North Fort Myers Living

Deadline for Ellsworth 20th ‘Christmas in July’ approaching

Story by Chuck Ballaro

There are a lot of people in need in Southwest Florida, especially after Hurricane Ian brought devastation to so many

Among those needs is air conditioning, which many have had to go without after the storm rendered their units useless

For the past 20 years, Ellsworth Heating & Cooling has held a Christmas in July event, where the company gives away air conditioning systems to those who need them most.

From now until the end of July, Ellsworth will be accepting applications from people who need a new central unit for their home Only those who really need the help need apply

William Barnes, president of Ellsworth, said the

area has given the company so much to them over the past 55 years that giving back is the least they can do

Lennox will be involved, and Ellsworth will donate one on their own Barnes said they are waiting on a third manufacturer to step in and donate Please explain the situation and why you (or a friend) is in such need when you apply.

“We will go through the applications and make sure the applicants are who they are and if they really need one We’ve had people with $500,000 homes try to get free air,” Barnes said “Then, it’s a blind draw There are so many who need it ”

Those who win are also invited to a luncheon at Ellsworth offices, along with representatives for the air conditioning companies.

Considering inflation and the cost of an air condi-

tioning system these days, it has become cost prohibitive for many A new system, with all the work needed to being it up to code, is between $8,000 and $10,000, Barnes said

Among the rules is you must own your home and not be a renter or lessee and the unit must be more than 10 years old. Only one entry per household.

To register, you can come to their office at 1905 N. Tamiami Trail in North Fort Myers, or go to their website at www ellsworthair com

“We’ve done this for 20 years, and without this community we can’t do anything The community is Ellsworth Heating & Cooling,” Barnes said

Prelim values creep up in Bayshore, down in NFM

Story by Chuck Ballaro

Overall valuation for properties within North Fort Myers’ two fire districts show mixed results in the wake of Hurricane Ian, according to numbers released by the Lee County Property Appraiser ’s Office

Bayshore’s overall valuation ticked upward as it has for the past decade.

Overall valuation within the North Fort Myers Fire & Rescue district saw a drop for the first time since 2012, though new construction throughout the area helped make up for the losses

Bayshore’s preliminary overall valuation increased 4 68 percent, up from the estimate of 2 71 percent in June

Overall taxable valuation impacts property tax rates and so operational budget revenue for government entities.

Bayshore, which also handles Babcock Ranch, wasn’t hit quite as hard since there are fewer homes near the river Also, an increase in new construction resulted in what should be an increase of $100,000 in next year ’s budget, Bayshore Fire Chief Doug Underwood said

“The property appraiser was trying to get the newer homes online after the estimates came in. They were working heavily on the damaged structures,” Underwood said “Most of the increase comes from new construction, which offset the damage done along the river ”

Underwood said it will be another tight year, as it usually is with Bayshore, being one of the smallest fire districts in the county It will continue to

fund three firefighters through federal SAFER grants, as it has for years, though the goal is to become fully self-sufficient

“The cost in insurance has gone up, we’re getting quite a bit of increases for buildings and increases in what we pay into the Florida Retirement System,” Underwood said “That will eat up our increases ”

In North Fort Myers, overall valuation sank 6 4 percent in 2022, which was greater than the estimated June number of a 5 53 percent decline

North Fort Myers was hit much harder by Hurricane Ian, but also benefited from new construction, meaning Fire Chief Ronald Beecroft doesn’t expect the budget to be hit too hard.

“The drop was expected from the damage done by the hurricane We were prepared for it,” Beecroft said “We always have reserves and we’ll make it work ”

Reserves will not be necessary, Beecroft said, and it will be business as usual Money that was used for other things, will be shaved off to make up the difference.

“New construction has helped us out with Crane Landing, Del Webb and a couple other places going up So you can expect the same service as always,” Beecroft said

Property Appraiser Matt Caldwell said the real estate market was soaring before the hurricane, and continues to do so despite the hurricane

“People who have lived here more than a day know how heated the market has been, but the hurricane had an impact,” Caldwell said. “When you see the number of houses being built in the

last year, a ton of new construction value was added, more than $3 billion All that development is happening in Cape Coral and Lehigh outside the majorly impacted storm areas.”

Overall, estimated overall just valuation in Lee County rose 11.25 percent over last year. County just valuation went up from $180,629,897,687 to $200,951,353,099, an increase of nearly $18 6 billion

Total taxable valuation increased from approximately $112 6 billion to $120 1 billion, an increase of $7 51 billion or 6 67 percent The school taxable valuation numbers were higher with an increase of nearly $11.49 billion, or 8.98 percent.

Property tax increases are capped in Florida, with owner-occupied residential properties that are Homesteaded receiving the greatest protection, a maximum 3 percent tax increase

Those without it are capped at 10 percent For taxing entities, increased taxable valuation means an increase in revenue at the current rate of taxation; the “rollback” millage rate keeps revenue flat.

The figures for all taxing districts will now be sent to Tallahassee for approval

TRIM Truth in Millage– notices will be mailed to property owners in August

Property owners will then have 25 days to resolve any disagreement in value with the property appraiser

community connection

NFMCA Shoe fundraiser under way

June was a busy month for the North Fort Myers Civic Association.

We hosted our second annual golf tournament on June 17. The North Fort Myers Clash 2023 was held at the gorgeous Magnolia Landings Golf Club

Our tournament reviews are fantastic As one of our lady golfers said “We made a few new friends, won a few raffles, enjoyed a wonderful Italian buffet lunch and got in about four holes of golf before the rain came, it's a charity event which makes it worth it. Can't stop the rain”

The rain check date for completing the tournament on Sept. 16.

Thank you to all our teams who came out to play and support

Thank you to our volunteers We appreciate your support

June kicked off for the second year and my personal favorite besides Christmas the Sprint Back to School NFMCA Shoe Fundraiser!

The NFMCA Board of Directors again this year voted unanimously to match the residents of North Fort Myers donations for shoes and not at the $500 we matched last year This year the NFMCA will match up to $1,000 to purchase gift cards for the children who reside in North Fort Myers

Our purpose is to help alleviate the financial stress a parent or guardian faces in preparing a student for the new school year.I can't think of a better way to start school than a new pair of kicks.

If you are aware of a family who could use some help this upcoming school year, please either go to our website nfmcivic com or our new Facebook page, which is the page with the red logo There you will find the application form and all the information needed You may submit an application for a

friend, family or someone you know could use a little help. The gift cards will be awarded at our Aug. 8 meeting to be held at the North Fort Myers Recreation Center at 6:30 p.m.

Winners will be notified by email or phone in advance

Thank you to Will Barnes at Ellsworth Heating and Cooling Will heard our call about this great Community Give Back and was within minutes the first business to join in and be a sponsor

Ellsworth Heating and Cooling pledged to also match the first $1,000 donated with his donation of $1,000 for the students of North Fort Myers.

Also donating is ABC Septic, North Fort Myers When Heather heard the call she, too, pledged to sponsor a match with the first $1,000 donated for shoes in her community Thank you ABC Septic

The Shoe Giveaway is near and dear to me; this was an idea I came up with last year and we were able to give away $1,150 in gift cards for Skechers shoes. A total of 22 North Fort Myers students in grades Pre-K to 12th are eligible. This is not a contest, this is the NFMCA giving back I am proud of this idea and hope to give away 200 pairs of shoes this fall Please donate Every dollar will bring us closer to our goal

Mark your calendars for July 29 The Mighty Muscles Baseball team is hosting a family night: $10 to enter and The Mighty Muscles will donate $5 to our Sprint Back To School Fundraiser.

More information will be found online.

I'm writing ahead here: Our second annual Hurricane Seminar was held July 11 at the North Fort Myers Recreation Center

Matt Devitt, WINK News chief meteorologist was to start the evening off with what we learned

and what we still need to know

We also were to have Lee County Insurance, NFM Fire and Rescue, along with the Lee County Sheriff's Office. Ellsworth H&A was to give advice on how to prepare your outside AC unit, along with Animal Control, to name a few who were to provide advice on how to prepare Steve Cox, who oversees the Rec Center, was to talk about if the county opens the rec center as a shelter what you can expect

Great information for our community We learned a lot by experience last year but we still need to know more.

NFM Civic was invited to tour the Harry Chapin 55,000-square-foot facility on June 26 What a place, huh! Thank you for all you do and all your volunteers

If you are a North Fort Myers resident, community minded, active and available to donate about 30 hours a year we are always looking for like-minded residents to submit a resume for a directors position on the NFMCA Board of Directors.

Our meetings are the second Tuesday of the month at 6:30 p m at the NFM Rec Center at 2000 N Recreation Way We invite you to come check us out

North Fort Myers Civic Association PO BOX 3920 North Fort Myers, FL 33918 www.NFMCivic.com

Toni Hill President NFMCA

ARC in need of golf carts, volunteers

Story by Chuck Ballaro

The Animal Refuge Center is looking for new or used golf carts to help transport shelter pets around the property or to make general maintenance tasks easier

ARC is down to one cart after having as many as four Two carts became obsolete and another broke down, said Joy Patton, volunteer coordinator at ARC, necessitating request for donations

“There are about 250 cats and 50 dogs onsite We need to run them to the clinic for checkups. The carts allow us to get the animals back and forth, to do maintenance and landscaping,” Patton said.

“Our priority would be to get a cart with a flatbed ”

They would also like a six-seater to provide a mode of transport for taking potential donors around the grounds Monetary donations, to help with the purchase are also welcome.

Patton said ARC also is looking for volunteers to help out in the summer in the wake of seasonal residents heading back north

“We’re reaching out to folks to get more people in We are marketing with posters asking if people are bored with retirement and want to help with our many animals,” Patton said “There are also many people in the workforce who come on the weekends.”

Patton said they also are looking for foster par-

ents for cats and kittens Food and litter are provided and the animals are checked out at the clinic

“It’s kitten season and we’re looking for people to foster kittens until they come of age, either at three pounds or three months when they get their spay and neutering surgery,” Patton said.

To make a donation or for more information, call 731-3535 and ask for Roxanne, shelter director; or Kurt, head of maintenance

To volunteer, you can fill out an application online at animalrefugecenter com Donations may also be made online

Laura Ray takes the helm as AIME's Florida State Captain

Laura Ray, a resident of North Fort Myers, has been appointed as the Florida State Advocacy Captain for the Association of Independent Mortgage Experts.

In this role, Ray, CFO and MLO of Liberty Mortgage Lending Group Inc , will represent and advocate for the mortgage industry

Laura Ray

I am humbled and thrilled to have been chosen for this significant role within the esteemed Association of Independent

Mortgage Experts (AIME).," Ray said via email. "Advocacy empowers us to amplify the voices of our members, and I am proud to be the face of this transformative initiative As Mortgage Brokers, we hold a vital position in consumer lending, with the ability to offer diverse rates and programs from a multitude of lenders

"Our focus, however, is on advocating for the mortgage broker channel to expand our reach, demonstrate our value, and effect meaningful change for Florida's homeowners As an Advocacy Captain, my passion drives me to spearhead initiatives that benefit our members, brokers, and consumers in our state We champion critical legislative reforms, such as curbing consumer calls triggered by credit reports and advocating for the passage of the FHA Helper Act program, enabling zero-down payment options and eliminating mortgage insurance premiums. Also, we are excited to storm Capi-

tol Hill this July, making an indelible mark on the landscape of consumer and mortgage broker issues Our goal is to increase our membership to increase our ‘boots on the ground’ and expand our grassroots Florida reach as we make headway with important legislative changes both on the Federal level and in our beautiful state "

The mission of AIME in this endeavor is “Thousands of members. Dedicated champions in each state. One powerful voice.”

The benefits of this new partnership include

• Mortgage Brokers and Consumers get fast help for legislation that affects lending in Florida

• AIME’s Advocacy outreach with the State Captain Program gives a local voice to Florida

• Connects members in Florida to amplify a strong voice in Advocacy of the mortgage industry

Seneca at Oak Creek holds opening

Story by Chuck Ballaro

Anew development off Bayshore Road has created an outside-the-box approach to 55+ communities, eschewing both the feel of assisted living and the hassle of owning a manufactured home but leasing the land

In late June, Seneca at Oak Creek, located off Bayshore Road, held a grand opening event for community members and prospective residents, featuring food, live music, giveaways and more.

Guests got to meet the on-site professional management team and take guided tours of newly completed one-story model villas, the Community Clubhouse and Amenity Center

Seneca at Oak Creek is designed as a 55+ resort style, maintenance-free rental community

Upon completion, the community will have 184 one- and two-bedroom units that feature a full kitchen, living room and private porches, along with an option for an attached garage.

Randy Thibaut, CEO of Sage Communities, the company involved in the project, said the community is a niche in the market It’s a 55+ community, but not assisted living

“It has all the amenities, social activities, and it’s all included It’s a rental community with one-year or two-year leases,” Thibaut said “The key is having a full-time activities director so there’s plenty for people to do.”

Rob Mintz, vice president of acquisitions at Sage Communities, said the idea of Seneca was five years in the making and survived a pandemic and a Category 5 hurricane

Currently, 30 homes have already been rented, with many people coming to the opening to take a tour with representatives of the five models available.

Susan Stokely of Naples got the tour and was very interested, not wanting to live in assisted living even though she walks with the aid of a cane

“I’m not ready to go to the ‘Pink House,’ but I am ready for a lifestyle change I see this and now I don’t want to go back to Michigan,” Stokely said “This is really great quality They dotted the I’s and crossed the T’s Nothing is left out ”

Residents will have access to a Community Clubhouse and Amenity Center that offers a 24-hour fitness center and active fitness room, an open multipurpose room, leasing offices, property manager office, mailroom and work room

Marcia Madison and her husband Joe were among the first to move to the development, as they decided to downsize from their old home at Sable Springs

“We had a big house and figured this was a good time to sell. We’re very comfortable here. We like it a lot,” Madison said. “There was a lot of upkeep at the old house Here, if something goes wrong, you

call maintenance ”

Five floor plans range from 874 to 1,559 square feet, with introductory rental prices starting at $1,890 per month

Seneca at Oak Creek is the first 55+ community being developed by Sage Communities, which plans

additional senior living communities, The Prado in Cape Coral and Taylor Lakes in Punta Gorda

For more information, visit SenecaOakCreek com or call 230-3910

A view of the kitchen in the "Royal" apartment during Saturday's open house at Seneca at Oak Creek./PHOTOS PROVIDED

The fitness center at Seneca at Oak Creek during its open house on June 24.

ARC’s annual Casino Royale raises record amount

The Animal Refuge Center's 10th Annual Casino Royale raised a record amount of donations this year with preliminary figures indicating $50,000 was raised through sponsorships, ticket sales, the live auction and raffle.

"We are thrilled the community has once again been so generous in its support of the ARC," said Board Vice President Rob Spicker "All the proceeds will allow us to continue providing care to cats and dogs in Southwest Florida, who through no fault of their own, find themselves homeless, injured or abandoned. Thank you to everyone who came and helped support our mission."

Guests at Casino Royale played the night away at the craps, blackjack and poker tables or tried their luck at roulette A buffet dinner was provided by the Hyatt Regency Coconut Point Nine items were featured in the live auction, including two 7night trips to Antigua At the end of the night, guests cashed their winnings in for raffle tickets to try and win one of a dozen baskets and prizes.

This year ' s Casino Royale was presented by Paul and Rosalie Watson. The next major fundraiser for the Animal Refuge Center is the Starlight Auction

on Nov 25 at the Marriott Sanibel Harbour Resort and Spa Sponsorship information will be available soon at www animalrefugecenter com

The Animal Refuge Center is Southwest Florida's largest no-kill shelter. ARC's philosophy avows that once an animal is accepted for adop-

tion, it will not be destroyed to make room for another Its mission is to shelter, adopt and educate All donations go directly to our efforts to care for and find homes for as many animals as it can.

PHOTO PROVIDED

Guests at Casino Royale played the night away at the craps , blackjack and poker tables or tried their luck at roulette.

SWFL Eagle Cam has established a legacy

Story by Chuck Ballaro

Photos Provided by Swfleaglecam.com

The 2022-23 season for the Southwest Flor da Eagle Cam was unl ke any other in its 11-year history

It started even before any eggs were laid as Hurricane Ian destroyed the nest off Bayshore Road, forcing Harriet and mate M15 to work double-time to rebuild, al owing Harriet to lay her eggs right about on schedule.

Eaglets E21 and E22 hatched around the new year and, for a month everything seemed to be the norm with E21 bullying its sibling for food and all the usual things that have happened n and around the nest since the nternat onal y renown cam went live 11 years ago

That changed on Feb 2 when Harr et flew away to chase off some ntruders and never returned Th s put M15 in charge of taking care of two eaglets a good two months away from fledging.

The odds were certain y against the now single parent but despite numerous intruders vy ng for h s affections and the dangers of having to leave his babies alone in the nest as he hunted for food, M15 was able to keep h s brood alive and both successfu ly fledged

Each eag et also went missing for brief spells but returned to the nest E21 flew the coop out on ts own E22 has hung around a little longer than expected and M15 continued to provide for the younger sibling.

Every step of the way the Southwest Florida Eagle Cam has brought fans the momentous occasions and troubling traged es that occur in nature

G nnie Pr tchett-McSpadden one of the Eagle Cam founders said this year has been an amazing experience for everyone involved

“It’s amazing how the eagles have been able to handle everything that has been thrown at them. They’ve given me so much hope. This is one for the record books ” Pritchett-McSpadden said.

The eag e cam has had more than 204 million views from near y every nat on in the world and has been used by teachers worldwide to teach students about ba d eag es and how America s nationa birds l ve It has also spawned a book series about the ate matriarch Harriet and brought bird watchers from a l over get a closer look at the eagles from the church next door

How it started

Harriet and her previous mate Ozzie had nested across the street the Pritchett Farm on Bayshore Road for a ong time before moving to the farm in 2006

In 2012 the Pritchett family decided t wanted to document on video the daily ives of the bald eagles in the nest, so they raised some money, got the necessary approvals and started the Southwest Florida Eagle Cam

“We observed them coming in and out of the office every day Photographers came and took pictures of them as social med a was developing,” Pritchett-McSpadden sa d. “Eagle cams were springing up all over the country and decided to try it out ” Pritchett-McSpadden and her husband and Andy Pritchett, her

brother he ped set it up with their IT experience, then set up a Facebook page, and the rest s history

It started with one camera posit oned six feet above the nesting tree, 60 feet in the a r, equipped with night vis on or nfrared l ght wh ch emits no actual light The eagles do not see or hear anything coming from the camera

The founders had no idea how the eagle cam would be received by the public but they learned soon enough: Thousands watched as Ozzie and Harriet hatched Hope and Honor, the only eaglets given formal names. Both fledged

This made that f rst season (2012-13) the most rewarding n the eyes of the founders.

Har riet remembered with memorial

Story by Chuck Ballaro

On Feb 2 Southwest F orida’s most famous eagle Harriet flew away from her nest on Bayshore Road and never returned, leav ng her mate to care for their two eaglets

On May 19, fans of the famed eagles celebrated the nearly 20 years Harriet lived at the Pr tchett Farm by donat ng a plaque for the eagle matriarch on the fence along the property of the Church of the Nazarene where many eagle viewers come to watch and photograph the eagles

The 2022-23 nesting season had nearly come to an end as E22 had not quite eft the nest and so the pair s youngest was present for the dedication watching from the church snag

The p aque reads “In memory of the Matriarch of SWFL our Queen Harr et, Last Seen February 2nd, 2023

The p aque was donated by Harriet and M15 SWFL Eagle

Addicts The photo was by Marie Chism Photography

Chism started a fundraiser on Facebook to create a memorial for Harriet shortly after it became apparent she would not be coming back.

Donations came via her Facebook fo lowers and they raised so much that the remaining money was donated to the Clin c

for the Rehabil tat on of Wildl fe on Sanibel in Harriet’s memory

Ginnie Pritchett McSpadden, who was not involved with the plaque effort, said there are a lot of Facebook groups that get together to talk about the eagles.

“Everyone wants to try to memor a ize Harriet in their own way It’s hard because people process grief differently. If it gives people a way to cope, I think it’s nice ” Pritchett- McSpadden said “We’ve been so focused on getting through the season I was thinking afterwards we can do something a l tt e more special ”

It is unknown how old Harriet was when she d sappeared after chasing some intruders away from her nest The expected lifespan of an eagle in the wild is 25 to 30 years. However, Harriet was rumored to be a little or even a lot older. W ldlife Conservation Commission records had her at east 28 years old at the time of her presumed death

She had moved to the Bayshore ocation w th her previous mate, Ozz e, n 2006, but was at a nest across the street from the Pritchett farm for several years before that

“It was such a learning experience for everyone and the bond these eagles had was very special,” Pritchett-McSpadden said “We didn’t know what to expect To say we had achieved our original goa would be an understatement at this point,” sa d cofounder Andy Pr tchett online

The following season, a second camera was added, approximately 60 feet from the nest to capture images of the nest action

outside the view of Camera No 1.

Viewers also got their first glimpse of tragedy as E3 died just six weeks after hatching At the t me, those watch ng were aghast but the Pritchetts warned viewers that they would see the best and worst nature can deliver

The 2014-15 season brought a second add t ona camera and even more drama E5 died just 25 days after hatching, eaving E6

the only eaglet to f edge

Even more drama occurred on March 17 when Ozzie was found disoriented and injured by Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commiss on officials and taken to the C inic for Rehabilitation of Wi dlife on San bel for evaluat on

After 97 days of care at CROW to recover from a broken left clavicle and a broken left coracoid bone, Ozz e was released back

Harr et and M15 welcomed two new eaglets, E15 and E16, into the world in April of 2020.

ABOVE: Ozzie and Harriet in 2015. BELOW & RIGHT: Eaglet E7 fledges in April of 2016.

CONTR BUTED PHOTO

SWFL Eagle Cam has established a legacy

Story by Chuck Ballaro

Photos Provided by Swfleaglecam.com

The 2022-23 season for the Southwest Flor da Eagle Cam was unl ke any other in its 11-year history

It started even before any eggs were laid as Hurricane Ian destroyed the nest off Bayshore Road, forcing Harriet and mate M15 to work double-time to rebuild, al owing Harriet to lay her eggs right about on schedule.

Eaglets E21 and E22 hatched around the new year and, for a month everything seemed to be the norm with E21 bullying its sibling for food and all the usual things that have happened n and around the nest since the nternat onal y renown cam went live 11 years ago

That changed on Feb 2 when Harr et flew away to chase off some ntruders and never returned Th s put M15 in charge of taking care of two eaglets a good two months away from fledging.

The odds were certain y against the now single parent but despite numerous intruders vy ng for h s affections and the dangers of having to leave his babies alone in the nest as he hunted for food, M15 was able to keep h s brood alive and both successfu ly fledged

Each eag et also went missing for brief spells but returned to the nest E21 flew the coop out on ts own E22 has hung around a little longer than expected and M15 continued to provide for the younger sibling.

Every step of the way the Southwest Florida Eagle Cam has brought fans the momentous occasions and troubling traged es that occur in nature

G nnie Pr tchett-McSpadden one of the Eagle Cam founders said this year has been an amazing experience for everyone involved

“It’s amazing how the eagles have been able to handle everything that has been thrown at them. They’ve given me so much hope. This is one for the record books ” Pritchett-McSpadden said.

The eag e cam has had more than 204 million views from near y every nat on in the world and has been used by teachers worldwide to teach students about ba d eag es and how America s nationa birds l ve It has also spawned a book series about the ate matriarch Harriet and brought bird watchers from a l over get a closer look at the eagles from the church next door

How it started

Harriet and her previous mate Ozzie had nested across the street the Pritchett Farm on Bayshore Road for a ong time before moving to the farm in 2006

In 2012 the Pritchett family decided t wanted to document on video the daily ives of the bald eagles in the nest, so they raised some money, got the necessary approvals and started the Southwest Florida Eagle Cam

“We observed them coming in and out of the office every day Photographers came and took pictures of them as social med a was developing,” Pritchett-McSpadden sa d. “Eagle cams were springing up all over the country and decided to try it out ” Pritchett-McSpadden and her husband and Andy Pritchett, her

brother he ped set it up with their IT experience, then set up a Facebook page, and the rest s history

It started with one camera posit oned six feet above the nesting tree, 60 feet in the a r, equipped with night vis on or nfrared l ght wh ch emits no actual light The eagles do not see or hear anything coming from the camera

The founders had no idea how the eagle cam would be received by the public but they learned soon enough: Thousands watched as Ozzie and Harriet hatched Hope and Honor, the only eaglets given formal names. Both fledged

This made that f rst season (2012-13) the most rewarding n the eyes of the founders.

Har riet remembered with memorial

Story by Chuck Ballaro

On Feb 2 Southwest F orida’s most famous eagle Harriet flew away from her nest on Bayshore Road and never returned, leav ng her mate to care for their two eaglets

On May 19, fans of the famed eagles celebrated the nearly 20 years Harriet lived at the Pr tchett Farm by donat ng a plaque for the eagle matriarch on the fence along the property of the Church of the Nazarene where many eagle viewers come to watch and photograph the eagles

The 2022-23 nesting season had nearly come to an end as E22 had not quite eft the nest and so the pair s youngest was present for the dedication watching from the church snag

The p aque reads “In memory of the Matriarch of SWFL our Queen Harr et, Last Seen February 2nd, 2023

The p aque was donated by Harriet and M15 SWFL Eagle

Addicts The photo was by Marie Chism Photography

Chism started a fundraiser on Facebook to create a memorial for Harriet shortly after it became apparent she would not be coming back.

Donations came via her Facebook fo lowers and they raised so much that the remaining money was donated to the Clin c

for the Rehabil tat on of Wildl fe on Sanibel in Harriet’s memory

Ginnie Pritchett McSpadden, who was not involved with the plaque effort, said there are a lot of Facebook groups that get together to talk about the eagles.

“Everyone wants to try to memor a ize Harriet in their own way It’s hard because people process grief differently. If it gives people a way to cope, I think it’s nice ” Pritchett- McSpadden said “We’ve been so focused on getting through the season I was thinking afterwards we can do something a l tt e more special ”

It is unknown how old Harriet was when she d sappeared after chasing some intruders away from her nest The expected lifespan of an eagle in the wild is 25 to 30 years. However, Harriet was rumored to be a little or even a lot older. W ldlife Conservation Commission records had her at east 28 years old at the time of her presumed death

She had moved to the Bayshore ocation w th her previous mate, Ozz e, n 2006, but was at a nest across the street from the Pritchett farm for several years before that

“It was such a learning experience for everyone and the bond these eagles had was very special,” Pritchett-McSpadden said “We didn’t know what to expect To say we had achieved our original goa would be an understatement at this point,” sa d cofounder Andy Pr tchett online

The following season, a second camera was added, approximately 60 feet from the nest to capture images of the nest action

outside the view of Camera No 1.

Viewers also got their first glimpse of tragedy as E3 died just six weeks after hatching At the t me, those watch ng were aghast but the Pritchetts warned viewers that they would see the best and worst nature can deliver

The 2014-15 season brought a second add t ona camera and even more drama E5 died just 25 days after hatching, eaving E6

the only eaglet to f edge

Even more drama occurred on March 17 when Ozzie was found disoriented and injured by Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commiss on officials and taken to the C inic for Rehabilitation of Wi dlife on San bel for evaluat on

After 97 days of care at CROW to recover from a broken left clavicle and a broken left coracoid bone, Ozz e was released back

Harr et and M15 welcomed two new eaglets, E15 and E16, into the world in April of 2020.

ABOVE: Ozzie and Harriet in 2015. BELOW & RIGHT: Eaglet E7 fledges in April of 2016.

CONTR BUTED PHOTO

into the wild near the nest.

On Sept 27, after he was seen fighting with a male eagle in the area, Ozzie was found injured and again admitted back into CROW’s care, where he died two days later

Enter M15

A new male, dubbed M15, bonded and mated with Harriet ahead of several other suitors. The 2015-16 season turned out to be an interesting one.

After the season started a month late, one of the eaglets, E8, had to be cut free from the nest after getting monofilament fishing line wrapped around its leg and foot just two weeks after hatching E8 was taken to the CROW clinic for treatment and released back to the nest three days later

Meanwhile, the Southwest Florida Eagle Cam’s future was placed in doubt when the nest deteriorated and collapsed. Also, after an owl attack, E8 was again hospitalized after being found with a broken leg The eaglet spent three months at CROW before being released

The 2016-17 season, after Harriet and M15 returned to rebuild the nest, saw Harriet produce another unviable egg and E9, who thrived being the only chick, earned the record for the shortest time to fledge.

After two more successful seasons, 2019-20 proved heartbreak and hope The first clutch of eggs produced an unviable egg and the death of E14 from a broken blood feather.

For the first time, Harriet produced a second clutch, which hatched just as COVID came around at the end of March This time, both eaglets fledged

In 2020-21, eaglets E17 and E18 were removed from the nest by CROW after contracting Avian chlamydiosis, a bacterial disease commonly carried by birds

Throughout all this, the Southwest Florida Eagle Cam has added two more cameras, one close to the pond to capture the activity going on there, and a fourth is the Cam 360, located in the nest tree and the first-ever live camera in history to capture a 360degree look into a bald eagle’s daily activity This cam allows you to click and drag to any viewing area

These cameras have shown many things that were overlooked over the years We are now able to see the moment the eaglets fledge, close-ups of the eggs when we see a pip and shots of where the birds are on the tree, as well as the encounters with the lone natural

enemy of bald eagles the great-horned owl, a species which has constantly knocked the local pair off their tree, perhaps to take their nest This year, a pair of the owls raised a brood of their own on the Pritchett property in nest built and abandoned by the eagles.

“We have come so far and our story has evolved so much with Harriet and Ozzie and Hope and Honor to now and so much in between,” PritchettMcSpadden said “We’ve had life soaring and some death Our goal was to bring the life of these raptors to the population and it’s been a job well done ”

The future?

What does the future hold for the Eagle Cam after the death of Harriet?

It’s anyone’s guess

Harriet laid two eggs in December of 2020.

Harriet keeping her eggs warm in December of 2013.

Pritchett McSpadden told WGCU recently that she isn’t sure what will happen after the season winds down.

“We have to wait and see what happens in the next several months. Whoever ends up in the nest will have big talons to fill A lot of people pulled from her (Harriet's) strength and energy That’s why the cams have been so popular,” Pritchett McSpadden said

The cameras will be brought down for maintenance and repairs, with this year being especially

key because of damage caused by Hurricane Ian

As for next season, Pritchett McSpadden said right now next season is a go, depending on what Mother Nature has in store for the nest.

The big question is whether M15 will return, this time with a mate Or if a mature offspring will return to the nest Or if the owls take the nest and they start an owl cam Pritchett McSpadden said she doesn’t know what will happen

If M15 does return, Pritchett McSpadden said she would finally give the male eagle the name it de-

serves, as Ozzie got She said she would get help from the community to choose a name for M15 and his new mate.

They wanted to do that this past year, but with everything that happened with the storm, it never came to pass

“We just know we are thankful and very proud of this journey Being able to talk about it today is very cool,” Pritchett McSpadden said

NFMCA awarded scholarships to trio

Story by Chuck Ballaro

The North Fort Myers Civic Association has made going to college a little bit easier for three North Fort Myers teens

The organization awarded three $1,000 Mark Lipton Scholarships (named after the late director of the civic association who died in 2018) during its regular meeting in June, something the organization has done the past several years.

The recipients had to live in North Fort Myers to receive the award, but could attend a high school outside the area

This year ’s winners were Cosette Lipscomb, Madilyn Jacoby and Britton Deleacaes, for their excellence in the classroom and giving back to the community

Lipscomb, a graduate of Cape Coral High School, was very involved in school clubs, class treasurer and a member of the National Honor Society. She also scuba dives, volunteered more than 100 hours

at the Harry Chapin Food Bank and is working toward a black belt in Taekwondo.

She will attend Florida International University where she will major in marine biology She was asked by Debra Ballard, who heads the scholarship committee to bring clean water back to Southwest Florida

“I’m very excited I think what the group does is great for the community and this scholarship will help me in my education,” said Lipscomb, who has received other scholarships as well.

Jacoby, a graduate of Mariner High School, took five AP classes such as calculus and engineering and design She also did an internship at Avalon Engineering and took every engineering course offered at the school She joined clubs like Mu Alpha Beta, Technology Student Association

Jacoby will attend Georgia Tech in the fall and major in civil engineering. She was very excited to earn the award because it would allow her to come home and bring the area into the future

“This is going to help me pay for college, learn

and then come back and help my community,” said Jacoby, who has also received other scholarships. “Every little bit helps ”

Deleacaes, who did not attend the event, graduated from North Fort Myers High School, and would like to start a career as a marine mammal care specialist this summer She will attend the University of South Florida and major in marine biology and minor in psychology.

Deleacaes was a member of the color guard and her coach called her a role model and that she was a passionate and natural performer and driven to excellence

Ballard implored the recipients to return home after college, as their community needs them

“This is our future We have to nurture them, keep them and bring them back here to Lee County,” Ballard said. “We don’t want you to attend college and disappear.”

From left, North Fort Myers Civic Association chair Debby Ballard, scholarship recipients Cosette Lipscomb and Madilyn Jacoby and NFMCA vice president Christy-Lee Iwanow pose with their big check at the NFMCA meeting on June 13 at the Recreation Center. Not pictured is recipient Britton Deleacaes . /CHUCK BALLARO

Habitat dedicates new home in Fort Myers

Story by Chuck Ballaro

Not long ago, Christie Sowell and her family lived in a two-bedroom apartment with a triple bunk bed to accommodate her children.

In June, the Sowell family celebrated being new homeowners during a dedication ceremony for Habitat for Humanity marking the first completed home of its new affordable housing development in Fort Myers

And Sowell said she would be around to make sure to help the walls and doors go up on the other homes in this neighborhood.

Sowell, with the help of Coca-Cola Beverages Florida and countless other volunteers, helped build a 1,300-square-foot, four-bedroom home, for which she was grateful

“It’s been a long process A lot of sweat and early Saturday mornings coming out here and making it work It definitely paid off,” Sowell said Sowell went above and beyond to make sure she put in the 300 hours of sweat equity, even donating extra hours to other homeowners behind on their commitment

“Even when my hours were complete, I would come and do painting and chill with the Coca-Cola family and keep my presence around here,” Sowell said “There are quite a few homes that need to be built Walls will be raised outside my doors Why not come out and help?”

The new HOA community is located between McCormick Street and Prospect Avenue on six acres. The community will feature 29 single-family homes when it’s completed within the next two years

The need for affordable housing in Southwest Florida has always been an issue, and it was only made worse by Hurricane Ian Many families have come through the doors at Habitat looking for help in finding an affordable home.

Many families don’t qualify for a home for a variety of reasons, but they do get help in being put on a path to ownership in other ways

Becky Lucas, CEO for Habitat for Humanity for Lee and Hendry Counties, said it’s exciting to start a new neighborhood and give people the opportunity to fulfill the American dream of owning their own home

“We purchased this land 10 years ago, so this is a long time coming. This is a desirable area for Habitat families. We put in the infrastructure, the roads, and it was supposed to start in January,” Lucas said “Because of the hurricane, it was postponed ”

Jack Palmorn, general manager of Fort Myers Coca-Cola Beverages Florida, said his team jumped right in, adding he treated it at first as a competition before learning what it was really about

“My plan was to hurry up and paint this house to show the power of Coke Florida. I met the power of

love,” Palmorn said “When you see all these people wanting to participate It wasn’t about what company was dominant It was what you needed and we got it. That was a beautiful thing.”

Since 1982, Habitat has partnered with nearly 1,800 families to help them achieve their dream of affordable homeownership

Alongside volunteers, Habitat homeowners help

build their own homes by completing more than 300 hours of sweat equity, in addition to attending financial education classes, paying $2,000 in closing costs and committing to pay a zero-interest mortgage set at no more than 30 percent of their monthly income.

Christie Sowell holds the keys to her new home with Jack Palmorn, general manager of Fort Myers Coca-Cola Beverages Florida, during a dedication ceremony for Habitat for Humanity marking the first completed home of its new affordable housing development in Fort Myers ./CHUCK BALLARO

Bohanon hosts free football clinic for kids

Story by Chuck Ballaro

Kids between the first and eighth grades got a chance to train the same way the professionals do, and you didn’t have to be a football player to take part in the recent seventh-annual free football clinic sponsored by the Tommy Bohanon Foundation. The event was held at North Fort Myers High

School, where nearly 300 kids, as well as dozens of coaches and volunteers came out for a day of training and fun

Bohanon said the camp features the same drills you would see in a major college or NFL training camp and gets kids out instead of playing video games

“The kids get great coaching from the local high school and college coaches It’s a great day to come out here and give these kids a real chance to learn something,” Bohanon said

Jaida Ross , 11, catches a pass during a drill at the seventh-annual Tommy Bohanon Foundation football camp at North Fort Myers High School./CHUCK BALLARO

“Even though it’s called a football camp, it’s a camp for all.”

Among the many volunteer coaches was Steve Brown, who coaches the 12U Pop Warner program at North Bohanon grew up in the Red Knights program and has grown to help kids in the community

“We’re in the offseason, so it gives us a chance to interact with the kids we cannot see,” Brown said “The kids get to see some of their friends and there is a huge group of coaches here So you get exposure to different techniques and coaching styles you aren’t used to ”

Most of the high school coaches were from Riverdale High School, as were many of the volunteers. Miguel Clarke, who plays for the Raiders, served as a volunteer to help mentor these kids.

“We want to be role models for the kids We want to teach them selfconfidence, push them past their limits and give 100 percent all the time,” Clarke said “Some of these kids came here nervous and stuck to their older brothers There’s a lot of confidence They just have to believe in themselves ”

The great thing about this camp is that many of the drills stressed agility, which can be applied to many sports. Also, it wasn’t just for boys and several girls took part.

Gavin Risinger, 12, plays Pop Warner football for North. He learned about the camp from his mom and wanted to do it

“I want to learn about offensive and defensive lineman drills I also want to get out and do something this summer because I’ve been bored at home,” Risinger said “I haven’t done much working out at home and I hope this helps ”

The Tommy Bohanon Foundation is a 501c3 nonprofit organization that is dedicated to supporting young athletes to reach their highest potential on and off the playing field.

For more information or to donate, see tommybohanonfoundation.org

Tommy Bohanon barks out instructions at the seventh-annual Tommy Bohanon Foundation football camp at North Fort Myers High School. /CHUCK BALLARO