Cape Coral Weekend Breeze

BRC members resign en masse

Budget Review Committee appointees quit city advisory board in wake of chair’s ouster

By MEGHAN BRADBURY news@breezenewspapers com

In the wake of a Cape Coral City Council vote ousting the chair of its Budget Review Committee Wednesday night, remaining appointees resigned Thursday morning

The BRC elected a new chair at its morning meeting and she sent all committee mem-

“(I want to) Let everyone know that the entire board resigned today in protest of last night’s dismissal and overall comments that have been made by the council. I reiterated, before my resignation, how demeaning those were to the former BRC.” Joanne Gruber, BRC

bers and former chair Tom Shadrach notification of the actions “I wanted to do two things in this email,”

Joanne Gruber wrote.

“Let everyone know that the entire board resigned today in protest of last nights dis-

Breakfast and lunch available at no cost to students at all Lee County Public Schools

By MEGHAN BRADBURY news@breezenewspapers com

No child attending school in Lee County will go hungry this school year

Once again, when students return on Aug 10 they will receive a free breakfast and lunch throughout the 2023-2024 school year

“Our priority has always been and will continue to be student focused They are the heart of our business,” Food and Nutrition Services Director Kandy Messenger said “Providing meals to all of our students at no cost for them

is vital to their ability to learn. A child cannot learn if they are hungry ” Due to the overall economic need in Lee County, the School District of Lee County has q u a l i f i e d f o r t h e C o m m u n i t y E l i g i b i l i t y Program since 2017 With the district qualifying for this program, every student in the dis-

See LEARNING, page 27

When students return on Aug 10 they will receive a free breakfast and lunch throughout the 2023-2024 school year

missal and overall comments that have been made by the council I reiterated, before my resignation, how demeaning those were to the former BRC

“Secondly, thank you to this great team of very educated, professional and dedicated citizens It was a privilege to get to know you

See BRC, page 28

Habitat program available for hurricane repairs

City,

By CJ HADDAD cjhaddad@breezenewspapers com

Low-income families in Southwest Florida still working to repair their homes after Hurricane Ian may be eligible for assistance from the local arm of a nationwide nonprofit Habitat for Humanity of Lee and Hendry Counties is currently accepting applications for its Hurricane Recovery Home Repair Program The program is designed for lowincome residents who own their homes in Lee County Examples of repairs may include but are not limited to roof repair or replacement, siding, drywall, painting, windows and doors, air conditioning, well and septic, electrical, plumbing, and more

“At the core of our mission, we are a housing ministry above everything, said Director of Communications at Habitat for Humanity of Lee and Hendry Counties, Cece Schepp “ So, when we saw the aftermath of Hurricane Ian and experienced the aftermath as staff and we also lost our office building and restore locations we still came together and worked in our warehouse to find a solution and thought about ‘How do we help families in this moment?’ Through this program is the way that we developed that ”

The city of Cape Coral has teamed up with Habitat in the effort

City spokesperson Lauren Kurkimilis said Cape Coral’s role in this partnership is the

See HABITAT, page 27

Cape Coral property owners looking at higher taxes & fees

City facing challenges of growth, greater personnel costs and the growing cost of providing services to residents

By MEGHAN BRADBURY news@breezenewspapers com

Cape Coral property owners are looking at the possibility of higher taxes and fees next year

Cape Coral City Council approved the proposed solid waste collection rate, fire service assessment recovery rate, stormwater rate, as well as set the not-to-exceed millage rate Wednesday

The elected board capped the property tax rate at the current millage, meaning those whose property increased in value may pay more up to 3 percent for Homesteaded property, up to 10 percent for properties not owner-occupied

The cap means Council can reduce the millage as the budget process continues but cannot make it higher

The votes on fees and assessments also are not final pending two public hearings to be held in September

Proposed solid waste assessment fee: increase

The City Council approved option A, a 4 82 percent CPI increase with a total assessment per dwelling of

$304 37 regarding residential solid waste assessment The public hearing is set for Aug 30

The fee is broken down to $159 60 for collection services for Waste Pro; $82 28 for disposal fees - Lee County; $48 82 for Cape Coral operating and personnel costs; $1 50 for tax collector costs and $12 17 for statutory discount recovery

“Increasing the rate itself, it doesn’t go to Waste Pro, it comes to us By doing what we are doing today and providing this increase in rates to match a future contract, you will have resources to cover the additional percent,” Financial Services Director Mark Mason said

Interim City Manager Michael Ilczyszyn said staff recommended option A as they have some pending litigation they are working through

Mason said Waste Pro is requesting a 8 98 percent increase, a 4 82 percent CPI and a 4 16 percent increase withheld in 2022 He said Lee County Waste Division is proposing a 3 6 percent increase in disposal fees in all classes with residential and commercial collection rates

The residential and commercial collection rates will be set on Aug 30 at a council meeting

Lee County Solid Waste Division proposing 3 6 percent increase in disposal fees in all classes with residential and commercial collection rates set on Aug 30

“We have a contract come due in four years Solid waste is increasing throughout the state at an exponential rate,” Mason said, adding that the city's monthly rate is significantly lower than the new contracts happening out there in the marketplace “One of the things we proposed at the June retreat to create a glide path ”

The gliding path is to soften the blow once a new contract is sought out. This, he said, would set aside funds for any future hurricanes, as they saw how much debris a category five hurricane produces

We will “use the excess resources that we are proposing to set up reserves in the future,” Mason said “We will get to a particular point with a new contract and new rates that would likely be very close to proposing on this sliding

scale that is every increasing over time If there is excess resources it allows us to set a rate that would be more even over a period of time and buy down any future rate increases that may occur with CPI ”

The adopted fiscal year 2023 annual residential rates was a 4 16 percent increase with one-time rate reduction at $248 95 The difference with the proposed 2024 rate is $56.

“The largest share of this is change in operating personal cost and setting up reserve for the future for any debris that we may need as far as a hurricane is concerned,” Mason said

Proposed Fire Services Assessment: increase

Council also approved a 70 percent operational cost recovery rate for fire protection services, which supports the General Fund allocation for the Cape Coral Fire Department

“In the past year we funded that portion at 62 percent cost recovery,” Mason said, which resulted in $33 7 million.

With an increase to 70 percent from 62 percent cost recovery, it would yield an additional $13 5 million

“Overall on the assessment itself it increases $69 13,” Mason said, which for an average lot is $100 increase

The storm water fee proposal was also approved at $142, a $7 increase

Mason said the recommended $142 is in need of additional staffing to keep up with the workload and maintenance with the stormwater system The public hearing is set for Aug 30

Proposed lot mowing rates: increase

The lot mowing rates are proposed to increase slightly in all four zones per equivalent lot unit Zone 1 goes from $59 67 to $60 10, a 43-cent change Zone 2 goes from $40 39 to $40 83, up 44 cents, Zone 3 goes from $41 33 to $41 78 and Zone 4 from $39 01 to $39 46, each increased 45 cents

The prices double for a standard parcel

P r o p e r t y t a x r a t e : capped at current rate

The millage rate was capped during Wednesday night’s meeting

Mason said the first step in the long process of adopting the budget is setting a preliminary, proposed millage rate for a trim notice to be sent to homeowners, which has a due date of Aug 4

The proposed millage rate is 5 3694 for the General Fund, which is the same as the current rate

One mill is equal to $1 of every $1,000 of assessed taxable valuation

Mason said with the proposed 5 3694 mills, the city will see an overall value increase of an additional $15 6 million to take into account with the growth in the city and all things associated with the proposed budget and new staffing to continue with the obligation with the city and level of service continue to provide to the citizens

The first public hearing is Thursday, Sept 7, at 5:05 p m to approve the tentative millage rates and proposed budget The final public hearing is set for Thursday, Sept 21, at 5:05 p m to adopt the millage rates and budget.

The assessment rates will be set Aug 30

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

America’s killing field

We’re not afraid that Lee County kids and teens have access to drugs

We are terrified

The spector of what’s on the streets and readily available is the stuff of nightmares

While youth drug experimentation dates back to when members of our editorial board were growing up more years ago than any of us want to admit, there is a difference now

A deadly difference

In the “tune in, turn on, drop out” era, a parent’s worst fear was “radicalization” or arrest for little Susie or Johnny

Those ’60s and ’70s kids who came away largely unscathed grew up to be the parents whose worst fear for their child was addiction as “hard drugs” became more prevalent

Today?

A parent’s worst fear is death

Death from an overdose

Death from a single poison-laced pill

No matter your views on drug use a crime, a personal choice or anything in between the numbers portray a painful reality that got its kickstart in the ’90s with the first wave of the opioid crisis It started with prescription pills, then heroin use as the government tried to rein in the catastrophe its policies and lack of oversight created, now cartel-created pill knock-offs. We mean that literally.

From 1999 to 2021, the number of documented overdose deaths in the U S climbed from fewer than 20,000 bad enough to a staggering 106,699 with synthetic opioids, primarily fentanyl, surging in 2014 from a blip to the top cause of drug-related deaths

“Opioid-involved overdose deaths rose from 21,089 in 2010 to 47,600 in 2017 and remained steady through 2019 This was followed by a significant increase in 2020 with 68,630 reported deaths and again in 2021 with 80,411 reported overdose deaths,” the National Institute of Drug Abuse reports on its website, nida nih gov, citing Centers for Disease Control statistics.

The hard number?

More than 932,000 people nearly 1 million died from a drug overdose in the time period cited

The CDC puts the number now at 187 deaths per day

That’s 68,255 per year

Most are adults

But too many far too many are children

The Georgetown University Health Policy Institute in April cited a report that found “unintentional drug overdoses have accounted for more than 9 in 10 poisoning deaths among adolescents ages 10-19 since 2016, and that overdose deaths increased by 114% in 2020 ”

The report, found at ccf.georgetown.edu, cited CDC data “showing that the median number of adolescents dying of a drug overdose each month rose by 109% from July-December 2019 to the same time period in 2021, and that deaths involving illicitly manufactured fentanyl increased by 182% ”

There are, unfortunately, no easy answers the just-sayno ship sank long, long ago

But there is information out there for adults looking for ways to have conversations with their kids

Drug Free Lee is among the organizations that offer resources and information

With the first day of school set for Aug 10, they have gathered a handful of local speakers to take part in their “Virtual Backpack for Parents” event, which will be streamed through the Southwest Florida Prevention Parents Facebook page

The four short sessions will be posted at noon on the scheduled days but parents can view at their convenience The sessions are:

Local news is good for business

It’s no secret that recent years have been tough on small businesses and on newspapers

A bipartisan bill, the “Community News & Small Business Support Act,” that has been introduced in Congress would offer relief to both newspapers and local businesses For too many newspapers, help can’t come soon enough Economic challenges have resulted in too many communities seeing their local newspapers being forced to lay off staff, cut back on publication days or worse yet close On average, two newspapers are closing each week That hurts local businesses and residents in the long (and short) run. However, despite the challenges, what remains true is that local newspapers make a difference in their communities

Dean

Ridings

Guest Commentary

But, don’t just take my word for it Let’s look at the numbers and why America’s Newspapers has been pushing for the “Community News & Small Business Support Act” to be introduced

A recent national study of 5,000 Americans over the age of 18 was conducted by the independent research firm Coda Ventures for America’s Newspapers, and provides compelling evidence of the importance, relevance and vitality of today’s newspapers in the American media landscape.

Readers told us that their local newspaper makes a difference The study shows that 79 percent of Americans read/use local news “to stay informed” about their cities, counties and communities They also said they rely on their local paper to feel connected to their community, to decide where they stand on local issues, to find places and things to do, to talk with people about things happening in the community, because

they find it enjoyable/entertaining and to be a better citizen

And, contrary to popular belief, readers across all age groups turn to local newspapers and their digital products to stay informed about their communities

Readers also told us they need more local news from their community paper As one survey respondent in California said, “Our paper keeps getting smaller I would like to see more news items, what’s happening in town, what’s new in politics, etc And they need to be quicker to respond to breaking news ”

All of that takes a committed, local staff something the legislation introduced by Congresswoman Claudia Tenney (NY-24) and Congresswoman Suzan DelBene (WA-1) will help to make happen

So, what would this legislation mean to your local community?

Local businesses with fewer than 50 employees would receive a five-year non-refundable tax credit of up to $5,000 in the first year and up to $2,500 in the subsequent four years based on their spending level with local newspapers and local media Our study showed that six out of 10 American adults use newspaper advertising to help them decide what brands, products and local services to buy Newspaper readers also are almost twice as likely to purchase products from a number of important advertising categories than non-newspaper readers, including: automobiles, trucks and SUVs; home furnishings; home improvement products and services; and home services

See LOCAL NEWS, page 6

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Rental rates driven by market & gover nment actions that drive up costs

To the editor:

After reading John Benedict's letter in the July 21st edition of The Breeze, I feel compelled to point out the obvious problems with his dissing of everything from misguided city policies, greedy contractors, greedy and myopic landlords, and the socialistic government in Washington

While some of his points have some merit, he missed the boat on a couple of issues If a housing unit is allowed to deteriorate to the level of a “slum,” the tenant should move out. Of course, this ignores the fact that many of so- called defective housing units become that way because the tenants themselves mistreat the unit while living in them

The “greedy” landlords of single-family homes are forced to deal with ever-marching rise of local real estate taxes, home insurance rates that are rocketing to new levels, floods insurance requirements, maintenance costs that border on unsustainable, and the catastrophic weather that cost most Cape Coral landlords at least their insurance deductible which for many is at least $5,000

Landlords invest in residential rental housing and these investments must have a positive return or the investor will go broke. This is the same as investing in stocks, bonds,or certificate of deposits

The idea that “greedy” landlord are responsible for raising rental rates is ignoring the simple fact that rental rates are controlled by the rental market If a landlord charges too much, the unit won’t rent and this controls the level of rents Some of the problems of residential rental market are the result of issues out of the control of the landlord

Obviously, the problem is that the voters elect the people that control the issues that affect the rates of rents of rental property like taxes, insurance, and regulations So before we point the finger at the “greedy” landlords, we need to look at ourselves when we elect the politicians that determine many of the factors of why rental rates keep going up

George Hoover Cape Coral

Don’t blame the Supreme Cour t

To the editor:

Once again, the press and media gives us a half-truth, saying the court let the people down The Supreme Court did not deny student loan forgiveness They just said the executive branch does not have the power to unilaterally spend taxpayer money in this way If President Biden wants to forgive student loans, he must get a bill through Congress Now the president is trying to do an end run Based on current estimates, SAVE could end up costing the government anywhere from $138 billion to $230 billion (the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office’s estimate) to $361 billion

The Supreme Court did not let anybody down The progressives led the student borrowers on by making a promise the President admitted was very shaky If you voluntarily sign a loan contract you should have to pay it back If anyone let them down, the Democrats did What about the tens of millions of taxpayers who won’t have to absorb the costs of loans they had nothing to do with Pretty sure they don’t feel let down What happens next: Three years of loan payments frozen was an amazing gift You should be thankful you got to pass on them Now student borrowers get to pay back their debt just like everyone else before this scam for votes started Time to be a responsible adult Welcome to the real world

Lou Walker Cape Coral

Histor y should not be whitewashed

To the editor:

In Germany the children are taught the history of the Holocaust in school There seems to be no indication that this knowledge wounds their individual egos, nor causes any damage Middle school children can often absorb truth Once we depart from accuracy in history, we enter the realm of dishonesty. Not a good teaching choice to inspire dishonesty for children When bad things happened and people did them, we most admire the sinner who does not shirk from allocution Having respected authority figures, like teachers, provide false and less unflattering narratives, debases the core lesson of truth telling

Floridian historical apologists are seeking to mollify the Republican assault on historical facts They have re-writSee LETTERS, page 6

Local news: Support the Community News & Small Business Support Act

From page 4

in turn helps communities thrive

For local newspapers, a five-year refundable tax credit would help them hire more journalists to bring you more news! It’s a win-win for local communities Newspapers would receive a tax credit to be used for the compensation of journalists The credit would cover 50% of journalists’ compensation in the first year and 30% of compensation in the subsequent four years This tax credit would only be available to local community papers with fewer than 750 employees and, if they don’t invest in their news-

From page 4

room, they don’t get the credit

And these tax credits are only available to local newspapers National newspaper outlets are not eligible

The importance of local newspapers and local business is the reason Reps Tenney and DelBene introduced the legislation We are most grateful for their support

We need your support, as well, to encourage legislators to enact this legislation

Please contact the offices of your senators and representatives in the U S Congress and encourage them to add their support to this legislation These tax credits aren’t perma-

-ten some history texts to mealy mouth the atrocity of the African slave trade, supplanting knowledge with rather bald propaganda The Republican-approved tone in future school books will be to the effect that kidnapped Africans “developed skills which, in some instances, could be applied for their personal benefit” during the contact with American plantation owners. These skills, the children are invited to assume, ameliorated the loss of freedom, family, dignity, personal autonomy and the absence of societal regard as fully human

If we follow in that flawed logic how would we describe history of First Americans? Should the children learn in school to disparage the First Americans’ response to genocidal barbarity from invaders? Would it be appropriate to suggest that the First Americans lost their health, homeland, cultural integrity, language, family, freedom, dignity and sense of regard as fully human; but at least the French taught them how to scalp fellow humans? That’s a skill, right?

Mythologizing the horror of antebellum slavery will not serve us Codifying ignorance in your childrens’ education is a bad idea Teaching children to be dishonest about emotionally difficult experiences is a dangerous developmental choice to inflict on the next generation

Ellen Starbird Cape Coral

Grandma knows best

To the editor:

A Democrat friend of mine was raised in a Democratic household and his father voted for the party that gave farmers the most subsidies. Makes sense.

He had heard for many years that Republicans are for the rich people and believed that Lately he did some research and found a few Democratic billionaires George Soros, Ophrah Winfrey, Zuckerberg, Gates, and Buffet There were many less-known names He also saw that 60% of all taxpayers who make over $500,000 per year are Democrats Good for them He was happy that the Dems always outraise Republicans for campaign money Don’t tell anyone

He believes in abortion claiming women’s right to their own bodies He is concerned that this hinders their strength in the Catholic faith, a very important special-interest group There always has to be some Catholics that believe a life is a

nent; they will sunset in five years But, these critical five years will allow the newspaper industry the time needed to address the challenges that it is facing from Big Tech, which often uses newspapers’ content without compensation, as well as other technological and market challenges Visit www usa gov/elected-officials for the contact information for your legislators

More local reporting means more access for hometown news that citizens like you rely on And stronger newspapers mean stronger advertising vehicles for local businesses

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

life and it is a violation of God’s law to take it Stubborn people He wonders if they are overly concerned about 50 million abortions.

He loves the open borders Four million people have come into this country since Biden became president That is almost a 400% increase since Trump Sure, it’s against the law and it cost a fortune to feed them, give them education, provide welfare but for a very good cause, the Dems voting base

He loves the blue states where anyone can vote and several times if they try hard enough He is proud of voter harvesting, vote by mail, no ID to vote, never taking people off the roles even if they die and in states with Democratic Secretaries of State, with very little enforcement of the silly election rules

He wants strong action with climate change He loves to see laws thrown at people even if some are counterproductive, like ethanol that pollutes and costs almost double gasoline when you consider the inflation of food prices connected and the subsidies by the government

He likes the electric car laws It may be inconvenient to only be able to drive 200 miles before a charge and takes 1-2 hours but you have to sacrifice for this cause Can’t wait until everyone has to wait that long He ignores the cost of producing electricity for the cars and the distribution cost to the charging places

He loves the handouts from the federal government believing it doesn’t cost anything Thankfully we can just print money at our leisure when we need it and ignore the debt What’s another trillion or two. Glad I don’t have to pay the interest

He feels very gracious to pay off the loans of students Maybe they chose a profession that isn’t marketable but it is education Still, he is thankful for all those people who worked their way through college at great sacrifice without a loan Fortunately, they graduated with a marketable degree and are responsible Americans but they missed out on a great handout

Of course, everyone else is racist Thank goodness for Black Lives Matter They can go into a city and upset the applecart when a policeman commits a questionable shooting Too bad the murder rate within that community goes up each time.

Finally, the big reason he is a Democrat is because his grandmother told him he was a Democrat a long time ago Grandma knows best you know

John Benedict Cape Coral

Editorial: Drug Free Lee to offer prevention info

From page 4

■ Tuesday, Aug 1: Opioids What You Don’t Know Can Kill You(r Kids!): Guy Blanchette, Drug Free Collier

■ Wednesday, Aug 2: Vaping in Plain Sight, Emmanuelle Perez, Tobacco Free Hendry

■ Thursday, Aug 3: Prevention Resources at Your Fingertips, Diane Ramseyer, Drug Free Charlotte

■ Friday, Aug 4: Talking and talking Back About Drugs, Mary Fischer, Drug Free Lee

Drug Free Lee’s mission “is to reduce substance abuse in Lee County by raising awareness of prevention resources

through collaboration, education and inspiration ”

They offer a wealth of information, including a comprehensive list of prevention, support, treatment and mental health care options at drugfreelee org

We thank them for their efforts

Drugs have become America’s killing field

And too many kids have been led to the slaughter

On behalf of its approximately 1,700 newspaper and Solutions Partner companies, America’s Newspapers is committed to explaining, defending and advancing the vital role of newspapers in democracy and civil life We put an emphasis on educating the public on all the ways newspapers contribute to building a community identity and the success of local businesses Learn more: www newspapers org

Dean Ridings is the CEO of America’s Newspapers

It would be fiscally, environmentally irresponsible to repeal climate policy

To the editor:

The Climate Policy must not be repealed, and House Republicans have passed a bill rolling back clean energy tax credits from the Inflation Reduction Act as part of the debt ceiling debate While the proposal would be dead on arrival at the Senate, this is an important opportunity to push back on any plans to dilute or discard climate policy We must get our House representatives by name and thank them or express disappointment with their vote on the bill Climate policy boosts the economy with the U S seeing $40 billion in clean energy investment There are more than 100,000 climate-friendly jobs in the first three months after the IRA became law Applaud any local clean energy investments to make sure we have what it takes to fight for climate justice and better air quality for everyone to live on planet Earth

It’s fiscally irresponsible to roll back climate policy: In 2022, the U S endured 18 separate billion-dollar disasters and extreme weather events cost the U S $165 billion If lawmakers are genuinely worried about the national debt, they should keep the climate provisions of the IRA in place and take further climate action to mitigate the effects of global warming and improve the lives of their constituents We need to make change for the better of the world with more clean energy and allow more people to admire to places they live in after what's happening with the wildfires and smoke coming from Canada to the US. We must reduce carbon emissions and help conserve more energy for all of us for the better of the world we live in

Ashrith Varidhireddy Fort Myers

This week’s poll question:

What do you think about Florida’s new Black history standards?

∫ I have no issue with the standards

∫ I disagree

∫ I’m not following this issue

Previous poll question

How are you looking to budget your back-to-school shopping this year?

∫ I plan on spending more 9%

∫ I plan on spending more; unfortunately, prices have gone up 3%

∫ I plan on spending about the same 3%

∫ I plan on spending less 9%

∫ I can’t do back-to-school shopping this year; we’re going to make do 12%

∫ I don’t back-to-school shop 65%

Poll results are not scientific and represent only the opinions of Internet users who have chosen to participate Vote at capecoralbreeze com

do no t ne c e s s ari l y re f l e c t the v i e w s o f thi s ne w s pape r Oppo s i ng v i e w s are w e l c o me Le tte rs to the e di to r o r g ue s t c o l umns may be e - mai l e d to v harri ng @ bre e z e ne w s pape rs c o m A l l l e tte rs and g ue s t o pi ni o ns mus t be s i g ne d and mus t i nc l ude a pho ne numbe r f o r v e ri f i c ati o n purpo s e s . Re ade rs are al s o i nv i te d to c o mme nt o n any l e tte r o r e di to ri al o pi ni o n o nl i ne at: c ape c o ral bre e z e . c o m.

City breaks ground for new fire training facility

By CJ HADDAD cjhaddad@breezenewspapers com

A facility that will provide training to city first responders broke ground Wednesday in Cape Coral

Cape Coral Fire Department officials say the training facility will provide firefighters with the opportunity to train on realistic scenarios in a controlled environment Officials added the Insurance Services Office sets annual training requirements that include 18 hours of facility training, and that accomplishing this training has been extremely difficult due to the lack of a training facility in Cape Coral and has affected the department’s ISO rating

“This facility is a key addition to public safety in Cape Coral,” said Fire Chief Ryan Lamb “It will improve firefighter capabilities and efficiency of emergency services which will save community and firefighter lives ”

The training facility will be built on 6 29 acres north of the Oasis schools, and west of the city’s Southwest Water Reclamation Facility. Construction is anticipated to complete within 18 months Due to its location in a secure area, the training facility groundbreaking was not open to the public, however the public will be invited to attend the ribbon cutting ceremony

Cape Coral Mayor John Gunter said it’s a positive to be able to bring this to local firefighters

“Having a facility like this where (firefighters) can get some much-needed better

“This facility is a key addition to public safety in Cape Coral. It will improve firefighter capabilities and efficiency of emergency services which will save community and firefighter lives ”

Fire Chief Ryan Lamb

training this will be a state-of-the-art training facility here in Southwest Florida,” he said

“One of our goals is when our firefighters go out to respond to emergency, we want to make sure they’re the best trained We have one of the best fire departments in the state We want to make sure their training equals that And that’s what’s important to the community.”

Lamb said the department hires more than 20 firefighters each year, all of whom require the adequate training protocol There are currently more than 200 firefighters in all of the CCFD

“When they come in, we have to make sure they have the right tools and proper training to get started,” Lamb said

Having to travel to Fort Myers to undergo training, Lamb said having a facility in the department’s backyard will save valuable time and bring improved resources to all

For more information on the training facility, visit capecoralfire com/training

PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE CCFD

Top: Cape Coral Fire Department personnel wield shovels at the groundbreaking for the department’s new training facility Wednesday

Above: Artists rendition for the center to be built on 6-plus acres north of the Oasis schools, and west of the city’s Southwest Water Reclamation Facility.

School District discusses new media access policies

By MEGHAN BRADBURY news@breezenewspapers com

The School Board of Lee County will further discuss the Media Center Access Form at its Monday briefing meeting, which would allow parents to have the opportunity to sign a form, as a way to “help parents/guardians better understand the process for student access to library media materials,” at the beginning of the upcoming school year

Chief Academic Officer Dr Jeff Spiro said the Media Center Access Form has three options forms which a parent can choose

“We felt it was important that parents had the opportunity to direct what access they want their students to have,” he said, saying the district has an “opt out” form

Options include: my child has full access with no limitations for check out from the school media center; my child is not permitted to check out books from the school media center and my child is not permitted to check out books from the school media center that have been formally challenged using the School District of Lee County’s Challenge to Instructional/Media Form

The form also states that “I understand that an alert will be placed on my child’s Destiny account to reflect any restrictions, indicated by completion of this Media Center Access Form ” The form also includes a link that will take parents to a list of materials that have been challenged and reviewed

Last year when the district pushed out the Health Emergency Student Form for parents to sign, only 1.97 percent of parents did not complete the form

“We know they are completing the form,” Spiro said

The new Media Center Access form will be available in FOCUS and must be complet-

Elementary Curriculum and Instruction Director Dr Bethany Quisenberry said each school now is required to have a school committee review process that has a media specialist, literacy coach, an administrator that overcess the media center and a parent representative from SAC or PTO They review the list and make a recommendation to the principal, which then is approved by the certified media specialist. Teachers also must have their classroom libraries vetted, the books they personally purchase, and those libraries are required to be searchable on school websites. The books are scanned into Beanstack’s Classroom Library Connector.

ed at the beginning of each school year

Superintendent Dr Christopher Bernier asked the board for its input regarding the Media Center Access Form in regards to what should happen if a parent does not fill out the form

“What do we want it to default to?” he asked

Although Board Member Cathleen Morgan said she did not agree that they should be giving direction without Board members Debbie Jordan and Chris Patricca present, as it is a really important discussion that she feels those board members would like to weigh in on

“We have a school year getting ready to open and law to comply with,” Bernier responded, adding that they need to release the FOCUS portal and get things appropriately aligned

The board present agreed that the third option should be the default, my child is not permitted to check out books from the school media center that have been formally challenged and include those books that provide parent advisory

There are also two additional forms for parents, a SDLC Parental Consent Form for

Restricted Media Title and SDLC Parent Consent Form for Instructional Use of Restricted Media in Advanced Courses

The first form is to inform parents that a media title was challenged, but was found to have literary merit by the Instructional Materials and/or Media Ad Hoc Committee

The second form for advanced courses lists the book, with the author’s name and that it has been found “to be of literary merit, but contains sexually explicit material,” with the letter giving parents the opportunity to permit their child to use the material

“We will call out the book and author and provide an alternate book and author,” High School Secondary Curriculum and Instruction Director Candace Allevato said, adding that teachers are asked to send the form home a month prior to instruction taking place

House Bill 1069

The board was led through a lengthy presentation Wednesday afternoon regarding media center and classroom library processes as new HB 1069 was signed

Board Attorney Kathy Dupuy-Bruno said HB 1069 not only includes media library

materials, but also includes classroom library material

“The challenge material form, at some point, will be prescribed by the State Board of Education,” she said

The new bill includes material that is pornographic in material, or depicts or describes sexual conduct must be removed from the shelf within five school days of receipt of an objection and remain unavailable until the objection is ultimately resolved

“Parents also have the right to read passages that are subject to objection during public comment at school board meetings,” Dupuy-Bruno said “If the school board denies the right to read the passages due to the content, meeting the pornography prong, then the material must be discontinued from use by the school district If the school board finds that any material violates any of the prongs such as it is pornographic, or depicts sexual conduct as defined, is not suited to the student, is inappropriate for the grade level and age group, then the school board has an obligation to remove the material ”

In addition, HB 1069 mandates committee meetings to resolve objections to instruction materials that are properly noticed and open to the public The committee must include parents of the students who have access to such materials throughout the district

“If a parent disagrees with a determination by the school board after a decision is rendered through the final process, which is an appeal to the school board, the parent may request the Commissioner of Education to appoint a special magistrate,” Dupuy-Bruno said, adding that it must be done within 30

See MEDIA ACCESS, page 9

Drug Free Lee to offer Back to School Virtual Backpack for Parents

By MEGHAN BRADBURY news@breezenewspapers com

The inaugural Back to School Virtual Backpack for Parents will offer four subject areas next week, right in time for back-toschool

“It is the first time, but I expect it to be annual,” Drug Free Lee Executive Director Deb Comella said.

During the pandemic, all five coalitions in Southwest Florida started working together as a way to help problem solve, as many of their events had to be cancelled One of the ideas that stemmed from that collaboration was a Prevention Parents Facebook page, she said

“During our prevention week in May, each county took a different day Each county had a different topic and it went so well

The information was so strong that we felt we wanted to repeat it to offer parents some resources when they send their kids back to school,” Comella said

The Virtual Backpack for Parents event will be streamed through the Southwest Florida Prevention Parents Facebook page

■ Tuesday, Aug 1: Opioids - What You Don’t Know Can Kill You(r Kids!): Guy Blanchette, Drug Free Collier

■ Wednesday, Aug 2: Vaping in Plain Sight, Emmanuelle Perez, tobacco Free Hendry

■ Thursday, Aug 3: Prevention Resources at Your Fingertips, Diane Ramseyer, Drug Free Charlotte

■ Friday, Aug 4: Talking - and talking Back About Drugs, Mary Fischer, Drug Free

Lee

The first day of school for Lee County public school students is Aug 10

“One of the things that we know, almost always, home routines get changed as kids get back to school,” Comella said, adding that the summer routines are more casual. “As they get back on the schedule, also remember to include talking to kids about a whole lot of things Good decisions about drugs and alcohol and screen time to help them become resilient ”

Comella said the great thing about the internet is these topics can be accessed at any time

“The different topics are posted at noon,” she said, but the presentation can be listened to when it is convenient for the parent

“Nothing is longer than 20 minutes It’s really quick A parent can access it after kids go to bed, or during lunch It will strengthen their weapons for substance abuse and keeping their kids free from drug and alcohol abuse ”

Comella said she thinks sometimes parents struggle with how to talk to kids about drugs and alcohol, what they hear and what they might see at places such as the bus stop

The presenters providing the assortment of information are from different parts of Southwest Florida

“The problems are the same, but we are able to access learning leaders from five counties instead of just one,” she said “We are hoping we can give parents one more weapon in their arsenal against drug abuse.”

Media access: District must assure compliance with new state laws

From page 8

days of request made by a parent

The State Board of Education must approve, or reject that is more than seven calendar days, but less than 30 days The cost of the special magistrate is borne by the school district, she said

Purchase of Media and Classroom Library Material

Elementary Curriculum and Instruction

Director Dr Bethany Quisenberry said each school now is required to have a school committee review process that has a media specialist, literacy coach, an administrator that oversees the media center and a parent representative from SAC or PTO They review the list and make a recommendation to the principal, which then is approved by the certified media specialist

Teachers also must have their classroom

libraries vetted, the books they personally purchase, and those libraries are required to be searchable on school websites. The books are scanned into Beanstack’s Classroom Library Connector

Allevato said they have 10 certified media specialist who are working the 98 schools and almost 6,000 teacher classroom libraries

With the new system, teachers will automatically see if the book is either rejected, or approved, when the books are scanned into Beanstack If a book is not approved, the book needs to be removed, but if approved the book can go on the shelf automatically

Teachers can also search a book title before purchasing a book to see the status of the book

“Teachers get immediate feedback about materials for their classroom,” Allevato said

She said now when a district media spe-

cialist approves or rejects a book, the entire district can see the outcome

“Classroom libraries are also searchable,” Allevato said “Every school has a link posted ”

Beanstack will provide a URL link, which will be posted to the school’s website

“These are the classrooms inside of the school It is not tied to individual teacher names,” she said

Parents and community members challenging a book

Allevato said if a family, community member, or stakeholder want to submit a challenge, they now submit a form to mediaservices@leeschools net From there a new step was added, directors can now remove the material if there is a violation based on pornography, or sexual conduct

The book must be pulled within five days,

which is streamlined through Destiny, a resource parents can also use that shows all the books at the schools, and which titles their child has checked out District staff will log into Destiny to determine which materials are at schools

“If a parental consent form is placed on a book, then that will let schools know and flagged inside of Destiny to provide the parental position,” Allevato said

She said they have created a Google sheet, which contains any challenged materials submitted on the Challenge Form The principals get the link of the book title and author and if it is located in their media center they can pull the books

The Ad Hoc Committee meets, makes a recommendation to the chief academic officer and then submitted to the superintendent The school board and attorney then receives the outcome.

CCPD seeks public help to locate man reported missing

By CJ HADDAD cjhaddad@breezenewspapers com

Cape Coral police are calling for the public’s help in locating a resident who has been reported missing

Cape Coral Police Department officials on Wednesday said Barry James Schmalbach, 56, has not been seen or heard from since July 20

CCPD Public Affairs Officer Brandon

Sancho said Schmalbach was last seen around 11 p m on the 20th in the 1800 block of Beach Parkway

“We have no further information regarding the events leading up to Mr. Schmalbach’s disappearance,” Sancho

said “Friends and family are concerned for Mr Schmalbach’s safety because this is abnormal for him not to be in contact with anyone for this length of time ”

Sancho said CCPD’s Major Crimes Unit is hoping members of the public may have a tip that could lead to Schmalbach being located

“Our detectives are looking at all leads,”

Sancho said “Once we get some tips, we’re going to take all of those into account and provide it to our detectives who are going to actively pursue those leads ”

Sancho said the department is “open to collecting additional surveillance” in regards to the case “People don’t just vanish,” Sancho said “Someone has to know something Someone has to see something There has to be video to also support his disappearance ”

Schmalbach is described as being 6foot-3, weighing 200 pounds, with balding blonde hair and blue eyes His clothing description at the time of disappearance is unknown Sancho said Schmalbach has no reported medical conditions

Anyone with information regarding the disappearance or whereabouts of Schmalbach is asked contact CCPD at 239-574-3223 or submit a tip via email to ccpdtips@capecoral.gov. Anonymous tips can be made by calling Crime Stoppers at 1-800-780-TIPS using case number 23017491

Purple Heart veterans to be honored at city event set for Aug. 2

The city of Cape Coral will honor Purple Heart veterans

Being a Purple Heart City, Cape Coral officials said they wanted to pay homage to local heroes who carry that distinction, and will host a special ceremony on Aug 2

The ceremony will take place at the City Council meeting on that date The c i t y w i l l s h o w a v i d e o , M a y o r J o h n Gunter will say a few words, and the city will recognize those who attend who themselves or a family member received

the Purple Heart medal

“We’ve asked any members of our c o m m u n i t y t h a t a r e a r e c i p i e n t o f a P urple H eart, or their next-of-kin, to come celebrate with us on Aug 2,” said interim City Manager Mike Ilczyszyn

The Purple Heart is awarded to service members who have been wounded or killed during service time Purple Heart

Day is nationally recognized each year on Aug 7

“This is a time for our country to remember the sacrifices and the depiction that our service members gave while t h e y w e r e s e r v i n g o u r c o u n t r y , ”

Ilczyszyn said

As for Cape Coral being a Purple Heart City, Ilczyszyn said the city is

“thrilled,” adding, “This is one of the oldest awards given in the military

“Being recognized as a Purple Heart City shows our sentiment and recognition for those service members' sacrifices, and it’s a really important designation that we have ” The city also will host a dedication of a designated Purple Heart parking space in the parking lot on the morning of Aug 2 at 10 a m

Purple Heart recipients can confirm t h e i r a t t e n d a n c e t o t h e P u r p l e H e a r t Recognition and obtain further information by contacting lkurkimilis@capecoral gov or call 239-574-0803

Barry James Schmalbach

Purple Heart recipients can confirm their attendance to the Purple Heart Recognition and obtain further information by contacting lkurkimilis@capecoral gov or call 239-574-0803

REAL ESTATE

Deal with daughter over home ownership now on shaky ground

Dear Mr. Feichthaler:

Five years ago, my husband and I decided to purchase a home with our daughter. The agreement was we would contribute the down payment (which was $200,000, or 50% of the price) and our daughter would pay the mortgage, insurance and taxes We then bought the house, with 50% held by us, the other 50% held by our daughter We thought this arrangement would not only be helpful to her so she could have a home, but would also bring us closer together

Well, since then, things have changed a bit Our daughter met someone and was married last year Even though we live on separate sides of the house, he doesn’t seem to like us all under one roof Plus, since he moved in, they are now requiring us to pay half the mortgage and other expenses

When I reminded my daughter of our agreement, she said she didn’t remember that, and that if we sell the house, she wants to keep half the money!

Eric P Feichthaler Real Estate Law

Our relationship has suffered a bit from this, but it is still OK We want to balance our desire to have a strong family with maintaining fairness (and a roof over our heads) What can we do?

Dear Kristin:

Kristin S

Your situation is so unfortunate, and one I am seeing more and more of -- families trying to take steps to save money while growing closer to each other Many of these arrangements work well, but there are steps that should be taken to improve the chances of success

Although too late for this situation, reducing the agreement to a writing is always a good idea I believe you have no written agreement based on the above, and I am sure you never thought you may need one Whether it be passage of time or changed circumstances, people tend to view the past a bit differently, depending on their perspective With a properly written and executed agreement, many misunderstandings can be avoided, which most times will lead to avoidance of lengthy, expensive litigation

Without an agreement, your daughter does own 50% of the property, which means she also is entitled to 50% of the proceeds at sale Clearly, this was not your intent if she didn’t pay the expenses as agreed The good news is, cooler heads can prevail moving forward You can still come to an agreement, in writing, memorializing the intentions, rights and obligations of everyone involved This agreement may include specifics on expenses and other future considerations

Due to the amounts involved and the potential complexities your new son-in-law may bring to the situation, it is advisable to speak to an attorney prior to proceeding with the agreement I wish you and your family a successful outcome to this very solvable situation.

Eric P Feichthaler has lived in Cape Coral for over 35 years and graduated from Mariner High School in Cape Coral After completing law school at Georgetown University in Washington, D C , he returned to Southwest Florida to practice law and raise a family He served as mayor of Cape Coral from 2005-2008, and

See DEAL, page 15

T HE BREE ZE

Cape’s mid-year condo sales lower, supply higher

The big takeaways for the Cape Coral condominium market in the first half of this year versus a year ago involve a 140% increase in the number of active listings and a 21% decline in the number of pending sales in the pipeline waiting to be finalized

Despite the rising inventory, the current median list price is higher than a year ago even as it has become a much more difficult market for sellers This difficulty for condo sellers is reflected in the 13% gap between the higher median list price and the lower median pending sales price, along with the decline in the number of closed condo sales in the first half of this year versus last year For their part, the increases in median sales prices have slowed from the red hot pace set in the post-COVID boom, but they continue to edge higher compared to a year ago even as our high-end condo sales have all but evaporated in the summer heat

closed sales in June, which was even with the 52 sales in both June 2022, and in May of this year As a point of reference about the market, this was 48% below the 100 condo sales posted back in June 2021 In the second quarter of this year, there were a total of 156 closed condo sales, down 32 5% versus 231 sales in the second quarter of 2022, but up 7 6% from 145 sales in the first quarter of this year In the first half of 2023, a total of 301 condos were sold in the Cape, which was 27 3% less than the 414 condos sold in the first six months of 2022

Bob and Geri Quinn Homing

As of Tuesday, July 25, there were 285 active listings for Cape Coral condos in the MLS at prices ranging from $155,900 to $3 9 million, with the median list price for condos coming in at $329,000 A total of 59 condos were listed at $250,000 and under, with 21 of these units priced below $200,000. We currently have 58 condos listed in the Cape at $500,000 and above, with 12 of these units priced at $1 million and up On July 25 there were 52 condos in the Cape under contract with buyers as pending sales at prices ranging from $174,900 to $665,000 with the median pending sales price at $290,000 There are 18 pending condo sales at $250,000 and under, with eight of these units priced under $200,000 and only two condos in the Cape under contract above $500,000

One year ago on July 26, 2022, there were only 119 condos listed for sale in Cape Coral through a Realtor, ranging in price from $149,000 to $1 65 million with the median list price at $294,000. At that time there were a total of 39 condos listed at $250,000 and under, with 15 of these priced below $200,000 and 15 condos were listed above $500,000 with three of these units topping $1 million There were 66 condos in the Cape under contract with buyers as pending sales, with 26 of these priced at $250,000 and under, and six units priced between $500,000 and $699,900 with one other unit above the million dollar mark at $1 35 million

In the Cape’s overall condo market, there were 52

Bianchi named corporate safety manager at B&I Contractors Inc.

B&I Contractors Inc recently announced that Patrick Bianchi has been named corporate safety manager He brings a wide scope of experience in safety and project management to this important role As corporate safety leader, he will work closely with B&I’s field and operations teams to ensure safety is always our top priority while keeping our company CORE values Quality, Integrity, Teamwork and Safety at the forefront of all the employee-owners minds Patrick will focus on training and technology to reduce risks and eliminate accidents

Bianchi is a Safety Trained Supervisor in Construction; HAZMAT Operations; OHSA 10 & 30; 502 Construction Industry Outreach Trainer and 510 Standards for the Construction Industry

Established in 1960, B&I offices are in Fort Myers, Tamarac, Sarasota and Tampa The employee-owned company specializes in providing HVAC, electrical, plumbing, and building maintenance services for commercial, institutional, and industrial facilities throughout Florida and beyond

In

The median sales price was $282,250 for the overall Cape Coral condo market i n J u n e , o r v i r t u a l l y f l a t w i t h t h e $282,500 in June 2022, and 4 2% below the $295,000 in May of this year In the second quarter, the median sales price averaged $293,242 per month in the Cape’s overall condo market, up 5% from the average of $279,250 per month in the second quarter of 2022, and 7 3% above the average of $273,333 per month in the first quarter of this year In the first half of 2023, the overall median sales price for Cape condos averaged $283,288 per month, or 2 % above the average of $275,875 per month in the first six months of 2022

Gulf access canal condos

In the Cape Coral gulf access canal condo segment, which includes all saltwater canal condos, there were 26 closed sales in June This was 18 2% higher than the 22 closed sales in both June 2022, and in May of this year In the second quarter, there were a total of 78 closed sales in this segment, down 24 3% versus the total of 103 sales in the second quarter of 2022, but 21 9% above the total of 64 condo sales in the first quarter of this year. In the first half of 2023, there were a total of 142 saltwater condos sold in the Cape, down 26 8% from the 194 units sold in the first six months of 2022

The June median sales price was $349,950 for the Cape’s gulf access condo segment, which was 10 2% above the $317,500 in June 2022, but down 1 4% from $354,950 in May of this year In the second quarter, the median sales price averaged $348,420 per month in this segment, up 4 5% from the average of $333,333 per month in the second quarter of 2022, and 1 7% above the

See MID-YEAR CONDO SALES, page 15

REAL ESTATE BRIEFS

To learn more, call 239-332-4646 or visit us online at www bandiflorida com

Stevens Construction Inc. wins Aurora awards

Stevens Construction has won two Aurora Awards, which honor the best in construction within a 12-state region, at the Southeast Builder’s Conference on July 21

Stevens Construction earned an Aurora Award in the best commercial project category for Clive Daniel Home Sarasota Located at 3055 Fruitville Blvd in Sarasota, Clive Daniel Home is a 60,000-square-foot, two-story luxury home furnishings showroom

Stevens Construction worked in preconstruction with Clive Daniel Home and MHK Architecture and Planning for six months to ensure the project could achieve their schedule and budget goals before construction began, providing cost and time savings suggestions

Stevens Construction also earned an Aurora Award for Florida Cancer Specialists & Research Institute in the best

Mid-year condo sales: Cape Coral totals lower and supplies higher

From page 14

average of $342,733 per month in the first quarter of this year In the first half of 2023, the median sales price for Cape gulf access condos averaged $345,577 per month, up 7 3% from the average of $322,083 per month in the first six months of 2022.

Direct sailboat access canal condos

In the Cape Coral direct sailboat access canal condo segment, which is a subgroup of gulf access condos and includes condos with no bridges to go under in the canal system, there were 10 closed sales in June This was down 37.5% from 16 condo sales in June 2022, and 28 6% below the 14 sales in May of this year In the second quarter, there were a total of 45 condos sold in this segment, down 37 5% versus the total of 72 sales in the second quarter of 2022, but up 32 4% from the total of 34 sales in the first quarter of this year In the

first half of 2023, there were a total of 79 sailboat access condos sold in the Cape, down 37 3% from 126 condos sold in the first six months of 2022

The June median sales price was $359,950 for the Cape’s sailboat access condo segment, up 6 7% from $337,500 in June 2022, but down 15 8% from $427,500 in May of this year In the second quarter, the median sales price averaged $386,650 per month, up 7.7% from the average of $359,167 per month in the second quarter of 2022, but down 0 43% from the average of $388,333 per month in the first quarter of this year In the first half of 2023, the median sales price in this segment averaged $387,492 per month, up 8 2% from the average of $358,242 per month in the first six months of 2022

Dry lot condos

In the Cape Coral dry lot (non-canal) condo segment, there were 23 closed sales in June, up 4 5% from 22 sales in June 2022, and even with the 23 sales in May of

this year In the second quarter, a total of 66 condo sales closed in this segment, down 41 1% versus the 112 sales in the second quarter of 2022, but up 3 1% from the total of 64 in the first quarter of this year In the first half of 2023, a total of 130 dry lot condos were sold in the Cape, down 30 1% from the 186 condos sold in the first six months of 2022

The June median sales price was $249,990 for the Cape’s dry lot condo segment, which was 7 5% above the $232,500 posted in June of 2022, but it was 9 1% lower than the $275,000 in May of this year In the second quarter, the median sales price averaged $257,497 per month in this segment, up 5 3% from the average of $244,650 per month in the second quarter of 2022, and 7 8% above the average of $238,833 per month in the first quarter of this year In the first half of 2023, the median sales price for Cape dry lot condos averaged $248,165 per month, or 7.5% more than the average of $230,846 per month in the first six months

of 2022

The sales data for this article was o b t a i n e d f r o m t h e F l o r i d a R e a l t o r s Multiple Listing Service Matrix for Lee County, Fla , as of July 24, 2023, unless otherwise noted It was compiled by Bob and Geri Quinn and it includes information specifically for Cape Coral condominiums, townhouses, and villas, and it does not include any single-family homes, short sales or foreclosures The data and statistics are believed to be reliable, however, they could be updated and revised periodically, and are subject to change without notice The Quinns are a husband and wife real estate team with the RE/MAX Realty Team office in Cape Coral They have lived in Cape Coral for over 43 years Geri has been a full-time Realtor since 2005, and Bob joined Geri as a full-time Realtor in 2014 Their real estate practice is mainly focused on Cape Coral residential property and vacant lots.

Deal: Verbal plan with daughter to buy, pay for home now faltering

From page 14

continues his service to the community through the Cape Coral Caring Center, Cape Coral Museum of History, and Cape

From page 14

interior renovation category Located at 460 N Orlando Ave , Suite 200, Bldg D, in Winter Park Village, Florida Cancer

Coral Kiwanis He has been married to his wife, Mary, for over 20 years, and they have four children together He earned his board certification in Real Estate Law from the Florida Bar He is AV Preeminent rated by

Martindale-Hubbell for professional ethics and legal ability, and is a Supreme Court Certified Circuit Civil Mediator He can be reached at eric@capecoralattorney com, or 239-542-4733

REAL ESTATE BRIEFS

Specialists is a 37,000-square-foot interior renovation within an existing and occupied building into a cancer center, which includes an expansive treatment room, PET CT suite, blood draw room, laboratory, pharmacy,

research offices, exam rooms, check-out, scheduling area and employee lounge With offices in Orlando, Sarasota, and Fort Myers, Stevens Construction guides clients through the entire development and

This article is general in nature and not intended as legal advice to anyone Individuals should seek legal counsel before acting on any matter of legal rights and obligations

construction process The company builds commercial, healthcare and hospitality facilities throughout Florida For information, visit www.stevensbuilds.com or call 239936-9006

August programs planned at Northwest Regional Library

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

Adult Programs

Tech Tuesdays: One-on-One Help

2 p.m., Tuesday, Aug. 1

Need help with a laptop, tablet, e-reader or other device? Are you looking to gain basic technology skills? Staff at the Northwest Regional Library can help with a 15-minute, one-on-one technology help session Registration is required

Knit and Stitch

10 a m , Wednesday, Aug 2

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

Books & Bagels

10:30 a.m., Wednesday, Aug. 9

Do you enjoy robust, engaging book discussions? Join us and share your latest reading recommendations Bagels and coffee will be served

Random Acts of Art for Adults

1 p.m., Thursday, Aug. 10

Learn a new art technique or discover an old favorite at this pop-up art class

designed for adults The project will not be announced until you arrive and seating will be limited to supplies on hand Registration is required

Chess at the Library

6 p m , Tuesday, Aug 15

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

Artsy Adult Craft: Squeegee Art

1 p.m., Saturday, Aug. 19

What in the world is Squeegee Art?

Sign up and find out Registration is required

Tea Time Talks

6 p.m., Tuesday, Aug. 29

Do you enjoy robust, engaging book discussions? Join us and share your latest reading recommendations Tea and cookies will be served

Children’s Programs

Kids Read Down Fines

4:30-5:30 p m , Wednesdays, Aug 2, 9 11 a m to noon, Saturday, Aug 19

Children and teens can earn a $2 credit on overdue fines for every 15 minutes they read in the designated area for a total of $8 in one session Please bring your library card

Birthday Club

2 p.m., Saturday, Aug. 5

Come celebrate your child's birthday month with us at our monthly birthday bash All supplies and light refreshments provided For ages 1-5 Registration for birthday child required Registration begins July 8 and is guaranteed only until the start of the program

Chess at the Library

6 p.m., Tuesday, Aug. 15

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

Ants in Your Pants Dance Party

10:30 a m , Thursday, Aug 17

Shake your sillies out at the library Get ready to twist and shout at this special dance party We’ll boogie down to pop hits and favorite preschool tunes For ages 2-5

Family Storytime

10 a.m., Saturday, Aug. 19

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

Discovery Baby

10:30 a.m., Thursday, Aug. 24

This special interactive program is a play date designed for babies and their caregivers Come and discover lots of easy literacy activities, rhymes and more Please dress babies for some messy play

For babies up to 23 months Your registration is guaranteed only until the start of the program **

LEGO Club

2 p m , Saturday, Aug 26

Join us for a short story and Lego building activities Legos provided for use during this program

Little Racers

10:30 a.m., Thursday, Aug. 31

Zip and zoom around the storytime room with toy cars and handmade racetracks For ages 2- 5

No registration is required, but space is limited Tickets are available 30 minutes before the start of the program

Teen Programs

Chess at the Library

6 p.m., Tuesday, Aug. 15

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

Tech Free Thursday

2 p m , Thursdays, Aug 17, 31

Let's play like it is 1985 and pretend there is no technology For teens ages 1218

T

s located at 519 Chiquita Boulevard N in Cape Coral For more information about a program or to register, please call the library at 239-533-4700 Check the Lee

Enjoy bromeliads

By SHERIE BLEILER news@breezenewspapers com

When I saw my first bromeliad, I thought, “What a perfectly arranged plant, shaped like a flower ” Yes, the leaves spiral out of the center of the plant and arrange themselves to circle the middle in a “rosette ” This is especially true for the neos, short for Neoregelia, one type of bromeliad

As they grow up, the center becomes more colorful and tiny flowers appear for several weeks

GARDEN CLUB OF CAPE CORAL

But the main attraction are the center leaves that “blush” with color as the plant comes into bloom. They have been bred to flush out in a variety of bright hues from purple to peach, with red as the most common

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

There are other bromeliads in the family called Aechmea, which bloom differently They have a stem coming out of the middle and hold the flower above the plant. These flowers take a wide variety of interesting forms Although the flowers last just a day, the bracts that hold them are colorful structures that sometimes last for months Many of these will grow in full sun, such as the bright orange leaf blanchetianna, which you see growing in many Cape Coral yards It reaches an impressive 3 to 5 feet Their bloom spike divides into orange-red branches which last for months

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

www

net to find out about programs at other locations Call the host library, or Telephone Reference at 239479-INFO (4636), for more information about a specific program

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

See BROMELIADS, page 31

A bromeliad blossom

Combat Infantrymen’s Association looks back and again recognizes entertainer’s military service

To note the recent passing of entertainer Tony Bennett, the Combat Infantrymen's Association this week recalled a presentation the group made to Bennett on Nov 30, 2019, commemorating his long musical career and his service in the U S Army during World War II

The presentation was made at Bennett's appearance at the Barbara B Mann Performing Arts Hall in Fort Myers during his final "I Left My Heart" Tour

Bennett was called upon to serve in the Army in 1944 and, after basic training, was assigned to the 63rd Infantry Division (the "Blood and Fire Division"), serving in close combat in both France and Germany

The Combat Infantry Association, through Karen Hutto, director of operations for the Mann Hall, and technical director John Iverson, presented Bennett with a special plaque which read, “The Combat Infantrymen's Association want to express our grateful appreciation to Tony Bennett for your military service to our great nation during World War II as an elite combat infantryman Your service exemplifies the sacrifice made for the protection of our great nation in World War II We fellow combat infantrymen honor your service Jack Wagner, P a s t N a t i o n a l C o m m a n d e r , E x e c u t i v e S t a f f & Membership Company A - 1st BN - 1st RGT - The Combat Infantrymen's Association, Inc ” It was dated Nov 30, 2019

I n r e c a l l i n g t h e p l a q u e p r e s e n t a t i o n , t h i s w e e k , Wagner, who resides in Cape Coral, added, “Mr Tony Bennett, a special thank you from all those you have brought joy to over the years with your talented performances And, a special thank you for your service and sacrifice to this great nation in times of peril in protecting our freedom ”

Entertainer Tony Bennett receives the commemorative Combat Infantrymen's Association plaque from Karen Hutto, the director of operations for the Barbara B Mann Performing Arts Hall PHOTO PROVIDED

Cape Coral Art League galleries to close during

August

The Cape Coral Art League galleries will be closed in August but the office will be open on Wednesdays from 11 a m to 3 p m

L o o k i n g a h e a d , t h e r e w i l l b e O p e n P a i n t i n g o n Wednesdays from 1-4 p m in September The sessions are open to the public

A Preview of Student Sundays will be held on Sundays in October from 1-4 p m This program is open to youngsters ages 6-14

All programs/classes are held at the Cape Coral Art League, 516 Cultural Park Blvd , Cape Coral For more, please phone the Art League at 239-772-5657 or capecoralartleague.org

Two local USA Dance chapters to merge, celebration Aug. 19

The Cape Coral and Fort Myers chapters of USA Dance a r e m e r g i n g t o f o r m o n e c h a p t e r s e r v i n g Southwest Florida To mark the occasi new Cape Coral-Fort Myers USA Da Chapter will be holding “A Night o Celebration” Saturday, Aug 19, from 6-9 p m , at the Rhythm in Motion Dance Studio at 912 Del Prado Blvd , in Cape Coral

The cost is $15 for USA Dance members or $25 per couple, and $17 for guests or $30 per couple

For more about the new chapter or the special celebration, please email Southwestflorida usadance@gmail com or dancingtala@gmail com, or call 863-703-2250

28, J u l y 2 8 , 2 0 2 3 ■ P a g e 1 8

Medical student from Cape selected to rotate with Carolina Panthers as part of NFL Diversity in Sports Medicine Initiative

W I N S T O N - S A L E M , N C – A l e x i s Restrepo, a fourth-year M D student at W a k e F o r e s t U n i v e r s i t y S c h o o l o f Medicine, has been selected as one of 32 medical students from 19 medical schools across the country to participate in the N F L ’ s D i v e r s i t y i n S p o r t s M e d i c i n e Pipeline Initiative

Restrepo is a Cape Coral native and attended Florida Southwestern Collegiate High School- Lee Campus, graduating in 2 0 1 6 S h e a t t e n d e d F l o r i d a S t a t e University where she majored in exercise physiology with minors in biomedical physics, biology, chemistry and Spanish

Beginning Aug 7, Restrepo will complete a one-month clinical rotation with the Carolina Panthers, where she will observe and participate in the care of players and work directly with and under the supervision of the team physicians – some of whom are physicians at Atrium Health, the official health care provider of the Carolina Panthers – and the athletic trainers

“The NFL Diversity in Sports Medicine Pipeline Initiative will allow me to gain practical exposure to professional-level sports medicine, along with meaningful connections, support and mentorship in the sports medicine field,” said Restrepo, who participated in soccer, tennis and swim-

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ming while she was in high school

“I cannot wait to learn more about what it means to be a team physician and apply the skills and knowledge I gain to my future career in orthopedics ”

Now in its second year, the N F L D i v e r s i t y i n S p o r t s Medicine Pipeline Initiative aims to increase and diversify the pipeline of students interested in pursuing careers in s p o r t s m e d i c i n e a n d , o v e r time, help to diversify NFL club medical staff

tion next year ”

During her time at Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Restrepo has rotated in sports medicine during her orthopedic surgery clerkship, has been involved in s p o r t s m e d i c i n e - f o c u s e d research looking at rehabilitation after bicep tendon surgery and has volunteered at l o c a l h i g h s c h o o l f o o t b a l l games

Alexis Restrepo

JULY w w w . c a p e c o r a l b r e e z e . c o m

“I am thrilled that Alexis was selected to participate in this prestigious program and I know this experience will enhance the training she continues to receive here at W a k e F o r e s t U n i v e r s i t y S c h o o l o f Medicine,” said Dr Ebony Boulware, dean of the medical school and chief science officer of Advocate Health, of which the m e d i c a l s c h o o l i s t h e a c a d e m i c c o r e

“Alexis has a very bright future ahead of her and the knowledge she will gain from this time with the Carolina Panthers will help her immensely as she pursues her orthopedic surgery residency after gradua-

“Mentorship is a critical component of recruiting students into our field, so we’re thrilled to immerse more talented medical students with diverse backgrounds into the NFL clubs’ medical communities,” said Dr Timothy McAdams, president of the NFL Physicians Society “We’re all looking forward to watching this program continue to grow and impact more medical students in years to come ”

Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist

Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist

( w w w w a k e h e a l t h e d u ) i s a n a c a d e m i c health system based in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, and part of Advocate Health, the third-largest nonprofit health

system in the United States, which was created through the combination of Atrium

H e a l t h a n d A d v o c a t e A u r o r a H e a l t h

Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist’s two main components are an integrated clinical system – anchored by Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center, an 885-bed tertiary-care hospital in Winston-Salem –that includes Brenner Children’s Hospital, five community hospitals, more than 300 primary and specialty care locations and more than 2,700 physicians; and Wake Forest University School of Medicine, the academic core of Advocate Health and a recognized leader in experiential medical education and groundbreaking research that includes Wake Forest Innovations, a commercialization enterprise focused on advancing health care through new medical technologies and biomedical discovery

EDUCATION NOTES

CONWAY, S C -- More than 2,400 undergraduate students at Coastal Carolina University were named to the Dean's List for the Spring 2023 semester, including Trinity Vallee from Cape Coral Students who make the Dean's List have achieved a grade point average of 3 5 or higher (3 25 for freshmen) for the semester

CCU offers baccalaureate degrees in more than 100 major fields of study

Among the University's graduate-level programs are 27 master's degrees, one educational specialist degree and the doctorates in education and in marine science: coastal and marine systems science. CCU boasts a growing array of internship, research and international opportunities for students, as well as numerous online programs through Coastal Online

Visit coastal edu for more information

Alonso, Van Hor n named to the Dean's List at Palmer College of Chiropractic

DAVENPORT, Iowa -- Sofia Alonso and Bryce Van Horn of Cape Coral have been named to the spring 2023 trimester D

e a n ' s L i s t a t P a l m e r C o l l e g e o f C h i r o p r a c t i c ' s F l o r i d a C a m p u s i n P o r t

Orange, Florida

college, visit https://www palmer edu/ Stoddard ear ns academic honors from Florida Tech

MELBOURNE - The following local student has been named to the Spring 2023

D e a n ' s L i s t a t F l o r i d a I n s t i t u t e o f

Technology:

■ Jake Stoddard of North Fort Myers

To be included on the Dean's List, a student must complete 12 or more graded credits in a semester with a semester grade point average of at least 3 4

A p r i v a t e t e c h n o l o g i c a l u n i v e r s i t y , Florida Tech is known worldwide for its strengths in aerospace, advanced manufacturing, aviation, autism treatment, biomedical science, cybersecurity and machinelearning, and marine science It offers more than 150 bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees in engineering, science, computing, aeronautics, business, psychology and the liberal arts Learn how Florida Tech is making history and shaping the future at floridatech edu

New district student registration available online

Families with children moving to Lee County can now register their children for the school year starting in August entirely online Families re-enrolling students in a traditional public school can also take a d v a n t a g e o f t h e s a m e o p p o r t u n i t y

Registration is managed by setting up a FOCUS Parent Portal Account

Online enrollment information is availa b l e o n t h d i s t r i c t w e b s i t e a t https://www leeschools net/cms/one aspx? p a g e I d = 1 3 0 7 7 1 6 P a r e n t s w i t h o u t a

For additional information about the

See EDUCATION NOTES, page 30

Coastal Carolina University is a public comprehensive liberal arts institution located in Conway, S C , just minutes from the resort area of Myrtle Beach, S C

We e k ly B R E E Z E R e c ap

Sun Splash offering half-price admission for National Waterpark Day

By CJ HADDAD cjhaddad@breezenewspapers com

Southwest Florida’s largest water park is inviting the community out to take part in a national event while cooling off from brutally high temperatures the region has experienced of late

Sun Splash Family Waterpark in Cape Coral will celebrate National Waterpark Day today, July 28, with half priced admission Season passholders can also bring a guest for $10

The event also coincides with Sun

The gardens in the courtyard by the Vogue Hair Studio in the Big John Plaza in downtown Cape Coral The gardens were damaged by Hurricane Ian and the community has come together to repair/replant the areas

PHOTO PROVIDED

Splash's Family Friday, meaning the day will feature Hawaiian-themed entertainment, a foam dance party and drink specials

At 11 a m , attendees can feel the chill, as 1,000 pounds of ice will be dumped into the lazy river – certainly sure to cool down all who float along

“We've had so many great events take place at the park this season and we still have so many more through November,” stated Eric Reed, Sun Splash general manager “We're looking forward to the ice

dump and hearing hundreds of guests squeal and chill as they shout ‘Ice, Ice Baby!’”

Sun Splash is a great way to find reprieve from the summer heat and features many variations of water slides, raft rides, a lazy river, family pool, and interactive kid’s play area with a tipping bucket

Sun Splash is currently open daily for summer through Labor Day, and will then go to a Thursday through Sunday schedule Upcoming events include:

Community comes together to help recreate gardens at Vogue Hair Studio

By KATIE EGAN news@breezenewspapers com

AfterHurricane Ian destroyed the garden bordering Vogue Hair Studio in downtown Cape Coral, the community came together to bring it back bigger, brighter and more colorful than before

The salon has had a vibrant gardens in front and out back for years Owner Janelle Franklin tried to save some plants by bringing them inside, but the hurricane caused the roof to collapse and created a mud bath Some orchids survived, but everything else was a goner

Franklin still had to put her salon back together and she wasn’t sure if she was going to rebuild the garden

“We’re still rebuilding, but it’s so depressing on the inside. I’m sick of l o o k i n g o u t t h e w i n d o w a n d b e i n g depressed as well,” she said “So we had a g a r d e n p a r t y W e i n v i t e d f a m i l y , friends and clients and everyone showed up with dirt, pots, plants and hands ”

Now, the garden is even better than it was before

“People in the strip come and hang

out They have their lunch here or work on their lunch break People who live in the area walk through and they always stop,” Franklin said.

S o m e p e o p l e b r o u g h t w h i m s i c a l knickknacks like butterflies, mushrooms and ladybugs scattered throughout the garden, in plants or climbing up trees

There are also lights on palm trees and a variety of flowers and other types of plants to enjoy

“It really is a family shop,” Franklin said “And the reaction to the garden shows that ”

She also painted some old, beat up pots bright yellow, which has become a bit of an icon.

Franklin doesn’t have a formal background in gardening, but she’s learning every day

“The plants will tell you,” she said “Too much sun, not enough water, too much water ”

A lot of the plants are cuttings from clients’ houses

“They’ll bring a cutting and stick it in the dirt or put it in a pot and bring it when they come for appointments,”

Franklin said “It’s become a community garden ”

She originally started the garden three or four years ago after cutting overgrown bushes and trees back

“Then I started adding plants and it just kind of took over and became a hobby,” Franklin said

The garden makes everyone who passes by smile Franklin says some people come by and make a habit of sitting on the bench and reading a book It’s also a symbol of strength and solidarity after many people lost so much The garden shows that we can get through anything, together

“I think the garden kind of connects p e o p l e a n d k e e p s t h e m a l l g o i n g , ” Franklin said

That’s the epitome of Cape Coral P

y know each other or not, to help because that’s what neighbors do

Vogue Hair Studio is at 1219 Cape Coral Parkway, E For additional information about the salon or the garden, p l e a s e c a l l 2 3 9 - 9 4 5 - 6 7 1 7 o r v i s i t www voguehairstudiocapecoral com

■ Aloha Back to School Supply Drive from July 31 - Aug. 4

■ September Season Pass Appreciation Days from Sept 8 - 24

■ Spooky Splash Bash from Sept 29Oct 29

■ Sun Splash Share What You Can Holiday Food Drive throughout November

For additional information, please visit www SunSplashWaterpark com

Sun Splash is at 400 West Lake Kennedy Drive in Cape Coral off of Santa Barbara Boulevard

Breeze recognized in FPA Weekly Newspaper Contest

Breeze Staff Repor t

com

The Breeze Newspapers received multiple accolades at the recent 2023 Florida Press Association Weekly Newspaper Contest

The Cape Coral Breeze was bestowed three first-place finishes, two seconds and one third for articles published throughout 2022

First place awards came in Division ABC for The Breeze’s Editorial Page; a Division AB Editorial Award for “Council, will you stifle yourself?;” and in Division A to Staff Writer CJ Haddad for a feature story on a Cape Coral firefighter who traveled America’s Great Loop

Second place awards were received in Division A for The Breeze’s Hurricane Ian Special Edition “Devastation and Resolve,” and to Haddad in Division A for a feature story on a young Cape Coral child needing a heart transplant

The Breeze received its third-place award in Division ABC for “Cleanup Begins,” Hurricane Ian breaking news coverage Division ABC, is all circulation categories combined, or an open category; Category B is circulation 4,000 to 15,000; Division A is circulation of 15,000 and over.

“It’s always nice to see hard-working staff members recognized by their peers and it’s doubly so after a year with so many challenges in news gathering that our staff faced and overcame,” said Breeze Newspapers Publisher Ray Eckenrode “I’ve said since I arrived here four years ago that we have the best small-paper editorial page I’ve ever seen and the judges in this contest felt the same way ”

Executive Editor Valarie Harring said the recognition for The Breeze’s editorial page is one shared with the paper's numerous contributors

“A newspaper’s editorial page is a community effort,” she said “And in Cape Coral, that effort has long been strong We thank our letter writers, those who contribute guest commentaries and all those who take the time to respond to our polls This year’s win is bittersweet as the cartoonist whose work often anchored our opinion page, Cathy Cochrane, passed on shortly after we published the pages the judges recognized We miss her ”

The contest was open to all Florida Press Association monthly, semi-monthly, weekly, semi-weekly and tri-weekly newspaper members. Entries were judged by out-of-state industry professionals with newsroom experience

Dr. Piper Center sets food contest fundraiser

Sponsors

By MEGHAN BRADBURY news@breezenewspapers com

sought,

The Dr Piper Center is seeking sponsorships for its third annual Granny Get-Down Cooked Food Contest Dr Piper Center for Social Services, Inc Development Director Irvine Bourdeau said with Aug 20 dedicated as National Senior Citizens Day, she thought they could have a fundraising event that would bring people together which was how the Granny Get-Down event was born

“We did it It was a very good thing We didn’t have a lot of people to eat the food,” she said of the first event, adding that about 65 showed out of the expected 150 people because of COVID “After that I had a meeting with the volunteers (They said) that is something we should do every year Last year it was bigger because we had it at Marian Hall ”

There are four sponsorship packages for the event available, ranging from the Title Sponsor of $5,000 to the Cupcake Sponsor of $500 Sponsorships significantly help the center raise funds

“Sponsorships is where we get the big money,” she said, adding that they have lots of Cupcake sponsors

The Tiramisu Sponsor includes 10 tickets, a VIP table and special opportunities customized to the door with enhanced marketing options for $5,000.

The $2,500 Eclair Sponsorship includes 10 tickets, plus verbal mention of sponsorship, sponsor listing in the 2023 printed program, pre-event social media promotion, their logo with a link on www DrPiperCenter org and a table at the bake off to promote their business

The Cheesecake $1,000 sponsorship includes five tickets, as well as a verbal mention of sponsorship, a sponsor listing in the 2023 printed program, their logo with a link on www DrPiperCenter org and a pre and post event promotion on the Dr Piper social media outlets

The final opportunity is the Cupcake $500 sponsorship, which includes two tickets, as well as a verbal mention of the sponsorship, their logo with a link on www DrPiperCenter org, as well as a sponsor listing in the

event to benefit center that serves seniors

home and bring it to the food competition Bourdeau said an orientation is held for the volunteers to share what is expected of them the day of the event The volunteer also provides the dish, and ingredients, for those who have food allergies

This year, 26 volunteers will cook, and serve their food for 150 people, which includes both small portions and a menu that will expand cultures.

“Every year we are getting better,” she said “Last year we had chef’s hats Some of them make their own aprons,” Bourdeau said

History of the Dr Piper Center

2023 printed program

Bourdeau said they are also looking for gift basket donations to raffle The event will include a silent auction and 50/50 raffle

“We earned a lot of money from that as well We have a lot of big, good prizes that people can buy tickets for,” she said adding prizes include a stay at the Luminary Hotel

Event details

This year the food competition, which will benefit the Dr Piper Center, will be held from 11 a m to 1 p m Saturday, Aug 12, in the Marian Hall at St Cecilia Community Church Tickets, which include all you can sample, are $20 in advance, or at the door for adults, and $5 for children under 10

The event is hosted by NBC2 News’ Sean Martinelli and the local celebrity judges include Fort Myers Mayor Kevin Anderson, Fort Myers Fire Chief Tracy McMillion, Nikijha Lynch Escobar, WFFY Fly 98 5, Amy McGarry, Elder Law and Doug Miller, FK Your Diet Senior volunteers from the community cook the food at

The Dr Piper Center began 48 years ago when Dr Ella Mae Piper left her estate to the city of Fort Myers with a stipulation it was to serve the elderly, Bourdeau said She said Dr Piper was an African American trailblazer in the community who opened the first beauty shop and later started her chiropody practice

“That’s how the center came into the Dunbar community 48 years ago,” she said “We are seniors helping seniors We have three different programs ”

The programs include Senior Companions, Foster Grandparents and Faith in Action

“All the services we provide here are free to the community,” Bourdeau said

In addition, the center also holds the Christmas Celebration, which began by Dr Piper’s mother Sarah Williams

“The Christmas Program is the best one,” she said, adding that they have 400 children that come to the center Christmas Day to receive presents

St. Cecilia Community Church Marian Hall is at 5632 Sunrise Drive

For more information, visit www drpipercenter org/volunteer-recognition/, or call (239) 332-5346

still

tickets still available, for

School District begins to hone budget

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D e s a m o u r s s a i d t h e y h a v e w o r k e d s i n c e t h e n t o h e l p b a l a n c e t h e b u d g e t . S h e s a i d f i r s t t h e y w e r e a b l e t o f i n a l i z e t h e p r o p e r t y q u o t e s , w h i c h h a d a n i n c r e a s e , a n i n c r e a s e l e s s t h a n t h e e s t im a t e “ W e w e r e b a s i c a l l y a b l e t o a d d $ 1 7 1 m i l l i o n b a c k i n t o t h e c a l c u l a t i o n b e c a u s e t h a t p r o p e r t y i n c r e a s e w a s n o t a s h i g h a s w e h a d o r i g i n a l l y h a d , ” D e s a m o u r s s a i d , a d d i n g t h a t t h e y w e r e a b l e t o m o v e s o m e e x p e n s e s a n d t h a t a l l o w e d t h e m t o s a v e $ 3 4 m i l l i o n i n t h e g e n e r a l f u n d T h e y r e v i s e d t h e s a l a r y b u d g e t , a s w e l l , s h e s a i d , b y e x a m i n i n g w h a t t h e y h a d b u d g e t e d a n d k n o w i n g t h e r e w o u l d b e s o m e a n t i c i p a t e d v a c a n c i e s , w h i c h g a r n e r e d $ 5 m i l l i o n I n a d d i t i o n , t h e s e c o n d c a l c u l a t i o n t h e y r e c e i v e d f r o m t h e s t a t e , a s f a r a s t h e c e r t i f i e d t a x r o l l a s o f J u l y 1 9 , a n a d d it i o n a l $ 4 3 m i l l i o n w a s p u t i n t o t h e g e ne r a l f u n d W i t h t h e c a l c u l a t i o n s , i t g a v e t h e d i st r i c t c l o s e t o $ 2 0 m i l l i o n a d d e d b a c k i n t o i t s e s t i m a t e s , g i v i n g t h e m a b o u t a $ 6 2 m i l l i o n f u n d b a l a n c e , w h i c h h e l p e d t h e d i s t r i c t b a l a n c e t h e t e n t a t i v e b u d g e t S u p e r i n t e n d e n t D r C h r i s t o p h e r B e r n i e r s a i d r i g h t n o w t h e y k n o w s e v e r -

a l t h i n g s a b o u t t h e n e w p r o x i m i t y p l a n f o r e l e m e n t a r y s c h o o l s , w h i c h w i l l u l t im a t e l y h e l p t h e b u d g e t H e s a i d t h e p r o xi m i t y c h a n g e r e d u c e d t h e n e e d o f d r i v e r s f r o m 7 2 9 t o 6 0 0 , b u t d u e t o t h e n u m b e r o f v a c a n c i e s e v e r y d r i v e r i s s t i l l e m p l o y e d I n a d d i t i o n , t h e p r o x i m i t y p l a n r e d u c e d t h e a m o u n t o f d a i l y r o u t e m i l e s b y j u s t u n d e r 1 5 , 0 0 0 m i l e s p e r d a y , w h i c h a t 4 m i l e s t o t h e g a l l o n w i l l s a v e t h e d i s t r i c t m o n e y “ I t a p p e a r s t h a t w i l l r e d u c e t h e l e n g t h s o f a l l o f o u r r o u t e s b y 1 5 m i n u t e s p e r e a c h r o u t e f o r e l e m e n t a r y , ” B e r n i e r s a i d “ W e h a v e s o m e p r o j e c t i o n s t h a t a r e i n t h e m i l l i o n s o f d o l l a r s , b u t r a t h e r t h a n r e l e a s i n g a n u m b e r t o d a y w e w o u l d l i k e t o w o r k w i t h t r a n s p o r t a t i o n a n d s e e h o w t h e f i r s t f e w d a y s o f s c h o o l g o t o b r i n g p r o j e c t i o n s t o y o u W e d i d p r o x i m i t y t o g e t s t u d e n t s t o s c h o o l o n t i m e , b u t o n e o f t h e i n t e n d e d c o n s e q u e n c e s o f i t w a s a l s o t h a t w e w o u l d h a v e m o r e o p e r a t i o n a l d o l l a r s T r a n s p o r t a t i o n f e e d s o f f t h e G e n e r a l F u n d . T h a t i s t h e s a m e n u m b e r t h a t g o e s t o t e a c h e r s a l a r i e s , t e a c h e r b e ne f i t s a n d s u p p o r t p r o f e s s i o n a l s T h e m o r e c o s t e f f i c i e n t w e c a n b e i n t r a n s p o r t a t i o n t h e m o r e w e c a n t r a n s f e r t h o s e d o l l a r s t o t h e b o a r d ' s p r i o r i t i e s ” T h e t e n t a t i v e b u d g e t h e a r i n g i s s c h e du l e d f o r J u l y 3 1 , a t 5 : 0 5 p m , w i t h t h e f i n a l b u d g e t h e a r i n g s e t f o r S e p t 6 , a t 5 : 0 5 p m

Belle Theatre tackles tough topics, lends support to suicide prevention group

By CJ HADDAD cjhaddad@breezenewspapers com

A Cape Coral theater is taking on a serious subject in its now-on-stage show while partnering with a national nonprofit

The Belle Theatre is presenting six showings of the musical “Heathers The Musical: Teen Edition” running now until Sunday The show takes a hard look into the difficulties of teen life including suicide The theater has teamed up with the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention which gives those affected by suicide a nationwide community empowered by research, education and advocacy to take action against this leading cause of death

The Belle Theatre’s Executive Director Tyler Young and his troupe had recently performed a show touching on mental health topics and partnered with the National Alliance on Mental Illness

This time, members of the theater felt raising awareness for suicide was an important mission

“I said ‘OK if we’re going to do it, we’ve got to do something different ’ I don’t want it to just be a theatrical event,” Young said “So, we’re going to have AFSP representatives in the lobby at a couple of our performances with information, prevention tips, and resources.”

One of the main characters in “Heathers,” J D , lives with just his father who is a brooding figure after his mother left them He struggles with the fact his mother is gone and he’s now living with a non-role-model in his dad, and projects that onto his love interest

“It’s a really dark show that’s focused on

young people specifically and their struggles,” Young said

His love interest, Veronica, is dealing with her own struggles as she is constantly bullied for being “nerdy” and yearns to become “popular ” She changes her true self to try and fit in and finds herself in a dark headspace after turning her back on the “in-crowd.”

Young said he asked a cast member earlier in the year why they wanted to do “Heathers,” and the individual said, “Because it’s real ”

“I could get on board with that,” Young said “But we needed that reason And it’s

that real look at the underlying cause of eventual suicide or self-harm

“In the theater world, we have a lot of ‘fluff and glitter,’ and there is something to be said for the fact that the art can deliver a message that can be impactful, not just ‘fluff and glitter ’”

The show does contain mature themes and language, and content not suitable for all ages

Showings of “Heathers The Musical: Teen Edition” are Friday at 7:30 p m , and Saturday and Sunday at both 2 p m and 7:30

Primary cast members range from 13 to

19 years old, with adult actors also serving as a sort of mentor

“Having someone to talk to that wasn’t me was kind of my goal in putting adults in actual ‘adult’ spots,” Young said

Helping young adults learn the signs of suicide or self-harm, and knowing there’s an outlet for relief, is something the theater hopes comes across in its performance, because they’ve certainly discussed it while prepping for the show Young said some rehearsals felt like therapy sessions

“I want everyone to feel safe in our space, and I want them to feel that they can talk about those topics and have conversations about them,” Young said “Or even somebody that comes to see the show that has that ‘ah-ha’ moment and realizes they have this problem and needs to get help In today’s day and world, we have all of these resources available, but it’s still a ‘hush-hush’ topic ”

The Belle plans for all of their Main Stage productions to have a community partner

“Nonprofits helping nonprofits will help each business reach more of our community,” Young said. “We don’t have the advertising dollars that for-profit businesses have, so by partnering we can help each other, and serve the community that we reside in and love ”

The Belle's Mainstage Second Season officially opens this September

For tickets and more information on The Belle Theatre, visit www thebelletheatre com or call 239-323-5533

The Belle Theatre is at 2708 Santa Barbara Blvd #135

Belle Theatre is presenting six showings of the musical “Heathers The Musical: Teen Edition.”

Learning: School District to again supply free lunches and breakfasts

From page 1

r a d i tional schools, as well as the four special centers, will receive free meals “ T o p r o d u c e a m e a l t h e a v e r a g e c o s t i s $ 3 9 8 p e r p l a t e , ” M e s s e n g e r s a i d “ T h e r e i m b u r s e m e n t f r o m t h e F e d e r a l

G o v e r n m e n t h e l p s u s c o v e r t h e c o s t o f d o i n g b u s i n e s s s o w e a r e a b l e t o p r o v i d e m e a l s t o o u r s t u d e n t s I t i s m y r e s p o n s ib i l i t y t o e n s u r e t h a t w e a r e f i s c a l l y r e s p o n s i b l e a n d s t a y w i t h i n t h e b u d g e t t o o p e r a t e T h e d e p a r t m e n t i s s e l f - f u n d e d m e a n i n g t h a t w e d o n o t a s k f o r m o n e y

Last year, the district served 3,627,806 meals for breakfast, 7,408,476 meals for lunch, 271,938 after school snacks and 399,001 supper meals.

f r o m t h e G e n e r a l F u n d , w e h a v e t o e a r n t h e m o n e y t o r u n t h e o p e r a t i o n ” L a s t y e a r , t h e d i s t r i c t s e r v e d 3 , 6 2 7 , 8 0 6 m e a l s f o r b r e a k f a s t , 7 , 4 0 8 , 4 7 6 m e a l s f o r l u n c h , 2 7 1 , 9 3 8 a f t e r s c h o o l s n a c k s a n d 3 9 9 , 0 0 1 s u p p e r

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

T h i s y e a r t h e m e n u w i l l i n c l u d e s u c h n e w b r e a k f a s t i t e m s a s a b r e a k f a s t p i z z a a n d b r e a k f a s t h a m a n d c h e e s e c r o i s s a n t T h e n e w l u n c h m e n u i t e m s i n c l u d e p i z z a c r u n c h e r s , b u f f a l o m a c & c h e e s e , e n c h il a d a l a s a g n a a n d a b u r r i t o r i c e b o w l

P a r e n t s c a n v i e w t h e m e n u d a i l y u n d e r t h e S c h o o l D i s t r i c t o f L e e C o u n t y f o o d a n d n u t r i t i o n s e r v i c e s a t h t t p s : / / w w w l e e s c h o o l s n e t / o u r d i st r i c t / d e p a r t m e n t s / b u s i n e s s s e r v i c e s / f o o d n u t r i t i o n s e r v i c e s / m e n u s

Habitat: City SHIP funds, donations, making the program possible

From page 1

provision of funding under the State Housing Initiative Partnership (SHIP) program, and providing oversight of compliance with program rules

“Through partnerships with organizations like Habitat for Humanity, we are able to help residents ensure they have a safe and stable place to call home,” Kurkimilis said

Schepp said the city of Cape Coral has “continued to support and partner with us, especially throughout the years We’re grateful to have that help for hurricane-impacted families ”

Habitat will use state SHIP funding from the city of Cape Coral in the amount of $526,444 to support the hurricane home repair program in the Cape

“The city of Cape Coral is committed to the well-being and resilience of its residents and has chosen to partner with Habitat for Humanity to further promote a more resilient,

For more information on Habitat’s Hurricane Recovery Home Repair Program, including additional eligibility requirements and contact form, visit www habitat4humanity org/hurricanerecovery/#requirements

compassionate, and united community in the aftermath of Hurricane Ian,” Kurkimilis said

Schepp said Habitat of Lee and Hendry also put together a hurricane program for Hurricane Irma in 2017

“Because of the severity of Hurricane Ian, we took the foundation of that program and revamped it,” Schepp said “The impact on our community was very different, especially with the damage and destruction of Hurricane Ian We have designed the program for lowincome homeowners in Lee County

“We know how important safe, decent, and stable housing is, and so that’s really where that urgency came from our per-

sonal experiences and also from knowing what the need was going to be ”

Eligibility requirements include:

■ Property owner(s) must be listed as applicant or co-applicant

■ Home must be a single-family house

■ Household must meet income guidelines These limits are based on the household income of all residents 18 years and older

■ An eligible homeowner must have owned the home pre-Hurricane Ian and the damage(s) to the home must be caused by Hurricane Ian

Habitat has a goal to serve 100 homeowners over the next year in repairing homes from

Hurricane Ian damage

There have already been 18 homes that have seen restorations completed, with 33 ongoing currently, and 62 applications in different phases of the program

“We are regularly accepting applications and working on them,” Schepp said, adding that Habitat is partnering with low-income homeowners throughout Lee County Habitat also is accepting donations to assist the non-profit in helping as many families as they can recover from Hurricane Ian locally All gifts made to Habitat’s Hurricane Recovery Fund will be matched dollar-fordollar up to $1 million, thanks to the generosity of The Edwardson Family Foundation and an anonymous donor

For more information on Habitat’s Hurricane Recovery Home Repair Program, including additional eligibility requirements and contact form, visit www habitat4humanity org/hurricanerecovery/#requirements

BRC: Cape Coral City Council votes 4-3 to remove chairman

and work together

“Tom, as I said on the phone, we are so disgusted with the council’s behavior towards you personally (as well as us).”

The BRC is comprised of seven members, one of whom was Shadrach, and an alternate

The city’s communications office confirmed that six members resigned with an alternate remaining

The meeting was attended by Mayor John Gunter, who was acting as the Council liaison to the committee tasked with providing input on the city’s proposed budget for the new fiscal year

“We will have a discussion next week as a Council,” Gunter said when reached after the BRC meeting. “Those positions would have to be refilled unless Council goes a different direction I didn’t know exactly what their response would be That is their personal choice ”

The vote to remove Shadrach was 4-3, with Gunter and council members Patty Cummings, Dan Sheppard and Keith Long voting for removal during Wednesday’s meeting Councilmember Jessica Cosden was not present

Shadrach said the vote was retaliatory, in part for his efforts with the city budget, in part political

“Half the City Council opposes my fight for accuracy and transparency in our City Government I was removed from my volunteer position as a coordinated effort by one council member in retaliation for my stance that Ms Cummings should be removed from office because the facts support that she did not live in her district as required by the City Charter,” Shadrach wrote in an email "I am a right fighter and have spent hundreds of hours fighting to keep taxes low and pushing the

city to spend our tax dollars more efficiently ” Council had previously considered eliminating the committee but could not come to a majority vote in favor, a point made by BRC member George Starner

He said he believes Cummings made her motion to remove Shadrach Wednesday night because Cosden, who had opposed eliminating the committee was absent

He also said many of the committee members were embarrassed with comments made by some Council members Wednesday night

“It was not a group effort to resign We all saw what was happening We are no longer appreciated and Council no longer wanted our opinion,” he said adding, that each resigned individually

Starner said he served for seven years, longer than any other person on the advisory board.

“I enjoyed the work that we did as long as we were appreciated and listened to The current Council didn’t like what we had to say,” he said, adding that opinions differed from those of BRC members

Starner asked was the point of working with someone that does not want to hear what they have to say

With feelings still being a little bit raw, he said he is not sure how involved he will be with the city

“Letters to the editor may be my new weapon,” Starner said

Sheena Reagan, also a BRC member, shared why she resigned

“The sudden and sneaky attempt to disband the BRC without any warning last month, coupled with the removal of our chairman, Tom Shadrach, at last night’s city council meeting, who was unanimously voted in (as chair) by our committee, is a flagrant show of shady politics and targeted ostraciz-

ing and I am no longer willing to be involved,” she said

Cummings said Wednesday night that she was trying to fix something that has been broken for a long period of time She said she does not have a problem with the whole committee, but with one person.

“I can make a motion that we remove the chair of the Budget Review Committee and they can vote someone else in,” she said The motion did not move forward the first time as there was debate on whether Council could simply remove a BRC member with which it had an issue

Long was left with more questions after the lengthy discussion as a resolution for the BRC explicitly states that “any member of the committee may be removed by the majority of the council ”

Cummings made the motion again to remove the chair from the BRC, which was seconded by Long

Councilmember Tom Hayden, who voted against the motion to remove Shadrach, said he emailed most of the BRC members that he could Thursday

“It seems that they all resigned because of what happened with Mr Shadrach at the Council meeting I didn’t see it coming that they would all resign, but I understand They were all professionals They all served their city. Many of them for many years. At least the two years I was the (Council) liaison they always focused on making the best recommendation they could whether on the millage, or other issues,” Hayden said “I saw nothing but professionalism from my two years there At no time were they operating out of some sort of box For me they were always within the parameters set up by the resolution ”

Hayden said he thinks having citizens involved in all of their committees, including

the BRC, is an important process, as they have a voice and offer input He said it now strips away part of that moving forward with the budget cycle just beginning

“Now we won’t have that extra dimension of recommendation, or things they thought we might want to look at moving forward,” Hayden said “Not having it is unfortunate ”

During the reports by the mayor and council members portion of Wednesday’s Council meeting, Cummings first asked about the BRC, which led to a rather lengthy discussion and then the pair of motions for Shadrach’s ouster

“So, you guys were having a meeting on Monday, can I ask you how it went with the Budget Review Committee? Did you guys come up with a resolution, or a game plan,” Cummings asked her fellow Council members.

Gunter said during the Monday meeting that they discussed the committee’s function and responsibility, which received a little bit of a push back He said they told the committee that unless the ordinance were to be changed, city staff would follow the direction exactly as presented

“The recommendation that I made to the Budget Review Committee is any request for information must be made by a collective body,” Gunter said, adding that the BRC had to ask staff for information through a motion.

That information would then be given to all council members, so they are always apprised of the information the BRC receives

“The advantage to us is seeing the same information they are receiving,” Gunter said

Councilmember Bill Steinke, who is the liaison for the committee, said they were all holding themselves accountable while stay-

See BRC, page 29,

BRC: Ousted chairman calls foul, says Council action is retaliatory

From page 28

ing inside that “box” of expectations

“How do you feel overall then, do you feel good about this,” Cummings asked again “You feel pretty confident they will stay in that box?”

Steinke said now the committee needs a consensus from the entire committee to move forward with requesting additional information, instead of the request coming from just one person

“The groundwork has been laid and evidence that they get it,” Steinke said

Cummings said if Council was happy with the outcome based on what they were seeing then that was all she needed to know, but further asked what if the BRC rebels and does not stay in that box

Gunter said he was pretty confident that staff and the liaison would keep them on track

“If you feel confident that ‘he’ will be kept in the box I can’t make the decision for everybody It takes a group of people to kind of come to the same agreement on what we have been witnessing,” Cummings said

Misinformation was the topic that Cummings kept going back to when discussing Shadrach

Hayden said he could assure Council that the chair at the time would set the tone of the room for what they could talk about and not talk about He said anytime Shadrach shared inaccurate information he would look at Finance Director Mark Mason and say “You need to correct this so the board is not operating with bad information ”

“To paint a picture that they have somehow been operating out of a box for the last two years is blatantly, blatantly inaccurate because I have been a part of it,” Hayden said, adding that bringing the board back in line is terribly inaccurate.

Councilmember Robert Welsh, who also opposed the motion to remove Shadrach, said Council needs to look at the BRC as a board, and not look at it with any personal issue with any one member

“I believe getting reports and having them ask for questions is enough,” he said “I think it is going in the right direction, and we don’t need to bring it up every week ”

Statement by For mer Budget Review Committe chair Tom Shadrach

Former Budget Review Committe chair Tom Shadrach provided the following statement in response to Cape Coral City’s Countil’s vote to remove him from the BRC Here is the statement in full:

“Half the City Council opposes my fight for accuracy and transparency in our City Government I was removed from my volunteer position as a coordinated effort by one council member in retaliation for my stance that Ms Cummings should be removed from office because the facts support that she did not live in her district as required by the City Charter I am a right fighter and have spent hundreds of hours fighting to keep taxes low and pushing the city to spend our tax dollars more efficiently I retired and moved to the city 5 years ago, I have an extensive big business and financial background, after enjoying retirement for a couple of years I was asked by a citizen if I would investigate what is going on in the city with progress of the Parks GO bonds that was approved by referendum by the voters I said I would, thinking it would be easy to find out what was happening Well, it took over 6 months to gather information and cost data on what the city was doing to build 11 new or improved parks for the city I exposed the mismanagement, delays, and cost overruns on that project That project is still in bad shape with further schedule delays and huge cost overruns My involvement with city finances snow balled from there I get accused of not being accurate when I expose the truth, when in reality, city leadership and many on the council simply don’t like my narrative My only desire is to expose the truth and for the city to be transparent about it I ran for mayor last year with no political experience simply to have a platform to be heard about the issues within city government It did allow me to have a stronger voice in what was going on, but

it also led to retaliation and eventually my removal from the Budget Review Committee by 4 members of the council that took advantage of one member being absent so they could get a majority vote to remove me

The city government and city leadership like to paint a picture that everything is great They don’t like people that expose the truth about management flaws, lack of transparency with finances and misspending I have a master’s degree in finance, compare that with any council members background and I think the information that I tell is more accurate than they want to hear Last week I was accused, primarily by Ms Cummings of being inaccurate of 4 things concerning the budget, I spent a lot of effort to prove that I was very accurate, they just don’t like the narrative that exposes the weakness in leadership that leads to excessive taxes, program delays and cost overruns Just look at the delay and cost overruns of the new parks and the Yacht Club debacle

“Building parks should not be that complicated All the new parks were supposed to be completed by the end of 2021 5 of the 11 have not started construction and are still years away from being done What does that tell you about leadership, management, schedule, and cost control? If you can’t manage a $60 million dollar parks project, what makes you think they are properly managing a billion-dollar yearly budget?

“As long as I live in the city and pay taxes, I will be active in exposing the truth As I have said, I am a right fighter, and I don’t mind the repercussions that come from exposing the truth and holding city officials accountable There are many things good about this city, but they can be a lot better ”

Tom Shadrach

‘Heathers The Musical: Teen Edition’ at The Belle Theatre

Shows continue through Sunday

T h e B e l l e T h e a t r e i s p r e s e n t i n g

"Heathers The Musical: Teen Edition" as p a r t o f i t s E d u c a t i o n S e r i e s t h r o u g h

Sunday, July 30

"Heathers The Musical: Teen Edition," which features a cast of Southwest Florida young adults, is the dark story of Veronica

From page 18

F O C U S a c c o u n t c a n c r e a t e o n e a t https://www leeschools net/our schools/fo cus The documents required to pre-register include: Physical exam (dated within the l a s t y e a r ) , F l o r i d a C e r t i f i c a t e o f Immunization, Proof of address, Original birth certificate, Parent Photo ID, Social Security Card (if available) and Custody documents (if applicable)

Families without all the necessary documents or who need to visit the Student Enrollment Office should use the new online reservation system to schedule an appointment Introduced several weeks ago, the system cuts down on long waits outside the Student Enrollment office P a r e n t s c a n s c h e d u l e a n a p p o i n t m e n t through the School District website

Families should monitor the Student Enrollment website for additional information and dates for the 2024-2025 school year open enrollment Students entering kindergarten or high school will be able to enroll if needed and/or rank their school c h o i c e s t h r o u g h t h e i r F O C U S P a r e n t Portal Middle school families should pre-

Sawyer, a brainy, beautiful teenage misfit who hustles her way into the most powerful and ruthless clique at Westerberg High: the Heathers But before she can get comfortable atop the high school food chain, Veronica falls in love with the handsome new kid, J D When Heather Chandler, "the Almighty," kicks her out of the group, Veronica decides to bite the bullet and

give in to Heather, but J D has another plan for that bullet

Please be advised, the production contains adult subjects, language and content that may not be suitable for all audience members

Tickets are $25, with student tickets available for $10 (with ID)

You can purchase tickets online at

EDUCATION NOTES

pare for new proximity-based assignment zones that might require certain actions for their child to stay in their current school or change schools

Multicultural Centre of SWFL’s Big Backpack Event Sunday

The Multicultural Centre of SWFL is once again hosting Lee County's biggest back-to-school outreach event, the Big Backpack Event Celebrating its 24th year, the event is taking place at the Fort Myers Skatium Sunday, July 30, from 10 a m to 2 p m

The Multicultural Centre will provide the first 2,000 students ages 5 to 12 with new backpacks and school supplies, as well as full grocery bags to the first 1,000 families, as families go through the carline for curbside pickup

A DJ and fire trucks will be there on Sunday to make some noise and keep the families entertained while in the car line

The Fort Myers Skatium is at 2250 Broadway, Fort Myers

For more about the Multicultural Centre of SWFL, a private non-profit 501(c)(3)

New teacher orientation expands to include increased training

The School District of Lee County is expanding new teacher orientation before the start of the 2023-2024 school year to include increased training About 300 teachers new to the District will attend a seven day long New Teacher Training Camp at the end of July New Teacher Training Camp will offer educators the foundational exposure and preparation needed

n g a g e m e n t , a n d more New teachers will also have the opportunity to visit the Foundation for Lee County Public Schools where they can socialize and “shop” for complimentary teaching materials and school supplies to fill their new classrooms

T h e B e l l e T h e a t r e c o m o r c a l l t h e b o x office, 239-323-5533

Questions? Shoot the theatre an email, contactus@thebelletheatre com or give the theatre a call at 239-323-5533

The Belle Theatre is a 501(c)3 nonprofit performing arts center at 2708 Santa Barbara Blvd , Suite 135, Cape Coral

Teacher Training Camp are a mix of recent college graduates, transfers from other districts, and professionals who have changed careers to teach To ensure their success, each teacher will receive ongoing support from their schools, the district, and the district’s educational partners

Dog Wash fundraising event scheduled for Aug. 5 at Cape Coral Technical College

The veterinary assisting students from Cape Coral Technical College will be holding a fundraising Dog Wash on the school's campus, on Aug 5, from 10 a m to 2 p m Cape Coral Technical College is at 360 Santa Barbara Blvd , N , just north of the intersection of Pine Island Road Follow the signs on campus to find the Dog Wash

The cost is $15 for small and medium dogs and $25 for large dogs 40 pounds and over -- cash only Ear cleaning and toenail t r i m s a r e i n c l u d e d w i t h t h e b a t h N o appointments necessary.

For more information, call 724-9848734

Bromeliads:

From page 16

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

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

Air plants are also bromeliads, in the family

Tillandsia These are totally epiphytic They just have a few roots that stick to a piece of driftwood or a branch of your tree You will often see our native air plants in live oak trees

Storms may knock them out of the tree to the ground I pick these up and place in my own trees or on a wooden plaque with fishing line or a tie wrap

By the way, pineapples are bromeliads, too!

Care of bromeliads is so easy! They prefer to grow in soil that drains freely

Regular potting soil with one third sand or perlite added works well Planting directly in our sandy soil works fine, too Water with rain water or tap water, keeping water in the cups Well water usually contains salt and will slowly kill a bromeliad If you wish to fertilize, dilute it to half strength or you may burn the leaves

Bromeliads add a uniquely tropical feel to your home and landscape

There are more families and varieties than I can describe here. They are a fascinating group of plants to explore

To see more bromeliads, see the new additions to the Edison/Ford Gardens, where they are growing in the ground and on the trees Most local nurseries have bromeliads, too

For more information, visit the University of Florida website: https:// e d i s i f a s u f l e d u / p u b l i c ation/EP337 And the Bromeliad Society International: bsi org

Sherie Bleiler is a member of the Garden Club of Cape Coral and chair of the Butterfly Garden at the SW L i b r a r y V i s i t u s a t w w w g a r d e n c l u b o f c a p e c or a l c o m / L i k e u s o n o u r Facebook Page

BUSINESS

BUSINESS BRIEFS

Sky Zone to celebrate grand re-opening

Sky Zone, a leader in the indoor active entertainment industry, has announce the grand re-opening of its Fort Myers location after a closure due to Hurricane Ian in the fall of 2022. The Fort Myers location will be hosting a Free Jump Day Tuesday, Aug 1 Available for walk-in only, guests can receive up to 60 minutes of free jump time

Guests can expect bounce-off-the-walls fun as they explore the park's featured attractions including the Air Court, Boulder Balls, Dodgeball, Foam Pit, Free Climb, King of the Hill, Main Court, Ninja Warrior Course, SkySlam, Swing, Trapeze, Warped Wall and Zip Line

Sky Zone is the ultimate location for birthday, team and school parties – with set up, clean up and hosting included Sky Zone also offers memberships that provide daily access, exclusive savings and invitations to members-only events

Sky Zone Fort Myers is at 14181 S Tamiami Trail, #140, Fort Myers The hours for Free Jump Day Tuesday are from 9 a m to 7 p m

Kids Eat Free at Jason’s Deli Aug. 4-6

Jason’s Deli of Southwest Florida, a family-owned deli restaurant, is hosting its 15th annual “Kids Eat Free” event Friday, Aug 4, through Sunday, Aug 6, offering complimentary meals to children aged 12 and under at four Southwest Florida restaurant locations

From Aug 4-6, diners will receive up to two complimentary kid’s meals with each adult entree and drink purchase Children must be present, and the “Kids Eat Free” special may not be combined with other offers

The offer is valid for dine-in, to-go and curbside pickup, and not valid for deliveries

In Southwest Florida, participating Jason’s Deli locations include Fort Myers: 13550 Reflections Parkway at Cypress Lake Drive and 16451 Corporate Commerce Way at Alico Road; Naples: 2700 Immokalee Road at Airport Pulling Road; and Cape Coral: 2311 Santa Barbara Blvd near Veterans Parkway

For more information, please visit JasonsDeli com

Fort Myers Brewing earns gold medal at 2023 U.S. Open Beer Championship

Fort Myers Brewing Company has earned a gold medal at the 2023 U S Open Beer Championship, a national brewing competition that judges more beer styles than any other competition in the world

The brewery was awarded gold in the Chocolate/Cocoa Beer category for its popular Chocolate Stout, an imperial stout that balances sweet, rich chocolate with notes of roasted barley and espresso

The U S Open Beer Championship is held annually and is open to both professional breweries and awardwinning home brewers This year, breweries from Maui to Miami sent more than 9,000 beers (3,107 entries) representing over 160 different styles

Awards were given in 147 beer-style categories during the award ceremony at the U S Open Event Center in Oxford, Ohio This is the second time Fort Myers Brewing has medaled at the U S Open Beer Championship, previously earning a gold medal for its Chocolate Stout at the 2018 competition

For more information, visit FMBrew com or call 239-313-6576

RSW releases June traffic report

During June, 643,486 passengers traveled through Southwest Florida International Airport (RSW) in Fort Myers This was a decrease of 3% compared to June 2022 Year-to-date, passenger traffic is down 15%

The traffic leader in June was Delta with 152,385 passengers Rounding out the top five airlines were Southwest (128,803), American (106,609), United (81,697) and JetBlue (69,144)

Southwest Florida International Airport had 5,553 aircraft operations, a decrease of 2 percent compared to June 2022 Page Field saw 17,341 operations, which was a 21 percent increase compared to June 2022

For additional information, visit flylcpa com or facebook com/ flyRSW

Grand opening celebration this Saturday at High Tide Social House

By KATIE EGAN news@breezenewspapers com

High Tide Social House has been open for a little over three months, but it’s been 3 1/2 years in the making

There will be a grand opening celebration Saturday, July 29, with specials all day, live music and more

Owners Chris and Mary Beth Keslinger, who also own Lobster Lady Seafood, were thinking about trying something new They were approached by the owner of the Westin Cape Coral Resort at Marina Village about opening a restaurant at Tarpon Point

“And everything just transpired,” said Mary Beth Keslinger “It was the perfect opportunity at the perfect time and perfect location.”

So far, Keslinger says the reaction from the community has been amazing

“We’ve had a lot of support, especially within Tarpon Point,” she said

Located at 6095 Silver King Blvd , next to the marina, the open-air waterfront restaurant features a wrap-around porch and great views of the marina

Keslinger described the décor inside the dining room as coastal chic while the bar area lends itself more to an island theme

The menu is also very eclectic and complements those two themes well.

“Our chef is Venezuelan and I’m from the South,” Keslinger said “I like to put a southern twist on some of the entrees ”

Mouthwatering options include things like prime rib or a Philly cheese steak sandwich, other pressed sandwich options, fresh salads and fresh-from-scratch dinners

If You Go:

What: High Tide Social House

Where: 6095 Silver King Blvd , at Tarpon Point, Cape Coral

When: 11 a m to midnight, Monday through Sunday

Information: 239-341-4441 and https://m facebook com/HighTideSocialHouse

One of Keslinger’s favorites is the NOLA BBQ shrimp, High Tide’s take on New Orleans barbecue Diners can’t go wrong with a wood-fired pizza, either

“The Philly cheese steak sandwich is off the chain,” she said “The angus prime rib is shaved, slow roasted and seasoned ”

There are also weekly chef’s specials

But regardless of what you order, you can’t beat a variety of great food and drinks paired with a fresh, fun, waterfront vibe

PHOTOS PROVIDED

Waste Pro driver honored by MSW Management as a Safety Hero

Angel Veloz, a roll-off truck driver for Waste Pro’s Fort M y e r s D i v i s i o n , h a s b e e n r e c o g n i z e d b y M S W Management Magazine as a 2023 Safety Hero

He is the first driver to earn Waste Pro’s $10,000 Safety Award a record five times, and is close to earning his 6th He has been recognized by the Lee County Commission, and other community leaders for his safety efforts In 2016, Veloz was honored by the National Waste and Recycling Association as Driver of the Year.

His exemplary record goes beyond safety – he also provides 5-star service He is one of only a handful of drivers with TSA security clearance able to service international airports In 2022, he was one of the first truck drivers allowed to cross the bridges to both Pine Island and Ft Myers Beach after the destruction of Hurricane Ian

“Angel continues to set the standard and lead the way on safety In an industry that remains in the top five deadliest jobs in the U S , it is more important than ever to remain hyper-focused on safety to ensure our Waste Pros return home safe daily,” shared Waste Pro President and CEO Sean Jennings Waste Pro USA, Inc operates in 10 southeastern states and is one of the country’s fastest-growing privatelyowned waste collection, recycling, processing and disposal companies With revenues projected to exceed $1 1 billion in 2023, Waste Pro serves more than 2 million residential and 100,000 commercial customers from over 90 o

n Longwood, Florida, and maintains approximately 300 exclusive municipal contracts and franchises

The menu at the High Tide Social House at Tarpon Point in Cape Coral features a wide variety of items, like sandwiches, pizzas specialty drinks and much more

Gulf Coast Village hires Friend as sales, marketing director

Gulf Coast Village, the only continuing care retirement community in Cape Coral, has hired Jeanette Friend as its new sales and marketing director

In her role as director of sales and marketing, Friend is responsible for overseeing all sales and marketing efforts for Gulf Coast Village and the Senior Choice at Home program This includes ensuring comprehensive marketing plans are in place and that sales efforts successfully w e l c o m e r e s i d e n t s t o t h e c o m m u n i t y Friend will also maintain effective collaboration, communication and sales focuses with various internal partners, all while emphasizing the importance of creating a positive customer experience for current and potential Gulf Coast Village residents

Friend has over 13 years of experience in senior living sales with prior positions at established senior living communities across Southwest Florida S h e o b t a i n e d h e r a s s o c i a t e d e g r e e f r o m M e t r o p o l i t a n Community College with an e m p h a s i s i n c o u n s e l i n g a n d communication, and she is also a licensed real estate sales associate

“We know Jeanette’s experience working in senior living sales and her knowledge of the industry will be extremely valuable,” said Greg Anderson, Gulf Coast Village executive director “We are happy to welcome her to

Florida

our team and know she will be an asset to everyone at Gulf Coast Village ”

Sponsored by Volunteers of A m e r i c a N a t i o n a l S e r v i c e s , Gulf Coast Village offers the full continuum of care, including independent living, assisted living, memory support, skilled nursing, home health, rehabilit a t i o n s e r v i c e s a n d S e n i o r Choice at Home, a continuing care at home program, the only o f i t s k i n d i n S o u t h w e s t

About Gulf Coast Village

Founded in 1989, Gulf Coast Village is

the premier Continuing Care Retirement C

Florida Residents enjoy active living in an unparalleled lifestyle of comfort and convenience with a rich array of services and amenities that are focused on living well The community also offers the security of knowing there is a full continuum of care, including independent living, assisted living, specialized memory support, skilled nursing, home health, rehabilitation services and Senior Choice at Home, a continuing care at home program Gulf Coast Village is located at 1333 Santa Barbara Blvd , Cape Coral, FL 33991 For more information, call 239-772-1333 or visit GulfCoastVillage org

Fort Myers’ Burchett to compete in Hooters International Pageant

Grace Burchett, a Fort Myers resident who works at the Naples Hooters location, has earned a spot to compete in the Hooters International Pageant She will represent the Southwest Florida region and travel to Las Vegas to compete against Hooters Girls from all over the country for the title of 2023 “Miss Hooters International” and a cash prize of $30,000 Fans can vote for Burchett to win the "Fan Favorite" contest from now until Wednesday, Aug 2, at 11:59 p m Every fan receives five votes to cast each day The Fan Favorite cash prize of $2,000 will be announced during the pageant on Aug 3

Grace Burchett Fan Favorite Contest

Voting Link is http://www hooters com/ fanfavorite/#31-grace-burchett

Burchett is 25 years old and has worked at Hooters for 4 years She was born and

raised in West Virginia and s t a r t e d a t K i n g o f P r u s s i a Hooters in Philadelphia in July 2019 and moved to Southwest Florida in May 2021, working a t t h e F o r t M y e r s B e a c h Hooters location

She appeared in the 2023

H o o t e r s C a l e n d a r a s M i s s March and was in the calendar in 2021 and 2022 but not as a feature She recently shot in the Bahamas for the 2024 Hooters Calendar

S h e g r a d u a t e d f r o m W e s t V i r g i n i a University with a business degree Some of the many community outreach activities she has participated in through working at H o o t e r s i n c l u d e s p a r t i c i p a t i n g i n a fundraiser for Valarie’s House in Fort

Myers and riding in the Lags

Annual Great Bike Ride across

I - 4 f o r P r o s t a t e C a n c e r Research to raise funds to support Moffitt Cancer Center She will be participating in online f u n d r a i s i n g e f f o r t s f o r S e l f H e l p I n t e r n a t i o n a l a n d w i l l travel to Iowa for Give a Hoot

Self Help International weekend this July 14 and 15

“When I started working at Hooters, I was about to start my senior year of college in a new city Being new to town, I was eager to meet my coworkers and make new friends Fast-forward to now, this job has brought me so much more than that: countless opportunities to help my community, life changing experiences, self-confidence and

lifelong relationships Leading up to the Miss Hooters International pageant, I am most excited to learn more about this company and to meet other girls who share my p a s s i o n a n d l o v e f o r H o o t e r s , ” s a i d Burchett

The 2023 Miss Hooters International Pageant will be held in Las Vegas on Aug 3 Stay tuned for ways Southwest Florida f a n s c a n w a t c h a n d c h e e r o n G r a c e Burchett

L T P M a n a g e m e n t , a f r a n c h i s e e o f Hooters of America, owns and operates 16 locations in South Florida For more information about South Florida Hooters please visit www HootersFlorida com or follow us at Twitter @HootersFlorida, Instagram @ S o u t h F L H o o t e r s a n d F a c e b o o k @HootersFlorida

Grace Burchett

Jeanette Friend

Even the fish don’t like the heat

Even the fish are complaining about the heat! If your inshore trout, redfish and linesider game is not paying off, move your hunt closer to the more oxygenated and cooler Gulf waters Try fishing the ICW areas and the back sides of the barrier islands as well as out front where most of the summer snook stocks are enjoying the summer beaches only interrupted by cruising pods of tarpon patrolling the coastline Tarpon not beach cruising will spend the rest of the summer in Charlotte Harbor and the passes till late fall cool downs will send them south

Fill the tanks and leave the dock early to enjoy offshore bottom fishing but be sure to have various other rods rigged and ready to cast to stray cobia that could show up anywhere or king and Spanish mackerel that will take a trolled or cast lure If you’re out far enough, think of rigging up a bare hooked spinning outfit to pitch live bait to a sailfish school Point is that when an opportunity presents, itself unless you’re pre-rigged, it’s usually over before you can to react to it. With many reef fish moving even deeper with summer’s heat, putting in more miles to reach them often means more varied opportunities, like running into floating debris and mahimahi

If you bring home red grouper this weekend, be prepared to explain to an officer why as harvest closed last Friday, but you have until Monday the 31st to catch an even tastier red snapper Not all fish have moved to the horizon as our near-shore reefs still host a variety of gamefish

Carry wet ice chilled towels in your cooler to put around your neck Have two per person and changing them often makes a huge difference along with frequent hydration and proper clothing

If you or anyone aboard feels weak, dizzy or confused, get to shade, cool them with your towels, return them to the dock and get them treated by emergency medical if necessary Better safe, not sorry

Often getting kids to do something properly is like herding cats, but make sure they are well protected and wearing (and keep wearing) proper clothing, head and eye protection We now know that sun over-exposure and bad burns at a young age can lead to serious adult skin and eye issues as well as early skin aging especially living here in the Sunshine State.

Probably the most overlooked body parts continue to be noses, ears, scalps, hands and legs I recently had two skin cancers removed from my leg probably from living in shorts Baseball caps, especially mesh topped hats, offer little sun protection Good news is more and more anglers are covering up Long pants and sleeves, sun gloves, big hats and full head coverings are the dress of today’s sun aware angler

Most dermatologists recommend sun screen products but personally I choose to simply cover up I don’t want to add more chemicals; the toxic bug spray is already bad enough Why do you need bug spray if you’re covered up? Go fish a summer, Southwest Florida mangrove shoreline at 5:30 a m that’s home to several million nosee-ums and report back

With the oven on high, night and home before 11 a m fishing works best for most anglers and the fish as well If, like me, you’re a dedicated summer night owl casting for that big bite in the darkness, one personal protection

See THE HEAT, page 39

National champs

Welter, Basista take pickleball title at Senior Games in Pittsburgh

By CJ HADDAD cjhaddad@breezenewspapers com

A pair of Southwest Florida pickleballers have taken home the gold on a national stage in one of the fastestgrowing sports in America

Cape Coral’s Mike Welter and George Basista of Fort Myers were the last team standing at the National Senior Games in Pittsburgh competing in the 70-74 men’s doubles 3 5 skill level division

The pair have been on a hot streak this year, as earlier in the season they won gold at the Lee County Senior Games and Minto U S Open Championships

“George and I made it through our bracket by never losing a game,” Welter said “All of the teams were talented and evenly matched We were able to pull out the close matches in the end We teamed up really well together ”

Of the championship result, Basista said, “It was terrific For us to go through that whole group of talented players was amazing ”

The pair played against the best the sport has to offer, as all 50 states were represented at the games, including 1,513 pickleball players. There were 45 indoor courts utilized all day

Welter is one of the most decorated pickleball players there is, having accumulated countless medals of all varieties, singles and doubles, over his career He was named a Humana Game Changer at the 2022 National Senior Games in Fort Lauderdale, an award given to athletes who exemplify healthy aging and provide encouragement, motivation and inspiration for all seniors to start living healthy lifestyles

Five years ago, Welter was in Pennsylvania on vacation and suffered a stroke, and was flown by Lifelight to downtown Pittsburgh’s Allegheny General Hospital where he says he received excellent care

“Once I was healthy enough, I came back to Cape Coral where the Cape VA took over and continues to monitor me and give me great care,” Welter said “Going back for the National Senior Games to downtown Pittsburgh for the first time since my stroke made me nervous Playing with George, who accepts me knowing my medical situation, and then winning the gold was absolutely awesome I wouldn't have wanted any other partner From the hospital bed to the podium – it doesn't get any better ”

Of standing at the top of the podium with Welter, Basista said, “I’m so happy for him He’s had to overcome so much To be a part of helping him get back – he was such a dominant player – and to see him be able to work through what he does is incredible He’s so fun to play

FORT MYERS – The Mighty Mussels erased a threerun deficit in the ninth inning Wednesday, but ultimately fell 7-5 in ten to the Palm Beach Cardinals at Hammond Stadium

Down 4-1 in the bottom of the ninth, Kyle Schmidt was hit by a pitch and Alec Sayre reached on an error to place runners at the corners for the Mussels (45-47, 11-15). With one out, Gregory Duran launched a double to right center that scored both runs to make it 4-3 On the play, Duran advanced to third on an errant throw which then allowed him to score on a sacrifice fly to center off the bat of Maddux Houghton

In a tie game in the top of the 10th, Joshua Baez was placed at second as the Cardinals’ (46-43, 9-15) automatic runner Leading off the frame, Ross Friedrick looped a single to left to score Baez and give Palm Beach a 5-4 lead Chase Adkison followed with a single to right that placed runners at the corners with no outs. The next hitter was Joseph Paige, who served a soft liner to left to push across another run and make it 6-4 After a single loaded the bases, Won-Bin Cho grounded into an RBI fielder’s choice to push the Palm Beach advantage to 7-4

In the bottom of the 10th, Kamron Willman was awarded second as the automatic runner After advancing to third on a groundout, Willman scored on a wild pitch to cap the scoring at 7-5

with ”

The key to their success? Knowing each other’s every move

“Knowing where he’s going to hit the shot and knowing where the next shot is coming” is what separates the pair, Basista said “We just play so well together When you know where the guy is going to hit an unattackable ball and it frees me up to then read what they’re going to do off their paddle and have the good, quick reflexes to handle it In watching him play, he disguises his shot so well, it’s so much fun to play with him ”

Welter said this was his first national gold medal since his win in 2011 in Rochester The Senior Games run every other year, so he’ll get his next crack at gold in 2025 in Des Moines

Fort Myers is now 5-7 in extra innings this season, and just 1-6 at home

The game remained scoreless until Schmidt led off with a double to left in the second After the next two Mussels’ hitters were retired, Duran notched a two-strike single to give the Mussels a 1-0 lead

In the top of the third, Won-Bin Cho led off with a hustle double and Zach Levenson reached on an error to place runners at the corners With one out in the inning, Mussels’ starter Jose Olivares (2-3) balked to force in Cho from third and knot the game at 1-1

Still tied at 1-1 in the top of the fifth, Lizandro Espinoza reached on a bunt single and advanced to third on a throwing error from the catcher Schmidt The next hitter was Cho, who launched a two-run homer to deep right center to give Palm Beach its first lead of the day at 3-1 Later in the frame Levenson singled and advanced to third on two ground outs. With two away, William Sullivan slashed a double to right center to extend the Cardinals’ lead to 4-1 Cardinals’ starter Hancel Rincon was fantastic, allowing just one run on four hits over six innings of work He fanned three and did not walk a single batter

The Mussels and Cards were set to play last night with the series continuing through Sunday at Hammond Stadium Gametimes are today is 7 p m , Saturday at 6 p m , and Sunday at noon

Capt George Tunison

PHOTO PROVIDED Mike Welter, left, and George Basista pose on the podium after winning the pickleball title in the 70-74 age bracket at the National Senior Games in Pittsburgh

Despite comeback, Mussels fall 7-5 in 10 innings

Healthy Lee Sports Expo Saturday

Lee Health invites third, fourth and fifth grade students and their parents to attend a free Healthy Lee Sports Expo Saturday, July 29, from 8 a m to 12:30 p m , at The Skatium, 2250 Broadway St , Fort Myers Open skating is from 12:30 to 2 p m

The purpose of the Family Fun Healthy Sports Expo is to let kids try different sports, meet new friends and have fun. Physical activity helps promote health, well-being, learning new skills and building self-esteem

There will be opportunities to practice basketball, boxing, soccer, skating, hockey, golfing, martial arts, wrestling, Zumba and yoga

There will also be food and a bounce

house, along with education on sports injuries, pediatrics and heart health

Playing sports also helps children develop and improve cognitive skills and it can even help improve a child’s academic performance since playing sports requires the child to focus, use critical thinking skills and work as a team

Playing sports can also benefit children of all ages and joining a team early can help reinforce these valuable life skills

This is a free event and no registration is required Please join us on July 29, from 8 a m to 12:30 p m , at The Skatium, 2250 Broadway St , Fort Myers Learn more about Healthy Lee by visiting www HealthyLee com

The heat: It’s too hot for the fish

From page 38

often overlooked is eye protection Due to an accident, I’m down to one eye and why I wear lightweight, clear, safety glasses when casting lures at night Over the years I’ve been hooked by myself, but mostly by others, in the neck, scalp, ears, back, cheeks (top and bottom), hands and other body parts, and that’s in the day time Night fishing definitely amps up the personal danger factor and permanent eye damage is a real consideration

Capt George Tunison is

CAPE CORAL ANIMAL SHELTER

a Cape Coral resident fishing guide. You can contact him at 239-282-9434 or via email at captgeorget3@aol com

TIDES CHART

Looking for a loving home

Flynn is a 1 to 3-year-old male who lives everyone he meets! Flynn gets along with kids of all ages, his fellow doggie friends and even those crazy kitties He would love nothing more than to snuggle on the couch with his new humans or even go on an adventure!

Windy is a 1 to 3-year-old female who is the prettiest kitty here at the Cape Coral Animal Shelter She loves to held a n d s n u g g l e d l i k e a b a b y w i t h h e r favorite humans Windy is not out on the adoption floor due to needing a special

diet to keep her tummy happy, so please ask her friends up front for the opportunity to meet her!

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

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

Flynn Windy

Motorcycles & Mopeds Power

Fill in the blank cells using numbers 1 to 9. Each number can appear only once in each row, column, and 3x3 block. Use logic and process of elimination to solve the puzzle. The difficulty level ranges from Bronze (easiest) to Silver to Gold (hardest).

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Specializingin ConcreteSlabs Drives Patios Sidewalks

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BackHoe-Grading-Fill

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