment, he remains legally innocent Robert Pizzolongo Cape Coral

Lee School’s Back to School Rush set for July 20

By MEGHAN BRADBURY news@breezenewspapers com

The School District of Lee County will hold a Back to School Rush event again this year for students new to the district who have not received their physical, or completed their enrollment for the upcoming school year

“Back to School Rush is an opportunity to knock down barriers that can prevent some students from being ready for the start of school We bring together the services families need, in one place at one time, so they can have their child in a classroom on the first day of school,” district spokesperson Rob Spicker said “For instance, we know there are about 2,600 students entering seventh grade that don’t have the state required Tdap vaccine They will be turned away from attending school until they have it and getting an appointment right now is difficult The Health Department will be on site to provide them, no appointment necessary ”

The Back to School Rush event will be

“Back to School Rush is an opportunity to knock down barriers that can prevent some students from being ready for the start of school

We bring together the services families need, in one place at one time, so they can have their child in a classroom on the first day of school

For instance, we know there are about 2,600 students entering seventh grade that don’t have the state required Tdap vaccine They will be turned away from attending school until they have it and getting an appointment right now is difficult. The Health Department will be on site to provide them, no appointment necessary.”

Rob

Spicker, School District of Lee County spokesperson

held from 9 a m to 2 p m Saturday, July 20, at the Lee County Public Education Center, 2855 Colonial Blvd

The first rush was held in 2019 before it resumed again last year

“Last year we had more than 300 people in attendance,” Spicker said “One hundred and sixty-four students were given a free school physical This year we anticipate higher attendance, and more than 200 students

will be given a free school physical exam ”

He said Student Enrollment helps new students complete their enrollment, and Lee Health provides back to school physicals. There are a host of other organizations that provide a helping hand at the event

“The Health Department provides the Tdap vaccine Kidscare is there for access to health insurance The United Way can connect families to available resources Project

Access supports homeless students Lee Virtual School is meeting potential students, and our recruiters are engaging with potential employees,” Spicker said

There is no cost for the vaccines and no registration is necessary to take part in the event

“Parents should know the back-to- school physical being offered is not the same as a sports physical that students need to participate in athletics. What is being provided at the Back to School Rush meets the state requirements to attend school Students who want to participate in athletics must see their pediatrician, or a attend a school-sponsored sports physical event for the proper exam and necessary paperwork,” Spicker said “The Health Department will also not be able to transfer out of state records to Florida at the Back to School Rush Parents who need that service must visit the Health Department during the week ”

School-based BreakSpot program locations set to close Thursday, ‘rural sites’ on July 31

By MEGHAN BRADBURY news@breezenewspapers com

The majority of the School District of Lee County’s school-based BreakSpot program locations will close for the summer next Thursday while the other summer feeding locations will end on July 31

The eight rural sites that were added to the list this year, providing grab-and- go meal options, had a great turnout

“We are pleased with the turnout so far, with some sites serving as many as 300 meals a day,” district spokesperson Rob Spicker said “On average, about 570 children are receiving a grab-and-go breakfast

“We are pleased with the turnout so far, with some sites serving as many as 300 meals a day. On average, about 570 children are receiving a grab-and-go breakfast or lunch every day. Those that come on Friday also get breakfast and lunch for the weekend. ”

or lunch every day Those that come on Friday also get breakfast and lunch for the weekend ”

The rural locations include Buckingham

Palms at Pine Island, Pine Island; Phillips Park, Pine Island; All Saints Byzantine Catholic Church, North Fort Myers; Alva

Gateway.

Spicker said participating do not have to be present at the eight sites It is required that parents and guardians confirm that they are picking up a meal for the child and taking it to them

The community participation at the noncongregated feeding sites are about the same as last year, he said

Individuals are encouraged to check SummerBreakspot org before going to a site for updated information

There are no income requirements, or registration Anyone 18 or younger may receive a meal

The next Southwest Florida Ag Expo will be held from Feb 27, through March 9, 2025, at the Lee County Civic Center complex, 11831 Bayshore Road, North Fort Myers

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s i o n a i r e s , w h i l e t h e v e n d o r s i n s i d e t h e

C i v i c C e n t e r t y p i c a l l y g i v e o u t i n f o r m a -

t i o n , a d v e r t i s e t h e i r b u s i n e s s , o r s e l l i t e m s T h e r e a r e d i f f e r e n t r e q u i r e m e n t s f o r t h e v e n d o r s a n d c o n c e s s i o n a i r e s , s u c h a s t h e i r p o w e r n e e d s a n d t h e

s p e c i f i c n u m b e r o f v e n

Art is Essential:

From page 1

“We weren’t expecting it These cuts affect almost 600 art associations across the state,” she said. “According to the state’s own calculations, arts and culture provide a 9-to-1 return on investment By my calculations, the $1 8 million (local) cuts equate to an economic loss of over $ 1 6 2 m i l l i o n f o r L e e C o u n t y a l o n e Statewide, this funding loss translates to an estimated $288 million in missed returns!”

The arts culture has always been vibrant and robust but has taken a number of heavy hits, Rowan-Deckart said

“I am deeply concerned of COVID, the hurricane, and this we won’t survive this,” she said. “It’s not about the artist. It really is about the cultural vibrancy of Lee County What kind of state would we be without the arts? Florida has an amazing art scene it’s across the state He didn’t scrape the cultural programs run by local art agencies He cut funding across the board ”

The arts are a significant economic driver one of the top five a $3 billion a year industry, she said

“We provide tourism and jobs The added benefit is mental health and education,” Rowan-Deckart said

The Arts & Economic Prosperity 6 an economic and social impact study of the nation’s nonprofit arts and cultural industry

s t a t e d t h a t L e e C o u n t y g e n e r a t e d $135 3 million in economic activity, supported 2,516 jobs, provided $72 3 million in household income, which resulted in $23 4 million in tax revenue

There were 20 Lee County entities r a n g i n g f r o m j u s t u n d e r $ 2 0 , 0 0

o $150,000 in grant monies that were eligible for the $1.8 million in funding. Collier County had more than $2 million allocated

The matching grant through the division of Cultural Affairs is a high bar to meet Information sought includes a threeyear budget, past and present; attendance, number of free and accessible programs, number of people who come through the doors, scholarships, diversity, equity, and inclusion

“ W e a p p l y y e a r l y , ” R o w a n - D e c k a r t said, which this year included 60 pages

It is not a given that grants will be provided

The Division of Arts and Culture was created in 1969, she said, adding that this never happened before

Support of the arts may have wavered, but less has never resulted in not being funded

“That money subsidizes programming not in the reach of the average public The theater tickets that are $15 to $18 on average becomes a $50 ticket,” she said

Ar t is Essential

launched a campaign, Art is Essential, to help retain programs and people

To that end, they are calling for monthly donors 150 art lovers to commit to $50 a month

“These monthly donations sustain the arts,” Alliance for the Arts Executive Director Molly Rowan-Deckart said “We can still run all of our programming and keep the impact that we currently have.”

Smaller and more frequent donations are most helpful in keeping things going Donations can be made at www artin lee org/art-is-essential/

Last year the Alliance for the Arts received $68,000 This year they were eligible to receive $131,000

“The new fiscal year for the state starts i n J u l y B u d g

, ” Rowan-Deckart said “It’s an immediate g u

$11,000 this month alone (lost).”

The Alliance for the Arts serves about 140,000 people a year

“We are deeply committed to maintaining our free and assessable programming,” she said

The Alliance for the Arts has revamped its Family Art Lab, which provides free hands-on art lessons for families in the area They also offer little or no-cost access to art resources

“We are not going to be cutting those Unfortunately, we are going to have to make staffing cuts, furloughing an extra d

charged for before,” Rowan-Deckart said

The Alliance for the Arts has launched a campaign, Art is Essential She said they have not recovered yet from COVID, or Hurricane Ian, and know the timing is crummy to ask the community to come to their aid

“We now have to look to our community to help the arts keep going and being assessable,” she said

They are calling for monthly donors 150 art lovers to commit to $50 a month, so they do not have to change anything

“These monthly donations sustain the arts,” Rowan-Deckart said “We can still run all of our programming and keep the impact that we currently have ”

She said it is helpful to have smaller and more frequent donations

Donations can be made at www artinlee org/art-is-essential/

20 or ganizations in Lee County affected

Gov Ron DeSantis vetoed the entire legislature-approved grant appropriation for the arts, affecting more than 600 organizations across the state.

In Lee County, the veto impact was more than $1 8 million

Organizations affected include 20 in Lee County:

■ Florida Repertory Company, Inc , $150,000

■ Gulf Coast Symphony Orchestra, Inc , $150,000

■ Quality Life Center of Southwest Florida, Inc $25,000

■ Southwest Florida Symphony Orchestra and Chorus Association, Inc , $143,874

■ Shell Museum and Educational Foundation, Inc , $150,000

■ Grand Piano Series, $58,640

■ Lee County Alliance of the Arts, Inc , $131,000

■ Symphonic Chorale of Southwest Florida, Inc , $26,164

■ Florida Gulf Coast University Board of Trustees, $35,000

■ Gulfshore Opera, Inc , $116,296

■ Florida Arts, Inc , $148,665

■ The Sanibel Historical Museum and Village Inc , $25,000

■ "Ding" Darling Wildlife Society, Inc , $150,000

■ Barrier Island Group for the Arts, Inc , $150,000

■ Center for the Arts of Bonita Springs, $150,000

■ Royal Palm Players, Inc , $25,000

■ Passion Rescue Mission, $25,000

■ Jewish Federation of Lee and Charlotte Counties, $19,938

■ Cultural Park Theater Company Inc $25,000

■ City of Cape Coral, cultural facilities, $100,000 $1,804,577

Should the stipend approved by Cape Coral City Council in addition to member salaries be retained, rescinded or modified?

❑ Laurie LehMann

R e g a r d i n g t h e s t i p e n d : I T S H O U L D B E RESCINDED/STOPPED WITHOUT QUESTION AND MONIES TAKEN SHOULD BE RETURNED The stipend should never have been voted on by the current city council. The question of an increase in council’s salaries should have been voted on by the voters PRIOR TO it ever being instituted The current council accepted the positions knowing what the salaries were and without a vote by the people the salaries should not change other than COLA increases

❑

Craig unroe SaveCapeCor al.com

I am against the stipend and feel it needs to be rescinded on day one. What the current council did was wrong many levels They took away the voters’ right to vote on a pay raise, then nearly doubled their salary Not only was this action a slap in the face to voters but also a slap in the face to other city employees

The stipend should be rescinded and never should have taken place I have entered this race knowing the compensation, and the current council knew the compensation when they signed on for their tenure I’m not in this race for the money let the citizens decide if the council needs a raise I’m in favor of taking the appropriate action to be sure this injustice can not happen again. Less oversight, more transparency

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

I believe that the stipend should be rescinded due to the way that it was passed without debate In addition, I believe that the salaries of all employees of the city should be reviewed and adjusted to be in the 85th percentile of market rates This would allow the city to attract and retain top talent. Due to increases in the cost of living, there are currently 60 unfilled positions with the city and we continue to lose high-quality staff due to competition with the private market

AbOUT CApE COrAl CIT y COUNCIl

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

The stipend should be rescinded In every conversation I have had with residents thus far, the stipend has been the centerpiece My personal philosophy is that NO elected body that uses taxpayer dollars should have the authority to grant themselves ANY type of compensation If a council sees a need for additional compensation, a committee of citizens should be involved where they thoroughly research the issue That item is placed city council’s regular meeting agenda under new business whereby the committee shares its findings and recommendations. Council then moves the item forward to the ballot where our voters ultimately decide

I feel the stipend should be rescinded I also would like to see the city charter changed so that future councils could never do this again In order for future council members to increase their salary a referendum should be made by a council member to put it on the ballot and for the voters of Cape Coral to decide if their salary should be increased I will not take one penny of this stipend

❑ Dan ShepparD (inCuMbent)

UESTION OF THE WEEK Q

Should the stipend approved by Cape Coral City Council in addition to member salaries be retained, rescinded or modified?

PrImary ElEcTION - DISTrIcT 4

❑ RIchaRD caRR (Incumbent)

VoteRichcar r.com

I am a sitting Councilmember who did not participate in the vote to approve the stipend because my appointment to the council occurred after the vote I do not receive the stipend, and my stance is clear: The stipend should be rescinded due to the way it was implemented Compensation changes should only occur through a referendum to amend the city charter Although the stipend has been deemed legal, it undermines public trust and detracts from the council’s efforts to move the city forward I also support amending the city charter to close any loophole that allowed this to happen

The stipend should be rescinded as it was not properly communicated on its justification with the constituents A stipend is considered an allowance in addition to a salary and our charter only defines salary increases in it to be voted on by referendum Attracting quality of candidates is important and council pay is something to consider as our city grows so that we attract relevant, professional, and dynamic individuals. The consent agenda was not the appropriate or transparent way to communicate this change

❑ Jason conzelman Youtube.com/@conzelman4councilman

The entire way the bill was passed needs to be looked at, and checked over to make sure that it was passed legally and ethically If anything seems like it could even possibly be passed improperly, then it needs to immediately be rescinded A look into what the average salary for a city council member for cities of similar size would be the best way to find a middle ground for the current stipend, and council salaries.

I will vote to rescind the stipend on day one and I will not accept any form of stipend On Dec 13, 2023, not one Council member pulled the stipend resolution from the consent agenda for public, transparent discussion. One member voted “no” on the entire consent agenda (which included 10 other important items) and claims to have therefore voted “no” on the stipend Council’s vote, without transparency, opened a can of worms that must be corrected through a change in the Cape Coral Charter that will require a public referendum vote for any form of compensation increase moving forward

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

Measures to rescind the stipend should have already taken place Nobody currently sitting on this council has the fortitude to stand up for what is right Whether someone voted against the stipend or didn’t take it, the fact is absolutely NOTHING has been done to correct it It’s unacceptable that the city council has circumvented the city charter because they feel entitled to an increase in pay when this process should have gone before the voters for a decision We need to RESCIND the stipend and AMEND the city charter so this can NEVER happen again

(facebook.com/profile.php?id=61558157836677)

The stipend should be rescinded, and the state of Florida should investigate this matter I believe in solutioning these types of concerns and here is my recommendation: Link the city council’s compensation to the medium of ALL city employees’ pay This will force the city council to increase the bottom 1/3 of employee pay to increase their pay and thereby affording more people that work in Cape Coral to live in Cape Coral Lastly, the citizens of Cape Coral need to be able to vote on these types of decisions

-

5

JosePh KIlRaIne Kilr aineforcape.com

Hell yes, kill the stipend Council salary must remain by referendum by we the people Approval was devious, non-transparent & intentionally structured to avoid public awareness Removing volunteers from advisory committees set precedent to remove five statuary CRA volunteers, commission expansion to eight appointing council as commissioners, M

salaries & hiding it on the consent agenda

All pure Chicanery; despicable disregard for resident intelligence & voice Incumbents this year, paid doubling-compensation stipends, need to be defeated Candidates professing to motion rescission absent refusal to receive the “stipend-payraise,” are gaslighting Voters must separate facts from word spin

I believe that any modification to council compensations should be voted on by the public I was the only sitting council member to vote NO when the stipend was brought forward I also was the council member that brought forward the conversations to try to get it added to the ballot this November I feel that council salaries need to be similar to other sized municipalities in Florida and brought forward by an independent citizen committee ❑ RobeRt Welsh (Incumbent) VoteWelsh.com

Should the stipend approved by Cape Coral City Council in addition to member salaries be retained, rescinded or modified?

❑ Michael david haRpeR

I feel that the stipend should be rescinded, however the salaries should increase over the next four years to reflect similar cities’ council pay in the state of Florida The government is a business and should be ran as such, if you want good, qualified people, you are going to have to pay them We have a city with over 225k residents, and a budget of over $1 billion This is no longer a part-time job, and to get more qualified people interested in running for council you’ll need to pay them

Important dates . . .

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

E l e c t i o n s ’ s o f f i c e p o s t s a l l c i t y - e l e ct i o n r e l a t e d d o c u m e n t s , i n c l u d i n g

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

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

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

A u g 1 7 , 1 0 a m t o 6 p m , d a i l y

∫ Ge ne ral E l e c t i o n : T u e s d a y ,

N o v 5

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

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

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

e l e c t i o n s s t o r i e s t o o u r w e b s i t e , Cape c o ral bre e z e . c o m

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

Rachel KaduK R achelK aduk com

The stipend should have NEVER been approved by Council especially without discussion This issue should have been brought to voters The stipend should be rescinded, and the city charter needs amended so that this never happens to us again. At my campaign kickoff, I asked many in attendance what the salaries of the Council should be, many said $80,000 - $100,000 If the Council brought these issues to the voters, maybe the relationship between Council and residents wouldn’t be so tarnished The deadline for getting it on the ballot was July 8 Sad that we won’t see it this time

District 7 is a General Election-only race

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

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

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

Voters can cast a ballot in every race

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

sent, Cape Coral City Council races are

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

Lee County Elections to begin mailing Vote-By-Mail Ballots for the 2024 Primary Election

Lee County Elections will begin the initial mailing of domestic Vote-by-Mail

B a l l o t s f o r t h e P r i m a r y E l e c t i o n o n Tuesday, July 16

Approximately 130,000 Vote-by-Mail Ballots will be mailed to voters who requested one for the Aug 20 Primary Election

Voters who have not submitted a Voteby-Mail request to the office since the 2022 General Election will need to submit a new request to receive a Vote-by-Mail

Voters who have not submitted a Vote-by-Mail request to the office since the 2022 General Election will need to submit a new request to receive a Vote-by-Mail Ballot for the 2024 elections Requests can be made by calling (239) 533-8683 or online at www lee vote

Ballot for the 2024 elections

Requests can be made by calling (239) 533-8683 or online at www lee vote

Deadline to request a Vote-by-Mail Ballot: 5 p m , Thursday, Aug 8,

Deadline to return a Vote-by-Mail Ballot:

7 p m , Election Day, Tuesday, Aug 20

If you plan to return your ballot in the mail, the Elections Office suggest you do so no later than Tuesday, Aug 13 Hand-delivered ballots may be dropped

off at any of the Lee County Elections Offices, Monday through Friday, from 8:30 a m to 5 p

or on Election Day from 8:30

returned at an authorized Secure Ballot Intake Station, located at every Early Voting site during Early Voting dates and times Click here for Early Voting dates, times, and locations

Track the status of your Vote-by-Mail Ballot at www lee vote

Groups host chances to meet the candidates, offer election-related info

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

Among the upcoming opportunities:

Kiwanis Candidates HobNob

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

The free and open-to-the-public event will run from 5:30 to 8 p m , where attendees can meet the 2024 city, county, state, and federal candidates.

There will be a straw poll conducted by the Lee County Supervisor of Elections

To RSVP, visit capecoralchamber com

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

CCCIA monthly dinner

The Cape Coral Construction Industry Association will host Cape Coral City Council candidates at its monthly dinner

meeting on Aug 8

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

For more information, visit cccia org

LWVLee offers information

The League of Women Voters of Lee County is taking an active role in local elections, stressing voter turnout while also providing information issues and candidates

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

All eligible voters, including those without a party affiliation, may vote in the Aug 20 election

Ballots will include non-partisan races for Lee County School Board, Cape Coral City Council, Fort Myers City Council and judges Ballots for voters with a party affiliation

will include their party’s candidates

The league also offers the following information and resources:

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

■ VOTE411: Vote411 org by the League of Women Voters Education Fund has non-partisan election information, resources and voter guides 2024 candidate information will be available mid-July

■ Returning Citizens Voting Rights: Restoration information and assistance is available from League of Women Voters of Florida Call 407-710-5496 or email canivote@lwvfl org For Voter Identification Assistance, contact VoteRiders org 866-432-8683

Visit LWVLee org for more information on candidate forums and to sign up for email updates

❑

LCSO Marine Unit works waters countywide

Provides enforcement, boater training, search-and-rescue and more; is part of multi-agency Marine Emergency Response Team

H a r b o u r , T a r p o n P o i n t , B o

1 3 - f o o t j o n b o a t t o a 3 6 - A m b a r T h e v a r i e t y i s t o e n s u r e t h e r e i s a v e s s e l t h a t c a n p a t r o l t h e s h a l l o w w a t e r s , l a k e s , r i v e r s , a n d c a n a l s , a s w e l l a s 9 m i l e s o f fs h o r e i n t o t h e G u l f o f M e x i c o , o f f i c i a l s s a i d C a l l s r a n g e f r o m a s s i s t i n g o t h e r a g e n -

c i e s i n s e a r c h - a n d - r e s c u e s t o b o a t e r s i n d i s t r e s s , d e p u t i e s n e e d i n g a s s i s t a n c e , o r

c i t i z e n s n e e d i n g h e l p S h e r i f f C a r m i n e M a r c e n o s a i d t h e r e

a r e e i g h t d e p u t i e s a s s i g n e d t o t h e M a r i n e

U n i t a n d a n u m b e r o f v o l u n t e e r s w i t h

The Lee County Sheriff ’s Office has a full-time Marine Unit that enforces rules and regulations and conducts search-and-rescue operations The Marine Unit is spread throughout Lee County with locations at Cape Harbour, Tarpon Point, Bonita Springs, Captiva, and Boca Grande, all strategic water entry points. The Marine Unit patrols the waterways 24 hours a day, 365 days of the year.

t h e i r C i v i l i a n S u p p o r t U n i t T h e r e i s c o ns t a n t t r a i n i n g o n h o w t o u s e t h e v e s s e l s , u n d e r s t a n d i n g t h e w a t e r w a y s , b e i n g c o m f o r t a b l e i n t h e v e r y d i v e r s e e n v i r o nm e n t s , a n d w o r k i n g w i t h d i f f e r e n t a g e n -

c i e s

O n t h e b u s y h o l i d a y s , s u c h a s t h e F o u r t h o f J u l y a n d M e m o r i a l D a y , t h e

S h e r i f f ’ s O f f i c e m o v e s s t a f f p o w e r a r o u n d , a s w e l l a s m o r e b o a t s f o r a d d i -

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

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE LEE COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE

Cape artist earns coveted spot on School of Rock’s Allstars Music Program Tour

n

f r i e n d s a s w e l l a s m e n t o r s h e l p e d s h a p e m y p

See CAPE ARTIST, page 19

Tommy Firriolo, 16, has been selected to take p

S

Program Tour, a competitive honor that fewer than 1% of School of Rock student artists achieve. He also qualified in 2023, making this his second opportunity to join the 10-week tour.

PHOTO PROVIDED

From page 18

i t i o n s T h e t w o - w e e k

v e l o f a c h i e v e m e n t f o r a S c h o o l o f

R o c k s t u d e n t T h e s e s t u d e n t s o f t e n g o o n t o h a v e a c c o m p l i s h e d c a r e e r s i n t h e m u s i c i n d u s t r y F o r m e r A l l S t a r s h a v e g o n e o n t o b e c o m e t o u r i n g a r t i s t s , s t a r i n

B r o a d w a y m u s i c a l s , g e t s i g n e d t o r e c o r d d e a l s , b e c o m e f i n a l i s t s o n t a l e n t c o m p e -

t i t i o n s l i k e T h e V o i c e a n d A m e r i c a n I d o l , o r h a v e o t h e r n o t a b l e r o l e s i n t h e m u s i c i n d u s t r y , ” H a r r i s s a i d T h e f i r s t s t o p o n t h e t o u r w i l l b e a t

N a u t i P a r r o t O a s i s , F o r t M y e r s , o n M o n d a y , J u l y 2 2 f r o m 6 : 3 0 - 1 0 p m

T i c k e t s c a n b e p u r c h a s e d h e r e

h t t p s : / / w w w . e v e n t b r i t e . c o m / e / s c h o o l - o fr o c k - a l l - s t a r s - n a t i o n a l - f o r t - m y e r s - l i v et i c k e t s - 9 0 9 9 7 5 8 5 1 2 6 7

“Becoming an AllStar is the highest level of achievement for a School of Rock student. These students often go on to have accomplished careers in the music industry. Former AllStars have gone on to become touring artists, star in Broadway musicals, get signed to record deals, become finalists on talent competitions like The Voice and American Idol, or have other notable roles in the music industry ”

Doug Harris, School of Rock Fort Myers owner/GM

The first stop on the 10-week School of Rock Allstars Music Program Tour is here in Lee County at Nauti Parrot Oasis in Fort Myers. The show is set for Monday, July 22, from 6:30-10 p.m. Tickets can be purchased on eventbrite.com.

O t h e r s t o p s i n c l u d e H o o c h & H i v e i n T a m p a , C o n d u i t i n O r l a n d o , R e s p e

I ’ m a l s o v e r y e x c i t e d t o r e c o n n e c t w i t h o l d f r i e n d s f r o m l a s t y e a r ’ s t o u r a s w e l l a s g e t t i n g t o m e e t n e w l i k e - m i n d e d m u s i c i a n s I t ’ s a p r i v i l e g e t o h a v e t h e c h a n c e t o m e e t a n d s u p p o r t o t h e r l o c a l

S c h o o l o f R o c k H o u s e B a n d s a s w e l l , ” h e s a i d F i r r i o l o h o p e s t h a t b e i n g e x p o s e d t o n e w m e n t o r s a n d i n s t r u c t o r s w i l l a l l o w

h i m t o g r o w a s a m u s i c i a n t h r o u g h p r o -

f e s s i o n a l e x p e r i e n c e s

H e q u a l i f i e d i n 2 0 2 3 , m a k i n g t h i s h i s

s e c o n d e x p e r i e n c e

“ M y 2 0 2 3 S c h o o l o f R o c k A l l S t a r s

t o u r w a s t r u l y u n f o r g e t t a b l e I m e t s o m e

a m a z i n g i n s t r u c t o r s a n d s t u d e n t s I t g a v e

m e a c h a n c e t o h a v e a p r o f e s s i o n a l t o u r -

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

m a d e p o s s i b l e t h r o u g h t h e S c h o o l o f

R o c k A l l S t a r s p r o g r a m I a l s o l o v e d g e t -

t i n g t o s e e d i f f e r e n t p a r t s o f t h e c o u n t r y

w h i l e e x p l o r i n g t h e W e s t C o a s t , ”

F i r r i o l o s a i d T h e S c h o o l o f R o c k A l l S t a r s M u s i c P r o g r a m h a s p a r t n e r e d w i t h S o c i e t y f o r t h e P r e v e n t i o n o f T e e n S u i c i d e H e s a i d t h i s p a r t n e r s h i p w a s c r e a t e d t o g i v e s u pp o r t t o a n i n c r e d i b l y i m p o r t a n t c a u s e

“ T e e n s u i c i d e r a t e s h a v e r i s e n a t a n a l a r m i n g r a t e , m a k i n g y o u n g p e o p l e ’ s m e n t a l h e a l t h s u p p o r t m o r e v i t a l t h a n e v e r A t S c h o o l o f R o c k , w e k n o w t h a t m u s i c c a n c h a n g e l i v e s , a n d s o c a n m e nt a l h e a l t h a w a r

Wonder Gardens ‘Brews for

“Brews for the Birds” is on tap at the Wonder Gardens in Bonita Springs on Thursday, July 25, from 6 to 8 p.m.

“The care of more than 300 birds and reptiles is our priority at Wonder Gardens, and we are grateful for the support of the community,” said Neil Anderson, executive director “Our Brews for the Birds event is a fun and

the Birds’ fundraiser to be held July 25

engaging way to showcase the gardens while raising funds for the continued oversight and protection of a wide variety of birds who reside in our ponds, aviaries and pavilions throughout our historical 3 5-acre park ”

The adults-only event includes food trucks, beer from local and national breweries, nonalcoholic drinks, music and the opportunity to experience the Wonder Gardens

at night Tickets are available online and are $50 for Wonder Gardens members and $55 for nonmembers and include 8 tasting tickets, with additional tasting tickets for sale at the event

To purchase tickets, visit wondergardens org/brewsfor-the-birds-july2024/

Body of missing teen swimmer recovered

By TIFFANY REPECKI trepecki@breezenewspapers com

The body of a Cape Coral teen, who went missing last week while swimming at Blind Pass on off Sanibel, was recovered by authorities Thursday following a two-day search that involved multiple area agencies

The Sanibel Police Department identified the victim as Isaac Breese, 17, a student-athlete at North Fort Myers High School

Two other teens were successfully rescued

“On Thursday afternoon, the Sanibel Police Marine Patrol Unit recovered remains of the young man who went missing at Blind Pass after entering the water late Tuesday morning,” Police Chief William Dalton said in a statement on July 5 “With the assistance of the State District 21 Medical Examiner and the Lee County Sheriff's Office, the young man's remains were positively identified this (Friday) evening ”

Captiva Island Fire Control District Fire Chief Jeff Pawul reported that the call came in on July 2 at about 11:47 a m for three swimmers in distress at Blind Pass

The Captiva crew responded via rescue boat, and a crew from the Sanibel Fire and Rescue District responded via land as its station is closer

When the Sanibel crew arrived, a rescue swimmer swam out and secured two victims a boy and a girl, both about 17 years old and both local residents The Captiva crew got all three onto the boat

“It was a miraculous job to be able to swim out in those rough conditions and be able to save two victims at one time,” Pawul said on July 5 “It's very unfortunate we weren't able to get to the third ”

Informed that Isaac had also entered the water, emergency responders immediately commenced a search-andrescue operation for the missing teen The island fire districts and SPD were joined by the Lee County Sheriff's Office, United States Coast Guard and additional partner agencies, including the Iona-McGregor Fire District, Cape Coral Fire Department and Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission

“We had multiple agencies We had boats in the water, we had drones in the air,” Pawul said, adding that

The city’s Red, White & BOOM! celebration included a performance by national country act Parmalee, left, and the fireworks show, below.

BOOM!: July 4th bash another blast

By JOHNATHAN MINEHAN news@breezenewspapers com

Cape Coral’s Red, White & BOOM! celebration was a blast, with live music and fireworks again taking center stage at Cape Coral’s annual Fourth of July street fair

National country act and headliner Parmalee performed some of its top hits, including “Carolina,” “Boyfriend” and “Take My Name.” They also performed hits from other artists, including The Kid Laroi’s “Stay” and Usher’s “Yeah ”

Ashlyn Peterson, a repeat attendee, said she was excited to see Parmalee perform and also enjoyed the late-night fireworks extravaganza

“For the last couple of years, my boyfriend Shawn, who I met down here when he started working at the hospital together, and we have come with his little sister,” Peterson said “We usually have a barbecue every year at my uncle’s house ”

The Fourth of July means a lot to residents like Peterson, who has a sister, brother and dad in the military

They were among the thousands of celebrants who filled Cape Coral Parkway at the foot of the Cape Coral Bridge

Kiaya Sunn was given the opportunity to sing the national anthem at the city-organized event and spent some time at a vendor tent set up with her family’s roofing business

“I’m most excited to sing the national anthem I had a bit of a breakdown yesterday, but I’m ready today,” Sunn said Thursday “Fourth of July is about coming together with my friends and family and being patriotic. There’s just so much for you to do here. There's so

many

the LCSO deployed its helicopter and the U S Coast Guard brought in its plane for the search

On July 4, Dalton reported that the operation had moved into a search-and-recovery

“It's been 48 hours since the swimmer who entered the water at Blind Pass has gone missing,” he said in a statement “The thoughts of the entire Sanibel community are with the family and friends of the young man during this difficult time ”

With the announcement of the recovery, Dalton thanked the agencies that responded

“I want to thank all the agencies who assisted with the search for Isaac,” he said “On behalf of all the first responders involved, I ask that you keep him and his family in your prayers.”

According to his profile on the NCSA College Recruiting website, Isaac attended North Fort Myers High School and he played soccer He was a starter on the varsity team in both 2023 and 2022

It also states that Isaac was on the A/B Honor Roll and involved with the Model UN

‘Empty the Shelters’ initiative under way

All adoption fees are waived

By CJ HADDAD cjhaddad@breezenewspapers com

Lee County Domestic Animal Services is taking part in a nationwide initiative with BISSELL Pet Foundation, waiving adoption fees as part of “Empty the Shelters ”

The foundation is promoting a national call for adoption with its annual Empty the Shelters waived adoption fee event that began Monday and runs through July 31 LCDAS will participate, alongside more than 390 shelters in 44 states To help shelter pets find loving homes, the foundation sponsors waived adoption fees during each nationwide event

“Lee County Domestic Animal Services has participated in the BISSELL Pet Foundation event for years,” said Lee County spokesperson Tim Engstrom. “The organization is one of Animal Services’ great partners is does an outstanding job of putting a national spotlight on the importance of pet adoptions ”

Empty the Shelters is the largest funded adoption event in the country, according to the foundation The event began in 2016 with a goal of encouraging more families to choose adoption More than 253,000 pets have found homes since its inception Empty the Shelters is the foundation’s largest program, partnering with 742 animal welfare organizations in 49 states and Canada to reduce adoption fees

“It’s always a great time to adopt when individuals or families are looking to add a pet to the household,” Engstrom said “The waived adoption fee is a nice incentive to consider adopting now rather than later Lee County Domestic Animal Services staff and volunteers are ready to help you find the perfect new family member ”

Engstrom said LCDAS has been typically busy this year following a very active spring kitten season Overall, recent activity has been comparable with a year ago, with 213 adoptions in May, compared to 206 in May 2023

BISSELL Pet Foundation and LCDAS urge families to research the pet they are interested in adopting, as well as adoption requirements

For more information on adopting or donating to Empty the Shelters, visit www bissellpetfoundation org/ empty-the-shelters

LCDAS is at 5600 Banner Drive in Fort Myers, with the adoption center open Monday to Saturday from 10:30 a m to 3:30 p m Visit www LeeLost Pets com

different things that you can really just enjoy ” Sunn has sung the national anthem at multiple events, including high school games and other sporting events, and was excited to have the opportunity to do

PHOTOS BY ERIC SCHUETTE

COMMUNITY

My indispensable garden tools

By CATHY DUNN news@breezenewspapers com

I’m sure you are familiar with the wisdom of the old saying “the right tool for the job ” Over the years, I have found that this is especially true in the garden, as I have purchased, and subsequently discarded, a number of hand tools! Based on more than 60 years of active gardening, I’ve distilled my list of tools that I keep with me in the garden, and I’d like to share it with you

GARDEN CLUB OF CAPE CORAL

Since I am apt to leave tools behind as I move between projects, I carry a white plastic bucket with me in the garden; I put my essential small tools in this bucket and check it every time I get ready to move on to another area I have found this is the only way to keep myself organized and to eliminate lost tools! The small tools that stay in this bucket are Felco pruning shears (yes, they are expensive but they last forever), a pair of small Corona clippers that are perfect for precise jobs like snipping flowers and trimming bromeliads, a medium-sized Fiskars hand trowel and my all-time favorite tool – a Japanese Hand Hoe This compact wonder has a 17-inch handle with a triangular, hoe-like head that has a sharp point and a razor-like cutting edge. I use this tool for every chore, from digging out weeds with the roots intact to forming and digging out a “trench” on the edge of my beds to contain mulch and create an air barrier to stop grass from extending into my garden These small hand tools support probably 85% of my garden chores

There are always larger jobs that require a little more horsepower, especially for someone who is "vertically challenged” like me! For trimming jobs that require more force than my small Felco pruners can provide, I rely on a pair of Fiskars loppers These loppers will cleanly cut branches that are several inches in diameter, and the long handles give me more leverage For trimming jobs on taller shrubs and trees, I use a 6-foot Corona Pole Pruner This pruner not only provides a clean cut, but it will grasp the branch/foliage that you are trimming so that you can drop in the grass rather than depositing it in the middle of your bed For cleaning up fallen leaves, grass clippings or restoring mulch after a summer rainstorm I rely on a lightweight, adjustable rake with curved, slender tines Large shovels are hard for me to maneuver, so I have a smaller spade and matching fork that are easier to handle and carry around the yard when I undertake big jobs; another benefit of these tools is that they have red handles that make them hard to misplace!

One of my most versatile tools is a “Tubtrugs” flexible, two-handled carrier I have three of these lightweight trugs, and I use them to collect debris, distribute mulch and transport plants and pots Since they are plastic, they can be easily rinsed and won’t rust For larger pruning projects I use a 30-gallon collapsible lawn waste bag with a hardshell bottom; this allows me to transport paper refuse bags more easily and after use the bag can be collapsed to store almost flat

Any garden work in the Florida sun wouldn’t be complete without the appropriate protective gear! I wear a large straw hat with a broad brim to protect my face; my hats always have a “chin strap” to make sure I’m not chasing my hat all over the yard after a sudden breeze If I am working with thorny plants like bougainvillea, I use leather gloves that reach to my elbows; one lesson I learned is that these gloves need to be stored inside, because if they are left in the hot garage they will dry out and become too stiff to wear I wear gardening sleeves when I work with bromeliads; these sleeves are surprisingly cool and protect you from the sharp edges of the plants My everyday gardening gloves are purchased at

See GARDEN TOOLS, page 35

Above and below, some of the campers who enjoyed the visits from Cape Coral Animal Shelter volunteers and adoptable puppies.

Cape Coral Animal Shelter participates in Kids Camps

The Cape Coral Animal Shelter participated in citywide Kids Camps over the last few weeks to promote how to properly interact with dogs and the care and responsibilities of owning a pet Of course, each camp included plenty of hugs and kisses from the resident pups!

Since opening in 2020, each summer the shelter volunteers, in coordination with the city of Cape Coral Parks and Recreation Department, plan multiple “camps” at various locations This year, Cape Coral Animal Shelter volunteers and pups traveled to several city locations including Four Freedoms Park, Oasis Elementary School and the William “Bill” Austin Youth Center.

More camps were hosted by CCAS at the shelter where students had the opportunity to see firsthand the work that goes into caring for 100+ animals In all, over 485 kids attended the camps, learned about the responsibilities of owning a pet and had a great time

“Our thanks to everyone at Parks and Rec for including us in these events and to our own volunteer, Tom Ellegood, who coordinated all these events on our end” said Liz McCauley, executive director of the Cape Coral Animal Shelter “We are very proud to be such an important part of our city and help make Cape Coral a wonderful place to live We hope the kids will remember their summer camps fondly ”

The mission of the Cape Coral Animal Shelter is to engage a special bond between people and animals by means of adoption services, medical care, education and training for the prevention of cruelty and abandonment It provides a safe place where animals will remain in the shelter’s care until they are placed in qualified, forever homes

Friends of Cape Coral Library to meet July 27

Everyone is invited to the Friends of the Cape Coral Library General Meeting Saturday, July 27 The morning will begin at 9:30 a m with coffee, tea, light snacks and social time The business portion will start at 10 a m , with the program to follow FOCCL General Meetings, which take place in the large meeting room of the Cape Coral Library at 921 S W 39th Terrace, are free and open to the public You are welcome to bring a guest or two

Program for July Meeting: “Books We’ve Read”

The traditional July meeting program has been one of our most popular Attendees sit in a big round table set up and take turns talking about books they’ve recently read and would recommend Each person may describe a couple of books, or more if there’s time

For more information, visit Friends of the Cape Coral L i b r a r y a t w w w c a p e f r

Facebook

Church of the Epiphany to distribute free hurricane kits

The Church of the Epiphany at 2507 Del Prado Blvd , S , in Cape Coral, will offer free hurricane kits to the public Saturday July 13, in a drive-through in the church parking lot, from 10 a m to noon, while supplies last Each hurricane kit will contain two lantern/flashlights,

two Igloo freezer packs, one case of bottled water and a $25 gift certificate for Publix,

For information, please contact the church at 238-5743200 or visit its website at www epiphanyepiscopal church org

PHOTOS PROVIDED

Visiting Angels of Cape Coral and Punta Gorda receives 2023 Sustained Excellence Award

Visiting Angels of Cape Coral and Punta Gorda has announced that is has r e c e i v e d t h e 2 0 2 3 V i s i t i n g A n g e l s Sustained Excellence Award This prestigious accolade underscores its dedication to delivering care and support to clients and their families throughout Cape Coral, Punta Gorda, North Fort Myers and surrounding areas

T h e V i s i t i n g A n g e l s S u s t a i n e d Excellence Award recognizes organizations that exemplify outstanding commit-

ment to compassionate caregiving and community service At Visiting Angels of Cape Coral and Punta Gorda, every interaction is seen as an opportunity to make a meaningful difference in the lives of those they serve

“We are overjoyed and incredibly grateful to receive the 2023 Visiting Angels

Sustained Excellence Award,” said Kim B

Visiting Angels of Cape Coral and Punta Gorda “This recognition is a testament to

our team's dedication and hard work in providing exceptional care We believe that every moment of care matters, and this award reaffirms our commitment to excellence ”

The award highlights the collective effort and dedication of Visiting Angels' caregivers, staff members and the individuals they serve Their commitment to quality care and support has earned the trust and appreciation of the community they proudly serve

“We extend our deepest gratitude to our caregivers, staff members, and the wonderful individuals we have the honor of serving,” Burmylo continued “Your trust and support inspire us to strive for excellence every day ”

Visiting Angels of Cape Coral and Punta Gorda and its services, please call 239226-1620 or visit its website at visitingangels com/ capecoral

Priority Marketing, Hansen earn third Fast 56 alumni award from USF

Alumni Association will honor Priority Marketing and its founder, Teri Hansen, with the college’s 2024 Fast 56 Award, which recognizes the fastest-growing businesses led by USF graduates

Hansen graduated magna cum laude from USF in 1984 with a bachelor of arts degree in business administration and management, as well as a minor in criminal justice After starting her career in corporate roles, Hansen founded Priority Marketing in 1992 as a one-person operation that initially focused on public relations for a handful of clients in the construction industry.

Today, Priority Marketing employs more than 65 marketing professionals and its list of services has grown to include public relations, brand development, web services, social media, creative services,

media buying, video production, digital marketing, event planning and more The firm represents clients in hospitality and tourism, retail, health care, senior living, construction, legal,

tion, government and nonprofit organizations

firm’s president and chief creative officer

worldwide, many of whom are entrepreneurs and innovators leading very successful businesses,” said Hansen, APR “To be featured among the top 56 for a third year is quite a feat and a testament that the businesses

Teri Hansen

and nonprofits in our community value the marketing services that our team can provide.”

T

honorees, 56, pays homage to the year USF was founded – 1956 Businesses are eval-

years

H

Marketing will be honored Sept 13 at the 12th annual Fast 56 Awards ceremony in Tampa.

About Priority Marketing Founded in 1992 by Teri Hansen, APR, Priority Marketing’s portfolio of professional services includes public rela-

tions, brand development, web services, social media, creative services, media buying, video production, digital marketing, event planning and more. As Southwest Florida’s largest full-service firm, Priority Marketing has grown to include more than 65 savvy creatives and mastermind strategists who partner with clients across a broad spectrum of industries, including hospitality and tourism, retail, health care, senior living, construction, legal, aviation, financial, education and government, as well as charitable organizations The firm has been honored at the local, state, national and international levels with prestigious awards while providing nearly $6 million in discounted and pro-bono services to local nonprofits

For additional information, please call 239-267-2638 or visit PriorityMarketing com

From page 1

“ Isaac was a beloved teammate whose spirit and camaraderie fostered a sense of unity and purpose within our team His leadership, both on and off the field, was instrumental in guiding his teams to success and inspiring younger players to strive for excellence,” the statement reads, in part

Gabriella Breese, Isaac’s sister, set up the GoFundMe account to help pay the expenses related to his death In a few days, 668 donations had been made totalling $45,671 as of Thursday afternoon, just shy of a $50,000 goal.

The GoFundMe account is filled with words of support from family and friends, remembering Breese’s sense of humor and how easy he was to get along with

“Isaac was a special kid He always knew how to make people laugh (Daughter) had class with him and had nothing but kind things to say,” one message reads “He made her laugh various times and enjoyed being her classmate ”

Breese was remembered not just for his feats on the pitch, but also in the classroom, where he earned his Cambridge AICE diploma and was to start dual enrollment

“The North Fort Myers High School family is heartbroken with the loss of student athlete Isaac Jamison Breese His incredible academic achievements provided him the opportunity to be accepted and enrolled into FGCU’s full-time Dual Enrollment program for his senior year... Isaac was a joy to have as a Red Knight and a role model for fellow student athletes.”

Debbie Diggs, North Fort Myers High principal

at Florida Gulf Coast University He had a sizzling 4 48 GPA

His goal was to become a defense attorney.

Debbie Diggs, principal at North Fort Myers High School, said Breese liked to challenge himself, completing his AICE diploma requirements in his junior year

“The North Fort Myers High School family is heartbroken with the loss of student athlete Isaac Jamison Breese,” Diggs said via email “ His incredible academic achievements provided him the opportunity to be accepted and

ECHO to host week-long course on tropical food forests, garden design and planning

ECHO, a leading advocate for sustainable agriculture and food security, will host a week-long course focusing on food forests and garden design this fall at its North American Regional Impact Center The course, “Tropical Agriculture Development II: Food Forests, Garden Design and Planning” will take place from Monday, Sept 16, to Friday, Sept 20

By taking this course, attendees will learn how to design and start a food forest in their own backyard They will also learn practical ways to

start a garden anywhere using items such as old tires, milk cartons and swimming pools

Participants will walk through the d e s i g n p r o c e s s w i t h p r o f e s s i o n a l designers, starting from setting goals, surveying the land, building a base map, considering earthworks and creatively designing around constraints

Attendees will be able to see and apply these principles to a small garden or a large plot of land This training is also beneficial for missionaries to be able to help individuals in food

insecure areas around the world have a foundation to bring nutrition into their lives from their own backyard Registration costs include lodging at the ECHO campus, three meals per day and the week-long course fee Early-bird registration now through Aug 1 is $695 Regular registration is $750 and closes on Sept 8 Spouse registration fee is $495 To register visit https://bit ly/45V10Mx ECHO’s North American Regional Impact Center is at 17391 Durrance Road, North Fort Myers

enrolled into FGCU’s full-time Dual Enrollment program for his senior year Isaac was a joy to have as a Red Knight and a role model for fellow student athletes.”

The Breese family has lived it the Cape for two generations

In addition to his sister, survivors include his mother, Tika

Donations may be made to gofundme com/f/honoringisaac-breese-support-for-the-breese-family

EDUCATION

EDUCATION BRIEFS

Vega graduates from SUNY

Canton

CANTON, NY -- Jade T Vega of Cape Coral has graduated from SUNY Canton with a bachelor of science degree in forensic criminology

The college's 116th Commencement Ceremony was held Saturday, May 11, in the Roos House Convocation, Athletic and Recreation Center Students who graduated at any time in the past year are invited to participate in the ceremony, including summer, fall, winter, and spring graduates A complete listing of graduates is published on www canton edu

SUNY Canton features career-focused educational programs emphasizing hands-on and applied learning opportunities in digital design, engineering technology, health, information technology, management, public service and veterinary technology SUNY Canton offers hundreds of courses and 23 comprehensive degree programs offered completely online

For more about SUNY, visit https://www.canton.edu/ FSW to launch new social media communication certificate program

Florida SouthWestern State College will launch a new Social Media Communication College Credit Certificate beginning this Fall 2024 semester The program is tailored for those eager to master media communication, marketing and public relations across diverse platforms, including print, television, the internet and social media

The Social Media Communication CCC at FSW offers students a comprehensive understanding of media literacy, writing and composition, technical communication, web design basics, communication studies, social media management, digital marketing, search engine optimization (SEO) and public relations

“This certificate program is ideal for anyone passionate about social media, content creation, SEO or digital marketing,” said Dr Jennifer Summary, FSW communication studies professor “Our curriculum is crafted to meet the demands of today's digital age, preparing students to thrive in roles across various industries ”

A unique feature of the Social Media Communication Certificate is its flexibility Students can complete this program concurrently with an associate in arts degree

The AA degree is the desired degree for seamless transfer to complete a bachelor's degree at another Florida state college or university FSW also offers bachelor's degree options such as the bachelor of applied science in supervision and management, which aligns well with marketing and media management career paths

For more information about the Social Media Communication CCC at FSW, visit www fsw edu/soas

Students can apply for FSW’s Fall 2024 semester through July 29 at www fsw edu/admissions

Lee County Tax Collector hosting back-to-school supply drive for teachers

The Lee County Tax Collector’s Office is holding a back-to-school supply drive From July 8 – July 19, customers are encouraged to drop off school supplies at any of its six service center locations

Basic supplies like notebooks, pencils, pens, markers, erasers, glue sticks, crayons and dry erase markers are welcome Drop boxes will be conveniently located at all our service centers For a list of locations, please visit our website LeeTC com/Locations

Donations benefit the Education Resource Center at The Foundation for Lee County Public Schools, which aims to support local teachers by ensuring they have the necessary resources, at no cost, to provide a quality education to their students

“We are thrilled to partner with the Foundation for this important cause,” said Noelle Branning, Lee County Tax Collector and FLCPS Executive Board member “We know how much of their own money teachers spend on classroom supplies Supporting our teachers means investing in our children and our community ”

For those who cannot make it into an office to drop off supplies, the foundation has an Amazon Wishlist where items can be purchased and directly shipped to the Education Resource Center

Lee County School District invites job seekers to Drop in with Lee July 15-19

The School District of Lee County is hosting a week of Drop in with Lee events for job seekers to learn about specific career opportunities with the District and submit applications for potential employment for the 2024-25 school year

From Monday, July 15, through Frid July 19, talent acquisition and departmen team members will be in the main lobby of the Lee County Public Education Center at 2855 Colonial Blvd in Fort Myers from 9 a m until noon Advanced registration is not required

Applicants interested in learning more about specific career opportunities are encouraged to attend on the following dates:

■ Monday, July 15 – Maintenance

■ Tuesday, July 16 – Transportation

school districts in Florida and the United States with a growing enrollment of more than 99,000 students and 116 schools

■ Wednesday, July 17 – Exceptional Student Education

■ Thursday, July 18 – School Social Worker/School Psychologist

■ Friday, July 19 – School Counseling/Mental Health

The School District of Lee County is among the largest

The District offers a competitive and comprehenompensation plan for its employees, and ditional benefits and earning opportunities re also available via advanced degree supplement, summer school, athletic coaching and more Upon hire, a personal benefits selection process will be made available to eligible employees

For support or additional questions, email careers@leeschools net or call 239-337-8197.

To learn more about available career pportunities with the District, visit eSchools net/Careers

e County Public Schools is the eighthlargest district in Florida and the 33rd largest district in the United States The District educates more than 99,000 students in grades K-12 and is a model for others in the state and around the nation With approximately 12,000 full- and part-time employees, the District is one of the county’s largest employers

Stand for the Silent offers tips for preparing children now for back-to-school bullies

Special to The Breeze news@breezenewspapers com

Many parents are already considering what they need to do to prepare their children for the new school year that is just around the corner While what they will wear and do after school is essential, ensuring they know what to do about back-to-school bullies should be at the top of every parent’s priority list Bullies will head back to school as well, and they will be ready to start picking on kids from day one

“Summer is a great time to get kids ready for the new school year, including with how to win against bullies,” said Kirk Smalley, co-founder of Stand for the Silent. “Addressing it now will ensure the school year will be smooth and bully-free ”

Over the summer, parents can do a lot to raise awareness about bullying in their home and community Making it a priority may help reduce the incidents of bullying in school and in the community Proactive communities can make people more aware of the issue, which can help reduce the incidents

According to the National Institutes of Health, a few risk factors may make people more vulnerable to being bullied These include a kid being seen as different from their peers, being seen as weak or unable to defend themselves, having low self-esteem, being less popular, not socializing well with others, and suffering from disabilities

Here are tips for preparing kids now for back-to-school bullies:

■ Discuss bullying now Discuss bullying, including what it is and what to do about it Talk about the different types of bullying, how to address it and what to do if they see someone else being bullied

■ Role-play Act out some bullying scenes with the kids so they can practice responding to them This will help put them more at ease if the real situation ever comes up

■ Get others involved. Parents can start anti-bullying groups now, which will get more kids involved in helping to keep bullying out of the school Kids can get together to discuss the issue and ways to respond

■ Contact the school Most schools have staff working over the summer Contact the child's school to inquire about having an anti-bullying campaign kick off when school starts Help them bring in a speaker, such as Stand for the Silent, and get together a group of kids for the antibullying task force

■ Teach self-defense It’s never a good idea to encourage your child to fight, but there are some self-defense moves that they can learn to protect themselves should it get physical Bullies tend to pick on those they feel won't stand up for themselves Teach kids self-defense over the summer, such as enrolling them in karate When kids are confident, they are more likely to stand up to a bully, and then the bully loses interest in that person.

“This school year, we are going to be rewarding students who help with anti-bullying at their school," added Smalley "We want to encourage students to set the example and help create a kinder, more accepting school atmosphere ”

Stand for the Silent is launching a program called Student Stand Out this school year Teachers can nominate students who they feel stand out by being kind, addressing bullying, being a positive role model, having good leadership, having respect and integrity, and demonstrating actions that show initiative to end bullying at the school Each week through the school year, one nominee will be chosen to receive a $50 Visa gift card, and at the end of each semester, one person will be selected to win a $100 gift card The nomination period runs from Aug 1 to Dec 1 and then from Jan 1 to April 1 For more information about the program, visit the site at: https://standforthesilent org/schools/standout

Stand for the Silent travels the country, providing seminars and talks for communities and schools It also offers helpful materials online to help people with bullying issues Each year, it also gives scholarships to students who help address bullying at their schools. To get more information on how to have the organization do a presentation or how to start a local chapter, visit the site at: https://standforthesilent org/

Smalley and his wife, Laura, started the 501(c))3) organization following their 11-year-old son, ending his own life due to bullying They turned their pain and loss into a mission of helping others He travels the country giving presentations about bullying to schools, providing bullying prevention, giving out scholarships, offering intervention strategies, and more Those interested in getting involved can start a chapter of the group in their area, obtain a free K-2 bullying prevention curriculum or cyberbullying handbook for parents, host a presentation at their school, introduce the How All Started video, and donate to help support the cause For more information, visit the site at: https://standforthesilent org/

BUSINESS

BUSINESS BRIEFS

Stevens Construction begins work on Kari Mann Dental Studio

Stevens Construction Inc has been awarded the construction management service of a new 5,200-squarefoot building for Kari Mann Dental Studio, located at 3111 Del Prado Blvd in Cape Coral, announced Daniel F Adams Jr , executive vice president/partner

Kari Mann Dental Studio provides comprehensive family and cosmetic dentistry as well as advanced dental implants Slated for completion in early 2025, the facility will feature eight treatment rooms, promises cuttingedge technology and space dedicated to advanced surgical and implant treatments

The remaining 2,030 square feet of the building on Gulf-access property is available for lease Contact Tom Strauss, LandQuest Commercial, at 239-822-9978 or tstrauss@lgre com for leasing information

With offices in Fort Myers and Orlando, Stevens Construction specializes in providing construction management, general contracting and consulting services to clients and design professionals Other services include site and design team selection, budgeting, project scheduling, permitting, cost and quality control and warranty service The company builds healthcare, commercial and hospitality facilities. For information, visit www.stevensbuilds com or call 239-936-9006

RE/MAX Sunshine’s VanderBleeks achieve No. 2 top 100 ranking in Florida

RE/MAX Sunshine recently announced that Realtors Brian and Lisa VanderBleek have earned the No 2 rank in the entire state of Florida for RE/MAX agents

The VanderBleeks have consistently delivered results for their clients They were responsible for bringing the buyer to the highest recorded sale in Cape Coral of $5 8 million that closed last year and are currently working on a $7-plus million sale of a single-family residence.

With a combined 14 years of experience, the VanderBleeks have built a reputation for providing personalized service and achieving optimal results for buyers and sellers throughout Lee County

For more information, please contact them directly: Lisa VanderBleek at 309-269-1869 and/or Brian VanderBleek at 309-292-7439

RE/MAX Sunshine has offices in Cape Coral at 814 S W Pine Island Road (239-297-1222) and Matlacha at 4574 Pine Island Road (239-790-1177)

Mercola Market to host Pirates of the Caribbean trivia July 20

Monthly trivia night continues with the world of Pirates of the Caribbean Join the group Saturday, July 20, from 4-6 p m , at Mercola Market of Cape Coral, at 125 S W 3rd Place, for an evening of family fun Guests can enjoy special beverages, show off their best pirate attire in the costume contest and compete for themed prizes

In addition to the monthly trivia events, the Mercola Market & Solspring Café host a series of gatherings throughout the year, including seasonal festivities and video game competitions. For a complete list of upcoming events and updates, visit mercolamarketcc com

Mercola Market also offers a 4,000-square-foot room available for the public to rent for special occasions or business meetings It features audio and visuals capabilities as well as catering options If interested in renting for a future event, please contact Mercola Market at 239599-9400 or mercolamarketcc com/banquet-room aspx

The Mercola Market of Cape Coral is a natural health retail store located in the center of the city It exclusively offers Dr Mercola supplements and other premium products for your health, home, pantry and pet Its Solspring Café offers one-of-a-kind biodynamic beverages, fit for the morning and evening, and healthy food options for each meal of the day From April through October, the Mercola Market & Solspring Café are open Monday through Friday, from 7 a m to 6 p m ; Saturday, from 9 a m to 6 p m ; and closed Sundays For more information, visit mercolamarketcc com

Seagate proposes high-rise condos for Red Coconut RV Park site on Fort Myers Beach

By NATHAN MAYBERG nmayberg@breezenewspapers com

Coconut RV Park site last year for $52 million, has submitted plans to the Town of Fort Myers Beach for highrise condos at the property

The condo buildings would be 15 stories over parking, according to the plans detailed by the developers.

The developers have proposed luxury condominiums, a beach club, villas and a beachfront restaurant at the 10acre site

Seagate is proposing a private “resident-only” pedestrian overpass crossover to straddle both sides of Estero Boulevard

The developers are proposing to keep three acres of the property open for public use, including a beach park and walking path Access to Matanzas Pass on the bay side of the property would be made available with an area for bike parking

The 15-story residential buildings would include 69 units over two stories of parking in one building and another 15-story residential building with 68 units over parking for a total of 137 condo units Amenities would include spa facilities, outdoor pools and cabanas

There would be four units of single-family bay homes and a 29,000 square-feet beach club

The private beach club would extend two stories high and would be accessible by a private overpass across Estero Boulevard The club would have 35 parking spaces

According to plans submitted to the town, the project would also include a linear park and fountain

The beachfront restaurant would be open to the public and total 7,500 square feet with a 2,500-square-foot dining terrace

The development will need both approval from the Local Planning Agency and Town of Fort Myers Beach C o

Development

The developers are seeking eight deviations from the town’s local development code including limits on multifamily residential height, parking regulations, community design standards, maximum floor ratio intensity and setback requirements

The Red Coconut RV Park, which operated for decades as an iconic fixture on Fort Myers Beach along with small shops, was destroyed by Hurricane Ian

Captiva Island Inn accepting reservations

By TIFFANY REPECKI trepecki@breezenewspapers com

The Captiva Island Inn on Captiva recently reopened its doors for reservations and guests

Cottages and suites are available to book, as well as two vacation rental homes

“We are now taking reservations for our one-bedroom

Penthouse Suite, three-bedroom Villa, five-bedroom Celebration House and five-bedroom Harbour House,” it shared

For additional information about the Inn or for reservations, please visit https://captivaislandinn com/ or call 239-395-0882.

The Captiva Island Inn is at 11508 Andy Rosse Lane, Captiva

VCB’s Savor the Shore campaign returns, encourages residents to visit local restaurants

The Lee County Visitor & Convention Bureau has brought back the Savor the Shore awareness campaign to encourage residents to enjoy access to local restaurants during the off-season

The off-season is a great time for residents to escape the routine and enjoy an evening out in the Fort Myers area

Savor the Shore is happening now though through Aug 11 and spotlights Lee County’s unique, diverse neighborhoods and restaurants

Savor the Shore’s multimedia campaign poses the question, “What’s for dinner tonight?” and inspires locals to “See what’s cookin’!” at restaurants throughout Lee

County Launched in the summer of 2023, Savor the Shore is part of the VCB’s efforts to help local restaurants recover from the effects of Hurricane Ian in September 2022 The VCB is committed to supporting the tourism industry by creating awareness and encouraging locals to support hometown businesses

The VCB is running a multi-week advocacy campaign, which includes print, social, email, radio and television promotions

For additional information about the effort, please visit leevcvb com

Plans for large retail center off North River Road drawing interest from nearby residents

Site proposal shows 175,360-square-foot anchor, three outparcels

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Tarpon schools now moving along the coast

Lately, Boca Grande has definitely been tarpon central, although the pass population has now thinned quite a bit with many more schools or pods moving along the coast both north and south of the inlet Tarpon are also working the inside along the ICW throughout Pine Island Sound from Boca down to the Sanibel Causeway

Local night fishing around area bridges will keep improving as the weeks go by depending on the amount of toxic water releases from Lake Okeechobee this summer Although Charlotte Harbor’s deep holes and huge baitfish schools draw lots of tarpon to the area each year, typically hosting them there all the way into late fall, it’s not happening quite yet Pass and coastal hunts are still more productive.

Capt George Tunison

If you still plan on fishing Boca Grande, make sure you are there very early in the morning as it’s been shutting off quickly as the sun gets up Fishing the 4-8 a m shift has been by far the most productive catch window times

No experience hunting tarpon along the coast?

I highly recommend you seek help from an experienced fellow angler or hire a guide that specializes in this type of tarpon fishing Either one will save precious time and money and jump start your tarpon game Joining the No 1 tarpon club in the USA, the Cape Coral Tarpon Hunters Club, is another great way to get up to speed and become a successful silver king angler

Beach or coastal fishing from a boat involves first spotting moving schools of tarpon along the coast then motoring out and ahead of their intended, or what you think is their intended travel path without spooking them, setting up and then waiting for them to come into casting or baiting range

Coastal presentations range from dead baiting on the bottom using a variety of fish, including cut mullet, catfish, Spanish mackerel or possibly the best of all, shad, to presenting small live baits like small pass and blue crabs, pinfish or threadfins under a small float

Then we have the casters, tossing their favorite hard,

TARPON, page 35

Tortugas take first two games in series with Mussels

Daytona hangs on to beat For t Myers, 5-4, in after noon contest

FORT MYERS – The Daytona Tortugas took a 2-0 series lead with a 5-4 win over the Fort Myers Mighty Mussels Wednesday afternoon at Hammond Stadium

The Tortugas (41-41, 10-6) led wire to wire to get to the 500 mark for the first time since May 18 Fort Myers (42-39, 11-5) saw multiple late rallies fall short as the team closed the deficit to one run in the eighth inning.

In the top of the first, the Tortugas' Ricardo Cabrera walked before a Sammy Stafura single set up first and second The next batter was Ariel Almonte, who lifted a fly ball to right field Carlos Aguiar made the catch but his throw to third was up the line, allowing Cabrera to score from second and put Daytona ahead 1-0

In the second inning, Esmith Pineda connected on a leadoff double off of Mussels’ starter Ricky Castro (3-2) The next two Tortugas executed a sacrifice bunt and sacrifice fly to make it 2-0

Later in t Yerlin Confidan slapped a double to left c make it 3-0.

In the bottom of the frame, the Mussel Nick Lucky tripled to left-center with one out for the first Fort Myers’ hit of the game He then scored on a wild pitch to make it 3-1

In the bottom of the third, the game w into a 1-hour and 17-minute rain delay with the Mussels having the tying run on first with two outs Following the delay, Drew Pestka needed just one pitch to retire the side and escape the jam

McCarthy was picked off at second to silence the threat

The Mussels put the leadoff man and tying run on base to open the ninth but failed to move the runner past first as Cody Adcock picked up his fifth save of the season

The teams combined to go 1-for-18 with runners in scoring position and made five total errors on the day

The Mussels were scheduled to return to action Thursday, with the series continuing tonight at 7:05, Saturday (6:05 p m ) and Sunday (12:05 p m ), before the four-day All-Star break

Coverage begins at 6:45 p m on the Mighty Mussels Baseball Network

Tor tugas homer three times to take series opener, 9-0

FORT MYERS – The Daytona Tortugas homered three times to defeat the Fort Myers Mighty Mussels 9-0 in the

The Tortugas continued to execute small ball in the fourth, as second baseman Johnny Ascanio laid down an RBI sacrifice bunt to make it 4-1. Daytona added a run in the sixth on a sacrifice fly from Ascanio to extend the lead to 5-1

Paulshawn Pasqualotto was solid in relief, tossing four innings of two run ball while striking out five Xander Hamilton covered the final two frames and struck out three, with his lone base runner coming on an infield single

Still down 5-1 in the seventh, the Mussels' Byron Chourio worked a walk Poncho Ruiz then reached on an error to put two on Daniel Pena followed with a two-run single to left to make it a 5-3 game

Trailing 5-3 in the bottom of the eighth, Matthew Clayton was hit by a pitch before Ryan McCarthy followed with an opposite field double to set up second and third Clayton then scored on an error to make it 5-4 before

Stadium

Daytona (40-41, 9-6) right fielder

Ariel Almonte opened the scoring with a wo-run home run in the first off of Mussels’ 2-38, 11-4) starter Cesar Lares (2-3) The had an EV of 105 5 mph and was Almonte’s ome run and 30th extra-base hit of the seaof which lead the FSL Later in the inning, as extended their lead 3-0 on an RBI double from Esmith Pineda

With the score still 3-0 in the third, Sammy Stafura singled to center to open the frame Almonte followed with an opposite field single to put two aboard The next batter was catcher Connor Burns, who connected on a 100 3 MPH opposite field three-run homer to make it 6-0

In the seventh, Yerlin Confidan pulled a leadoff homer to left at 103.8 MPH off the bat to make it 8-0. The Tortugas tacked on another run in the seventh on a sacrifice fly from Pineda to extend the lead to 9-0

Daytona starter Nestor Lorant threw four shutout innings in his first start of the season, allowing just one hit and striking out three while walking a season high four batters Lorant lowered his season ERA to 1 15

Alex Johnson (3-2) tossed three shutout innings of relief, striking out four and allowing one hit while needing just 31 pitches

The lone two Mussel hits were singles from Yohander Martinez and Carlos Aguiar, who reached base three times with a pair of walks

Fort Myers still leads the second half standings in the FSL West by 2 5 games over the Lakeland Flying Tigers

FWC: New fishing license card designs feature youth artwork from Florida Fish Art Contest

Commission last week announced the two new license hard card designs featuring student artwork from this year’s Florida State Fish Art Contest Grace Wang’s depiction of a Florida bass and Emma Nemes’ representation of a snook were selected as the new freshwater and saltwater designs

“We are excited to feature the incredible artwork of Florida’s youth on the new fishing license designs,” said Roger Young, Executive Director of the FWC “This initiative celebrates the creativity of the next generation of anglers and gives everyone the opportunity to proudly support conservation and our world-renowned fisheries by purchasing a license ”

These lucky artists were selected from among hundreds of students who submitted artwork, from any grade bracket, to have their artwork available as a hard card selection for Florida hunting or fishing licenses Hard cards are available to purchase, at an additional fee, by anyone who obtains or already holds a fishing or hunting license, including Lifetime licenses, from the Go Outdoors Florida licensing system

GRAPHIC PROVIDED The new license cards featuring the students’ artworks.

A physical hard card license is a collectible, credit-card style document that is an alternative to an electronic or paper license.

Florida will be hosting the contest again next year Stay tuned for more information Learn more about the Florida Fish Art Contest and how you can participate next year at MyFWC com/FishArt

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 region, Calusa Waterkeeper has 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 champion the fight for clean water,” said Executive Director Connie Ramos-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 ”

Calusa Waterkeeper Capt Codty Pierce will open the meeting, providing a 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, professor

SouthWestern State College, will deliver a presentation on the detection of bacteria in

employed by Calusa 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

Calusa Waterkeeper Inc is a non-profit

organization dedicated to the protection,

Caloosahatchee River and its watershed CWK’s jurisdiction covers four counties in Southwest Florida and encompasses 1,000 square miles of waterways

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

IMAG History & Science Center presents the world premiere film 'T. Rex'

IMAG History & Science Center has announced the world premiere of “T Rex,” a giant-screen film that revisits the world of the tyrannosaurus rex Free with admission to the museum, “T Rex” is one of three 3-D giant-screen films that are shown twice-daily at the IMAG in its Sunrise Rotary Theater

For hundreds of years, dinosaurs have

thrilled and inspired audiences at box offices and museums around the world

The tyrannosaurus rex is the tyrant lizard king that towers above all

Working with a coalition of natural history institutions and top tyrannosaur scientists, Giant Screen Films presents this documentary based on new discoveries in tyrannosaur paleontology as well as new

advances in computer-generated imagery and visual effects

Referencing landmark discoveries and famous archaeological specimens and cinematic depictions from over the last hundred years, “T Rex” explores the interplay between speculation and evidence, and reveals how the process of science refreshes and reimagines our understanding of this

legendary dinosaur

IMAG History & Science Center is open Monday through Saturday, 10 a m to 5 p m ; Sunday, noon to 5 pm , and closed on Tuesday

The center is located at 2000 Cranford Ave , Fort Myers, and can be reached by phone at 239-243-0043 and online at theIMAG.org.

Tarpon: Silver king schools now moving more along the coast

From page 34

soft and fly offerings I’m a fan of large three-hook Bomber stickbaits (with replaced treble hooks to singles) for tarpon fishing local bridges at night but clear water coastal fish typically shy away from such large plugs in the daytime A standard size MirrOlure with trebles removed and a single 5/0-6/0 circle hook rigged to the nose can be deadly on an early morning beach hunt

Other anglers will take the soft plastics route either casting swimbait baitfish imita-

tions like DOA Bait Busters, Storms or my favorite, the Zman Herculez This realistically swimming paddle tail swimbait comes with a molded-in weight and upright hook with another empty attachment point located on the belly to add another split ring and hook if you desire At times, nothing beats the Hogy family of lures with molded in weighted jig heads using their Barbarian hooks or purchase the jigheads and bodies separately

The Barbarian hook design seems to lock onto tough tarpon jaws more efficiently than standard design jigheads, and high-

Garden tools: Indispensable

From page 23

big box stores in packages of eight pairs; I like the gloves that are lightweight knit cotton with blue silicone palms and fingers I wash them in the washing machine and hang them to dry and they last forever!

If you’re wondering where I purchase these gardening tools, I find most of them on Amazon I also use Lee Valley Tools which has an incredible range of specialty tools and hard to find items. Over the years, I have experimented with many dif-

ferent tools and gadgets, and I’ve found that these are the most indispensable garden tools for me Since gardening is my favorite hobby, I look upon these tools as a requirement for my success! As Benjamin Franklin stated, “The best investment is in the tools of one’s own trade ”

Cathy Dunn is a Lee County Master Gardener Volunteer, Garden Club of Cape Coral Member and President of the James E H e n d r y H i b i s c u s C h a p t e r V i s i t www.gardenclubofcapecoral.com. Like us on our Facebook page

BOOM!: July 4th celebration

From page 22

so again, this time at the largest July 4th celebration in Southwest Florida Red, White & BOOM! included various food trucks, vendors and opportunities for businesses to showcase and advertise

The event was free to attend but also included a VIP admissions option replete with a catered meal from Mission BBQ, two adult beverages or soda/water, shaded dining seating, air-conditioned restrooms, customized swag and prime viewing for the fireworks show

F o o d t r u c k s , m e a n w h i l e , o f f e r e d lemonade, funnel cakes, hot dogs and more to the crowd

Chuk Tomin was among those getting food for his family and enjoying the live music

“I’ve been here a while, but I haven't

had the opportunity to go to the event until now,” Tomin said “It's always a nice day with the family I'm from Cape May, New Jersey, and I watch the fireworks there every summer, but here is the first time ”

After the concert wrapped up in the “Boom Zone,” the always-much-anticipated fireworks show took to the sky and did not disappoint the display could be seen from streets away near the Cape Coral Bridge

Attendees had some advice for attending next year

With his first Red, White & BOOM! now behind him, Tomin said not to be afraid to go to a big event in Cape Coral, just make sure to wear cool clothing and lots of sunscreen

Peterson has similar advice “Wear sunscreen, bring lots of water, and come early,” she said

ly recommended Most of these jig head and hooks come pre-loaded with a spring in the hook eye to thread into the nose of the soft plastic eel holding it tightly after rigging

Tarpon will often take a slowly fished topwater presentation like a Hogy eel fished with Hogy’s Keeper Soft Circle Hook This is a plain circle hook with a spring attached at the bottom of the hook to screw into the nose of the soft plastic allowing the bait to be presented floating on the surface with a

fully exposed circle hook for a solid hookup Fish this lure straight at a moderate speed along the surface for explosive strikes especially at night or very early mornings Cold neck towels from the cooler really help in this heat

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

CAPE CORAL ANIMAL SHELTER

Looking

Jingle (Buster) is a 3 to 5-year-old male He absolutely adores people and thrives on making new friends wherever he goes Whether it's a wag of his tail or a gentle nuzzle, he is always eager to spread some canine cheer Now, here's the thing he may be a large breed dog, but don't let that intimidate you! If you've got the space and the ability to accommodate big furry friends, he'd love for you to come visit!

Selune is a under 6-month-old female She is the spunky shelter kitten with a unique twist literally! Her shoulder is luxated, which means it sticks out behind her like a little bat wing But don't worry,

it doesn't slow her down one bit She climbs, jump and plays just like any other kitten Her quirky shoulder just makes her extra special!

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

The shelter is located at 325 S W 2nd Ave., Cape Coral, and hours of operation are Tuesday and Thursday, noon to 5 p m , and Friday through Sunday, noon to 4 p m Please call 239-573-2002 for additional information

Selune

Jingle

Religious

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