Bokeelia resident writes new bestseller
By PAULETTE LeBLANC pleblanc@breezenewspapers com
Islander Lainie Sevante Wulkan has collaboratively authored a new bestseller, "High Vibrational Wellness," which she said hit number one seemingly overnight in several different countries
“There are only six categories that you can apply for on Amazon and we hit number one in all six,” Wulkan said Mastering categories, such as wellness, health and healing, and holistic medicine is not the only thing on Wulkan’s plate, however. She also wrote a children’s book, "Finns Giant Leap " Inspiration to write the chil-
dren’s book came to her years ago, she said, literally in the middle of the night, as Wulkan never had plans to become an author Become an author she has indeed, as, all of her eight books have become bestsellers.
“I came from the food, wellness and nutrition world and I created a book called the 'Food Healing Oracle Deck' where I was really interpreting food as a messenger It took off I literally am now in 35 countries and once a year, I ship all over the world,” Wulkan said
Many of the foods Wulkan writes about can be found on Pine Island, such as soursop and moringa, she said She talked about why some of these are considered top foods
New teachers join school staff
By PAULETTE LeBLANC pleblanc@breezenewspapers com
Pine Island Elementary has welcomed several new teachers for the 2024-25 school year
Maryann Rone, who taught at Pine Island Elementary years ago, has returned to the school and teaches first grade
“I began as a School District of Lee County student when I moved to Cape Coral in 1979 and began my teaching career here in 1992 The amazing Mr Hook brought me to Pine Island Elementary where I taught until I took a leave to give full-time care to my mother After her passing, I returned to Caloosa Middle School, which was fun since I was a student there in the past. I also had the opportunity to work with one of my three children, who is also a teacher
“However, most of my career has been with younger students and I missed them and Pine Island Elementary tremendously , she continued "I am very blessed and
thankful that Dr Galbreath allowed my return here and I can work under his leadership Pine Island Elementary and the community is a unique and truly special place and I am very proud to be a Pine Island Eagle ”
Elaine Dunseath is school counselor who came from Treeline Elementary, where she worked for 5 years She lives in northwest Cape Coral, and said she always had an affinity for Pine Island
“I am honored to have the opportunity to work with your kids and the community I'm originally from New York and moved a bit as a child to Ohio before my parents settled in Connecticut My husband, son and I
and then backed the statement with several National Institute of Health studies on how these foods are being used for people with particular ailments She did a smoothie recipe book based on the teachings of the Food Healing Oracle Deck and showed people how to make a smoothie with intention, she said
“People make affirmations for themselves and you can literally see that energy as your drinking something with intention, so I made recipes that correspond to that,” Wulkan said
Mulicka, Greenwell advance; Caldwell, Doyle re-elected
By NATHAN MAYBERG nmayberg@breezenewspapers com
Lee County Republicans have kept Lee County Board of County Commissioners Chairman Mike Greenwell as the party’s nominee for the District 5 seat in a primary Tuesday while also choosing David Mulicka for the District 3 seat Greenwell withstood a challenge from Alva Republican Amanda Cochran in one of the tighter county
55
to 44 66%
Cochran ran a campaign
and specifically objected to a development proposal for property Greenwell owns in the rural North Olga neighborhood The property had been rezoned by the L
while Greenwell was on the board to allow for 400,000 square feet of commercial space and 122 multifamily units
G
that he needed to develop the property after losing part of his land to state road
Greenwell will now face Democrat Kizzie Fowler in the November election District 5 includes Alva, Lehigh Acres, Buckingham,
Mike Greenwell
David Mulicka
Butterfly decorations created for Ian Recovery event
‘Transforming into Beauty’ celebration
set fo Sept. 28 at RE/MAX Sunshine office in Matlacha
The Matlacha Civic Association hosted a dinner in August for the island artists who hand painted butterflies in keeping with the theme of this year’s Ian Recovery event, “Transforming into Beauty ”
The Ian Recovery event will have live music, a guest speaker and the Island Angel Awards recognizing community members for their courage, strength and support Over 300 LED butterflies will luminate the evening
All are welcome to attend this fun and uplifting event hosted by the Matlacha Civic Association Saturday, Sept 28, at 6 p m, at the RE/MAX Sunshine office
Road and Island Avenue in Matlacha
Cape Coral gets state permit for Chiquita Boat Lock removal
By MEGHAN BRADBURY news@breezenewspapers com
As of Monday, the city of Cape Coral can move forward with the removal of the Chiquita Boat Lock, as it received an Environmental Resource Permit for the South Spreader Waterway Enhancement Project from the Florida Department of Environment Protection.
Councilmember Dan Sheppard said it’s a big win and very exciting
“It was an equivalent of having a chain link fence in your backyard with a waterproof gate,” he said of the lock “That was the equivalent of what it basically did. It really didn’t serve a purpose "
T h e r e m o v a l o f t h e w a t e r c o n t r o l device will raise the values of all the
homes around the lock, as well as keep manatees and dolphins from being killed a n d b
Sheppard said
The permit both grants permission and imposes conditions.
improve the South Spreader Waterway by employing several projects to improve water quality The permittee is authorized to remove the Chiquita Boat Lock and associated uplands, and to install a 165linear foot seawall along the north end of the South Spreader waterbody The applicant also seeks to plant over 3,000 mangrove seedlings along the Waterway, as well as to install oyster reef balls in the area where the lock is removed,” language f
Environmental Protection states
The permit further states that projects
have been proposed to “improve the water quality in the Spreader waterbody and receiving waters ” T h o
stormwater catch basins that drain to the waterway; improvement of the stormwater management system associated with Rotary Park dog park; contributions to the e n d a n
implementation as well as planting of the mangrove seedlings along the waterway and the installation of oyster reef balls around the installation of the seawall In addition, an interlocal agreement has been negotiated with the city of Fort Myers for the city of Cape Coral to purchase and dispose of reclaimed water that is generated by Fort Myers – the Connect Project There will also be a detailed public education program to touch upon endangered species, boater s afety and w ater quality protection
C a p e C
e s i d e n t Dennis Costello lives within walking distance of the l
removal
killed/crushed eight manatees in the time I have lived here,” Costello said With the removal of the lock, there will no longer be a device that kills manatees in Cape Coral, he said, adding he did not support the effort to retain the structure by those who said local waters would be polluted if the decades-old device was removed
“The petition to oppose the removal of the lock was a f
judge in her recommended order said the petitioner’s experts offered no credible evidence of harm to the environment, nor did they do any analysis regarding
PHOTO PROVIDED
The butterfly artists included, front row, from left, Billie Young, Marie Cahill and Lindy Terry; and back row, from left, Patty Smith, Sherry Howerton, Bernie Vos, Jessica Norman, Cindy Walton, Jan Morton and Carol Scott
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Florida Labor Department
Labor Day began as a federal holiday to honor our nation’s workers and to remember those in the labor movement who came to their defense over a century ago They demanded that workers’ economic contributions be recognized, and that people had safe workplaces, received fair wages and had opportunities to succeed In 1894, President Grover Cleveland took an important step and declared the first Monday in every September since to be Labor Day
For those of us at the U S Department of Labor, every day is Labor Day Thousands of people throughout the nation and here in Florida work hard each day on behalf of working people We help make sure people have access to training programs and good jobs in their communities, and enforce laws that protect workers’ rights, wages, safety,
Department has:
■ Recovered $25,047,993 in wages for workers whose employers failed to follow the law
■ Recovered $29,347,032 in lost employee benefits in healthcare and retirement programs
Your federal Labor Department has also:
■ Assessed 2,845 violations following
Administration inspections to protect workers on the job
■ Assessed 1,749 violations following
Clean water roulette
To the editor:
In my opinion our government is spinning the wheel and hoping for the best when it comes to providing clean water to the people of Florida Recently there have been articles about high fecal, (poop), bacteria counts in many of our waters This is nothing new It has been going on for many years Some months are better than others, but the longterm trend is the same, poopy waters! So far, the children and adults that fish, swim and play in these compromised waters, with a few exceptions, are not showing up in our medical facilities I do wonder though how many infected wounds, sore throats, runny noses and upset stomachs are the result of the contaminated water In my opinion it’s just a matter of time before people get severely sick from the lack of proper stewardship of our local waters
The most common answer from most city officials is it’s too expensive to clean up the
Guest Commentary
investigations to protect miners on the job
Your Labor Department also has invested $1 4 million in grants to expand access to apprenticeship opportunities, prepare young workers for quality jobs and strengthen
demands. The YouthBuild program supports
young people, ages 16-24, who are neither enrolled in school or now in the labor market, for jobs in construction and other highdemand industries
In 2024, your Labor Department has established new federal rules to protect workers that include:
■ An overtime rule, effective July 1, 2024, increasing to $43,888 the annual salary one must earn to be exempt from overtime, in most jobs. On Jan. 1, 2025, that increases to $58,656 annually and requires salary adjustments every three years beginning in 2027
■ A rule that better protects workers from being misclassified as independent contractors and being denied full wages, benefits and protections
■ New regulations to protect miners from exposure to silica dust, a leading cause of lung disease and death
■ Regulations that require employers to allow an employee representative to accompany inspectors to protect workers’ interest
Letters to the Editor
water Yet they continue to undercharge d e v e l o p m e n t f e e s f o r
Local governments are kicking the can down the road then complain that the cost has gone up so much that they cannot afford to provide clean, safe water for the residents What good will parks be if the water that flows through them are contaminated and unsafe to use If the same standards that apply to swimming areas were applied to all our recreational waters the governments would have close most access It’s just not right!
Dan Carney Cape Coral
Debunking rhetoric criminalizing immigration
To the editor: “ N u r s i n g S t u d e n t K i l l e d b y I l l e g a l
Immigrant in Georgia” The media headlines screamed all around the country! There are about 800 homicides committed in Georgia each year and none has received as much
■ An H-2A farmworker protection final rule that protects temporary migrant workers from labor exploitation and human trafficking and adds safety requirements
■ A retirement security rule requiring investment advisers to have policies and procedures to avoid conflicts of interest and make sure they give investment advice in the best interest of growing and protecting their clients’ retirement funds
■ Proposed a rule to require employers to protect workers from excessive indoor and outdoor heat exposure
We’re also addressing many other critical issues ‒ such as pay inequity, access to affordable childcare, workplace flexibility, paid leave and training ‒ and working with employers, workers and local, state and federal leaders to build a 21st century workforce that leaves no one behind
Your Labor Department remains committed, as it has since 1913, to fostering, promoting and developing the welfare of working people, improving their working conditions and enhancing their opportunities for profitable employment because we know when families succeed, communities thrive and the nation prospers overall
Eric Lucero is the director of the U S Department of Labor’s Southeast Office of Public Affairs
media attention as this one It may surprise you but there is abundant evidence that immigration is not linked to higher crime rates!
Arrest and incarceration date studies:
■ The arrest rate for illegal immigrants w a s 4 0 % b e l o w t h a t o f n a t i v e - b o r n Americans and the homicide arrest 46%
Americans (Nowrasteh 2018)
■ As a group, immigrants have had lower incarceration rates than the US-born for 150 years Moreover, relative to the US-born,
declined since 1960: immigrants today are 6 0 %
(Abramitzky, et al 2023)
H
rates:
■ Increased concentrations of undocumented immigrants are associated with statistically significant decreases in violent crime (Light and Miller 2018)
■ As the number of immigrants in the United States has risen in recent years, crime rates have fallen Between 1990 and 2013 FBI data indicate that the violent crime rate declined 48%. Likewise, the property crime rate fell 41% This decline in crime rates in the face of high levels of new immigration has been a steady national trend and has o c c u r r e d i n c i t i e s a c r o s s t h e c o u n t r y (Martinez and Rumbaut 2015)
The evidence is clear, we need to stop demonizing immigrants as criminals! Sigfredo Hernandez Bonita Springs
Lee County operations adjust schedules for Labor Day
Most Lee County administrative operations will be closed Monday, Sept 2, in observance of Labor Day
The county’s holiday schedule adjustments are as follows:
Solid Waste
All garbage, recycling and yard waste collections in unincorporated Lee County, the City of Bonita Springs, the Village of Estero and the Town of Fort Myers Beach will take place one day after the regularly scheduled collection day following the Labor Day holiday This means that if your regular collection day is Monday, Sept 2, the pickup day will be Tuesday Tuesday’s regularly scheduled pickups will be on Wednesday and so on for the rest of the week through Saturday, Sept 7 Regular collection schedules resume on Monday, Sept 9
Lee County Solid Waste facilities and offices are closed on Monday, Sept 2, in observance of the holiday. This includes operations at the Household Chemical Waste Collection Facility, 6441 Topaz
Court, the Resource Recovery Facility on Buckingham Road and the Lee/Hendry Regional Solid Waste Disposal Facility
Solid Waste urges all residents to recycle plastic, metal and glass containers from Labor Day activities.
Lee County Utilities
The offices of Lee County Utilities, the Call Center and drive-thru window will be closed on Monday, Sept 2, in observance of Labor Day. A drop-box is on-site at the front door and another accessible via the drive-thru for payments by check
Libraries
All library locations will be closed on
Tuesday, Sept 3 The library is always available online at www leelibrary net/ online
Community Development
Permitting Lobby, 1500 Monroe St , Fort
Myers, and the permitting phone line will
Monday, Sept 2 Both the lobby and the phone line will resume regular operation at 9 a m Tuesday, Sept 3
Domestic Animal Ser vices
Animal Services, 5600 Banner Drive, Fort Myers, will be closed for the holiday on Monday, Sept 2, but will resume regular business hours on Tuesday, Sept 3
LeeTran
LeeTran will not run bus, trolley, ULTRA on-demand, or paratransit service on the holiday, Monday, Sept 2 Service resumes Tuesday, Sept 3 Route sched-
tran com
Parks & Recreation
Parks, beaches, pools and preserves remain open on Labor Day Offices and recreation centers are closed Monday, Sept 2, and will reopen Tuesday, Sept 3 Check www leeparks org for the list of
open locations, hours and amenities T
remember no alcohol is permitted in county parks
Lee County reminds residents and visitors that the Causeway Islands Park on the Sanibel Causeway remains closed to watercraft, pedestrian and bicycle traffic
Transportation’s active construction zone
People launching boats, kayaks or other watercraft at Lee County facilities in the greater Pine Island area should be aware that construction is also underway on the Little Pine Island Bridge. The FDOT states that work on the bridge, which is on the west side of Matlacha, will continue through the Labor Day holiday weekend, so motorists and boaters are asked to use caution in the area.
To receive updates from Lee County Government, sign up for the newsletter at
Facebook, www facebook com/
Pine Island Kiwanis Club to hold inaugural Labor Day Bash Monday
The Pine Island Kiwanis Club will host its 1st Annual Labor Day Bash at the St James City Civic Center this Monday, Sept 2, from 11 a m to 4 p m The club is hoping this will become a family island tradition The goal for the event is to raise funds for a new park canopy at the St. James City Kiwanis Park
Island Bikeworks and others are raffling off four bikes Bikeworks will also sponsor a safety bike rodeo, with T-shirts
bike techs on hand to fine tune bikes but kids should bring their own bikes
There will also be donut eating contests, a water balloon toss, team/individual potato sack race and games for the kids. There will be awards for the contests
The cookout will help the Kiwanis raise some funds and the club will take donations The Sheriff's rob dog has been
invited to attend and the American legion will provide cotton candy
The Hookers are helping out with a game booth for the kids Matt Lee and Rudy Cox will provide music
Kiwanis is still looking for sponsors and vendors ($20). For vendor/sponsor
brew com
Volunteers are always welcome to help with activities, including parking The
contact information is pineisland1965 @gmail com
Donations can be made to Kiwanis Club of Greater Pine Island, PO Box 111, St James City, FL, or you can call Tonya Player at 239-203-4682 for information
The St, James City Civic Center is at 3300 Fourth Ave , at the corner of Lemon Stree, in St James City
Elks National Foundation accepting scholarship applications
The Elks National Foundation has announced the start of the 2025 Elks Most Valuable Student scholarship contest The MVS scholarship is available to high school seniors who are United States citizens. Applicants do not need to be related to a member of the Elks
The judging criteria is based on academics, leadership, service and financial need
The application is completed online and must be submitted by the Nov 12, 2024 deadline The 500 national winners will be announced in April 2025
Life Prep Christian Academy opens on the island
This week, the Life Prep Christian Academy, a three-day hybrid Christian homeschool program, located at First Baptist Church of Pine Island in Bokeelia, officially opened.
LPCA is dedicated to nurturing the academic, spiritual and personal growth of its students LPCA offers a Christ-centered curriculum that combines academic excellence, hands-on learning, with fun and engaging lessons
This unique alternative educational program was scheduled to officially begin for students Tuesday, Aug 27
To learn more about the program, p l e a s e c a l l 1 - 8 3 3 - W e R - L P C A ( 9 3 75722) or visit its website at lifeprepchristianacademy com
First Baptist Church of Pine Island is at 5363 Avenue D Contact the church at 239-283-1737
The top 20 national finalists will part i c i p a t e i n
in Chicago and receive $30,000 scholarships The remaining 480 runners-up will receive $4,000 scholarships
The Elks National Foundation invested more than $4 million in college scholarships this year MVS scholars, all of whom demonstrate outstanding leadership skills and a commitment to service, are g r a d
of 90%, a remarkable 30% higher than the national average
This success rate should inspire confi-
dence in your potential to succeed with the MVS scholarship
Foundation has helped thousands of students who need financial assistance to fulfill their dreams of attending college. MVS scholars are outstanding students who are at or near the top of their class, active in school and community activities and recognized as leaders by their peers
Applications for the 2025 contest are readily available on the Elks National Foundation's website
To ensure you have all the necessary
visit enf elks org/MVS
To learn more about the Elks National Foundation's scholarships, visit elks org/ scholars, follow the ENF on Instagram @ElksScholars, and like the ENF on Facebook @ElksNationalFoundation
If you want more information about F
scholarships, contact Greater Pine Island Elks Lodge 2781, Judy Hopkins, ENF
Calusa Waterkeeper sampling repor t from Aug. 17
The Calusa Waterkeeper report on the Fecal Indicator Bacteria results from water sampling tests in Lee County on Saturday, Aug 17 In addition, the Waterkeeper has received a few questions on what test used for the F I B sampling and wanted to include a link to the Enterolert 24-hour detection of enterococci product produced by IDEXX that the Waterkeeper utilizes for local estuarine waters This is an EPA approved product and industry standard for examination of water and wastewater You can read more at https://www idexx com/en/water/water-products-services/enterolert/ For more on the Waterkeeper efforts, visit http://calusawaterkeeper org/monitoring/ GRAPHIC PROVIDED
Lee County School Board primary results: Giovannelli holds District 2 seat, Ribble wins in District 3, runoff set for District 7
By MEGHAN BRADBURY news@breezenewspapers com
District 2 incumbent Melissa Giovannelli will serve another four years on the Lee County School Board
Giovannelli, a real estate agent, had the most votes with 12,660, or 56.71% beating her opponent Carol Frantz, a retired radiologic technologist, who received 9,665 votes, or 43 29%
“I am excited I appreciate the confidence the community has in me I will continue to do what I do holding people accountable and trying to be as transparent as possible,” Giovannelli said “I am ready to serve four more years That is what I enlisted to do, and I am ready to do it I am excited I look forward to doing four more ”
Giovannelli was first elected in 2016 and reelected in 2020 to the school board A native of Lee County, she is a graduate of Riverdale High School She has a Florida Real Estate License from Ed Klopfer of Real Estate and a paralegal certification from Barry University
District 2 was determined by voters within the district only as was the District 3 race
Bill Ribble, who worked as a VP of corporate operational development with UPS, won the District 3 race with 12,307 votes, or 50 38% against opponent Kaityln Schoeffel, a car dealership spokesperson and mother, who received 12,120 votes, or 49 62%
Vanessa Chaviano and Sheridan Chester will advance to a runoff in District 7
The at-large district provided all voters countywide with the opportunity to cast a ballot in the three-way race featuring Chaviano, Chester and Joshua Molandes
There is a run-off in the General Election if there is no majority winner, 50%+1 vote, in the Primary Election
Chaviano had 47 11%, 45,631 votes, Chester had
31 42%, or 30,432 votes, and Molandes had 21 48%, or 20,807 votes with all the precincts reporting
Chaviano holds a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice and criminal forensics from Florida Gulf Coast University, a master’s degree in criminal forensics, behavioral analysis from Florida Gulf Coast University and a master’s in business administration from Ashford University
A 25-year resident in Lee County, she works at LIV Digital Marketing in marketing operations She is a former teacher, school administrator, and coach and currently has two children in the school district
“I am very excited, proud, and happy for everyone that has supported me,” Chaviano said of those that came out to the Primary Election “We did everything as far as marketing, door knocking grassroots efforts We will continue those grassroot efforts here in the community keep doing what we have been doing ”
She said obviously it continues into November
“Hopefully, everyone comes out in November Every
voice matters making sure every voice is heard, and everyone is accounted for I’m looking forward to serving them on the school board,” Chaviano said Chester received an AA degree from CUNY, Borough of Manhattan Community College, a bachelor’s from John Jay College of criminal justice, as well as certified recovery peer specialist
Also, a 25-year resident of Lee County, Chester has been a substitute teacher for the Lee County School District Her top three issues include salaries, hire and retention of qualified teachers and safety
“This has been an odyssey and everyone played such an important role in us arriving at this place,” she said via email “So much of your time and effort went into this, candidates and volunteers and supporters and citizens I know that love and beauty reside here and we are going to see to it that Our Paradise is protected on all levels, starting with Education Thank you so much We now move on to November and win this campaign ”
Melissa Giovannelli, Bill Ribble
Vanessa Melbis Chaviano
Sheridan Chester
Caldwell re-elected Lee County property appraiser receiving 70% of the vote
By CJ HADDAD cjhaddad@breezenewspapers com
Lee County Property Appraiser Matt Caldwell staved off a primary challenge with more than 70% of the vote.
Caldwell faced challenger Steve Cunningham in a “universal” primary open to all voters Since there were only two candidates for Property Appraiser this election cycle, both Republican, the winner of this Primary is now elected
“We are honored to have the overwhelming support of our community,” Caldwell told The Cape Coral Breeze “I look forward to continuing to serve as your Property Appraiser Our office will continue to be advocates for the taxpayer in every way possible ”
Caldwell had 70 37% of the vote to Cunning-
precincts reporting
unofficial until certified
which he received a degree in History He works as a real estate appraiser and consultant with Maxwell,
Primary results From page 1
Olga and eastern unincorporated Fort Myers though voting is open to all of the county’s electorate
Mulicka, owner of HONC Destruction, won his race comfortably while running on a pro-development platform over Matt Thornton Mulicka received 64 29% of the vote over his opponent's near 35 71% Thornton ran a campaign against what he contended was over-aggressive development in the county
M
Representative Jenna Persons-Mulicka
He faces a write-in candidate, Jake Cataldo, in November
District 3 includes Fort Myers Beach, Bonita Springs, Estero and the Iona-McGregor section of unincorporated Lee County County commissioners must reside in the district in which they run but are elected by voters countrywide
Bestseller From page 1
An idea with which Wulkan finds herself resonating is, ‘intuitive food therapy,’ which she said is, in reality, trusting your gut She explained it by using the example of a person who goes to the grocery store and feels they are craving butternut squash She believes there’s an inherent reason for the craving and there may be some component in butternut squash that person’s body needs
“There could be a vitamin or mineral in what you’re craving that you require your body always knows what you need, so I teach people to be intuitive,” Wulkan said
The book "High Vibrational Wellness," she said, was
Other races
Lee County voters countywide, regardless of political party, were able to take part in a universal primary to keep Lee County Property Appraiser Matt Caldwell and Lee County Supervisor of Elections Tommy Doyle in office Both won in landslides
Caldwell easily turned back the campaign of Steve Cunningham, while Doyle defeated Michael “Mick” Peters in universal primaries open to all Lee County voters
Election returns saw Caldwell receiving 70 37% of the vote and Doyle receiving 80 42% of the vote in their respective races
Peters did win a race to be Lee County’s representative as a State Republican committeeman with 59% of the vote over Andrew Sund Peters is also on the executive board of the Lee County Republican Committee
originally called, "High Vibrational Eating " She said once she gathered all the authors together, it was about more than food
“I realized it’s just not about how we feed our body it’s not just what we put in It’s how we feed our thoughts and how we feed our soul Staying well is about how we stay nourished on all levels,” Wulkan said
She said she was careful to bring authors into the project who could help with the mindset of her would-be readers, because they might be on a healing journey or grieving They may simply need to bring their thoughts back to
Hendry & Simmons in Fort Myers, having attained the highest state certification in his field and being qualified as an expert witness in multiple states and federal court Caldwell is also a partner and consultant with TM Strategic Consulting
H
Representatives from 2010-2018, serving on and chairing several committees during his tenure, including tax policy, redistricting, insurance and banking, agriculture, natural resources and public lands, transportation and infrastructure, local, federal, and military affairs, and oversight of government operations, such as pensions and elections
Melissa Giovannelli and Tara Jenner were in a close race for State Republican
senting Lee County Jenner won with 34% to 31% for
Houlihan received 20% of votes while Adele Amico had 15%
More than 109,000 bal-
County for a turnout rate of about 23% of registered voters
Results from the primary election are unofficial until certified
positivity, she said Her energy was inclined toward helping readers feed their soul by tuning in with prayer or meditation
“I realized feeding works on all the levels, not just what we put into our mouths, so the 25 authors were a combination of all the ways to nourish your body temple by feeding it correctly That’s when I changed the title to High Vibrational Wellness,” Wulkan said, adding that she sees this book as a recipe for life
“Everybody has intuition Trust your gut,” Wulkan said
Matt Caldwell
Tommy Doyle
PHOTO PROVIDED
The cover of Lainie Sevante Wulkan’s new bestseller “High Vibration Wellness ”
Study: School District of Lee County employee compensation below goal
By MEGHAN BRADBURY news@breezenewspapers com
A compensation study for the School District of Lee County will help in TALC negotiations this year
The study, which began in November 2023, looked at the employee database, salary schedule, job descriptions, organizational chart, personnel policies, and procedures.
Evergreen Project Manager Stasey Whichel said the best practice for school districts is typically between 40 to 60% The administration range is 18%, N schedule is 60% and SPALC averages 44%
For salary distribution, Whichel said 72% are below the midpoint to current range
“That is a significant level of employees below midpoint,” she said
For the market rate employees – 34% are paid at the rate slightly different from the set market rate
For grade progression the distance between pay grades it sits at 7% for most areas.
The top three issues based on employee feedback were competitive pay with market peers, adjusting compensation/pay to account for the local cost of living and accurately aligning pay with the district according to job functions
The market survey collected data from 16 peers –school districts, counties, and cities The survey used 196 classifications as benchmarks, which provided about
1,000 data points
The market comparison at the 50th percentile revealed:
■ At the minimum 0 4% below
■ At the midpoint 4 7% are below
■ At the maximum 4 2% below
■ Average range spread 47 3%
“You are running about 5% behind market on average plans Your average range spread from mid to max, you are slightly wider than some of your peers,” Whichel said
She said the suggestion is to be at 50% for the range spread and 6% between each pay grade to allow that room to grow
The proposed SPALC pay plan had 15 grades with a minimum, midpoint and maximum dollar amount For example, grade 10 had a minimum amount of $26 19 to a maximum $39 28
The implementation strategy consisted of two options bring to new minimum and minimum year data factor
“As you progress through 2-7, 7-14 (years) we adjusted you an additional couple of percentages Not really inflating positions,” she said
To bring in a new minimum that impacted 4,375 employees it would have a total implementation cost of more than $3 5 million
With the minimum year data factor piece, that implementation cost would be a little more than $6 1 million
Board member Cathleen Morgan thought the data was
fascinating She said the biggest challenge is creating and implanting a performance review system
“I don’t know how you change that culture,” she said Morgan said the growth that needs to take place in a position is the growth reflected in compensation
“I think you have done an awesome job To get past the qualitative judgements about my salary, my position, we really have to change the culture of how people are evaluated and link it to be meaningful,” she said
Board member Chris Patricca asked about wage increases being tied to the amount of time the employees are with the district
“That gives me some concern Amount of time in the district does not lead to excellence,” she said
Chief Financial Officer Dr Ami Desamours said they very much do want to base compensation on performance as well
“Time and time alone does not tell you about the quality and contribution of an employee,” Whichel said “We wanted to give you a base line By taking date ranges and adding increments, addresses compression ” Desamours said relief is on the way
“The goal is to be able to rectify that in this round, maybe not completely for every employee It might be a multi-step, multi-year process,” she said “The expectation is this year some progress will be made ”
School District updates student progression plan
By MEGHAN BRADBURY news@breezenewspapers com
There have been some updates to the student progression plan for the 2024-2025 school year for elementary, middle, and high school students
Teaching and Learning Director Lori Houchin said they were waiting on the technical paper for third grade retention last year She said a student can now be moved forward during a mid-year promotion option, if they show demonstration of the skill
Houchin said there is also third grade math accelera-
New teachers
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moved to the Cape seven years ago from the Blue Grass region of Kentucky Southwest Florida has been good to us, and working at Pine Island Elementary is the icing on the cake for me Once I got an inkling that this position might be opened, I went for it,” Dunseath said.
Berthaliz Delgado Macchia moved from Puerto Rico to Westchester in 1996, finished schooling and worked 30 years teaching first and second grade She and her husband love Pine Island and have decided this is the place from which they would like to retire
“Coming to Pine Island was a dream come true for my husband and me We fell in love with the island 30 years ago and now we are part of this beautiful community We have been here for three years and now I am blessed to work at Pine Island Elementary School as a third grade teacher The children are amazing, and I consider myself fortunate to have the opportunity of been part of this wonderful school I am so excited to meet new people and be a part of the community,” Delgado said
Brooke Conway came to P I E from Allen Park Elementary in Fort Myers, where she taught for 6 years
“I live in Southwest Cape and wanted to be close to home I have a few friends that work here and they told me wonderful things about it, so here I am,” Conway said
Tyson Frantz is from Michigan and has taught physical education for 17 years He graduated from Eastern Michigan University
“I am extremely excited to be a part of Pine Island Elementary with an amazing staff and students I look forward to working with the students and introducing them to a variety of sports and activities to help them develop a long lasting active lifestyle,” Frantz said
Pine Island Elementary School is at 5675 Sesame Drive, just east of The Center, Bokeelia, Contact the school at 239-771-1078
tion, which begins with third grade math
“As they progress through, there is no gap in standards for students That cohort will continue to take accelerated courses,” she said
There was also an update in the student progression plan for middle school students This year the district will begin to phase in comprehensive science to change the middle school science progression
Houchin said principals have been asking them to move back to comprehensive science courses because the certification became a challenge therefore making it hard to find teachers
“We have had a severe lack of teachers in science,” she said
This year sixth grade students will be moved to comprehensive science, next year seventh and the following
year eighth grade
Director of School Counseling Lori Brooks addressed high school She said last year they had some tweaks to graduation requirements a half credit requirement for personal financial literacy for current freshmen and sophomores
“All cohorts of students that we have, and have had, (there is) a fine and practical arts full credit,” Brooks said Now, currently all enrolled students can now take a fine art, practical art, or career and technical course, which she said was an exciting change
There was also an update to the diploma seals Brooks said there was an added stamp assessment for students that are newcomers to the United States that have fluency in world language She said students could qualify for potentially gold, or silver seal
Fishing was best over morning hours
With a high falling tide through the morning hours the inshore bite was best from sunup through late morning then fell off with the afternoon low water and heat of the day
Redfish and snook were caught on the high falling
island points throughout Pine
Charlotte Harbor around Bull Bay Cut bait and artificial baits often out-fished live baits Cut pinfish and Z-Man plastics were top producers
Redfish schools are beginning to appear around the Sound and Charlotte Harbor They were located cruising along bar edges in schools up to a hundred or so, with most f
Redfish schools were inconsistent from day to day, but t
numerous as we head into September
Seatrout fishing was spotty for many anglers, especially locating the bigger fish The best bet was drifting grass flats four feet and deeper while watching for birds and surface feeding There are a lot of small bait fish around and large schools of ladyfish harassing the bait Often this is where the trout are as well, plus Spanish mackerel, bluefish and others Seatrout up to 22 inches were hooked casting a variety of baits including spoons, Gulp Baits and Z-Man 3-inch MinnowZ in a variety of colors
There are a few big summer trout around. This large girl was caught and released along a bar edge on the falling tide in north Pine Island Sound near Bokeelia fishing with Capt. Bill Russell.
Inshore mangrove snapper has fallen off it appears as they were not as abundant as in past weeks with more undersized fish than keeper size With that said, snapper to 14 inches were caught over reefs around Cape Haze in the Harbor, and in and around the Gulf passes from Redfish up to Boca Grande Offshore, barracuda and Spanish mackerel were reported around reefs, including Helen’s, Power Pole and Pace’s Place Fishing hard bottom and ledges in 40 to 50-foot depths worked for mangrove and lane snapper, plus catch-and-release grouper
Stay up to date with fishing r e g
visiting www myfwc com Also, upload the Fish Rules app on your phone It has current regulations and seasons with pictures to help identify fish If you have a
information, please contact
239-410-8576, on the web at www.fishpineisland.com or email us at gcl2fish@ live com
Have a safe week and good fishin’
As a lifetime resident of Matlacha and Pine Island, Capt Bill Russell has spent his life fishing and learning the waters around Pine Island and Southwest Florida, and as a professional fishing guide for the past 23 years
Registration now open for Lakes Park Fall Festival ‘Scarecrows
in the Park’
The Lakes Park Enrichment Foundation and Lee County Parks & Recreation invite businesses, non-profits, groups and organizations to sponsor a “Scarecrow in the Park ” Entries will be exhibited Oct 11-31 in the Children’s Garden at Lakes Park, 7330 Gladiolus Drive, Fort Myers, and will be a part of the Lakes Park Fall Festival
The theme of the 2024 competition is “The Great Outdoors.” Design your single standing scarecrow to depict the great outdoors for display to the 50,000 visitors that enjoy this family-friendly festival Examples of scarecrows for this year’s theme include an animal, jogger, camper, tree, lumberjack or fisherman The possibilities are endless Your business, family or organization’s name will be on display showing your support of Lakes Park and the community of Lee County
Youth and school groups are needed for those businesses that sponsor but do not wish to design and build their own scarecrow Youth groups receive $50 for supplies Scarecrows will be on display in the Children’s Garden with awards presented to the VIP and People’s Choice winners
The Lakes Park Enrichment Foundation has organized this event for the last 14 years as part of the Lakes Park Fall Festival Activities include a pumpkin patch, hayrides, inflatables, and concessions presented by Wheel Fun Rental, as well as the Halloween Express train ride presented by the Southwest Florida Train Museum
The deadline for registration is Sept 29 For more information visit www LakesPark org or email scarecrows@lakespark org
For more information about Lee County Parks and Recreation locations, amenities, and other special events, visit www leeparks org, call 239-533-7275, email leeparks@leegov com or follow Lee County Parks & Recreation on Facebook and Instagram
Capt Bill Russell
On the Water
PHOTO PROVIDED
FDOT issues weekly update on Little Pine Island Bridge project
BARTOW, Fla – This weekly report was prepared by the Florida Department of Transportation to inform the public about upcoming road work in Southwest Florida Pine Island Road Causeway and Bridge Permanent Repairs:
Construction project: As part of the Emergency Restoration of the Pine Island Road Causeway and Bridge, crews will be working in the project boundaries along CR 78 Pine Island Road from west of Little Pine Island Bridge (Bridge No 120111) to West of Shoreview Drive
■ Phase 1 of construction on Little Pine Island Bridge has begun. The bridge is reduced to one lane as part of the Phase
1 c
remain one lane through the duration of Phase 1 Temporary signals are placed on both ends of the bridge and variable message signs are in place to alert drivers
■ The Little Pine Island bridge has been reduced to a single lane width of twelve feet through the duration of Phase 1
■ Motorists can expect occasional lane
delivery/removal of materials, transfer of equipment as crews perform work on the south side.
■ Motorists are reminded not to block driveways or entrances and to follow all posted signage throughout the construction zone
■ Since the start of construction with the Little Pine Island Bridge, boaters are asked to be aware of construction equipment and erosion control measures that are in place
■ Please be alerted to construction equipment in the construction zone To maintain safety, motorists should find alternate parking areas
■ Pedestrians and bicyclists are not permitted within the construction zone
■ Please use caution and watch for workers and construction vehicles entering and exiting the roadway
■ Noise from construction equipment in the area is to be expected
■ Work will continue through the Labor Day holiday weekend, so motorists and boaters are asked to use caution in the
American Legion Riders
Chapter 136 to host 9/11 remembrance ceremony
To commemorate the 23rd anniversary of 9/11, the city of Cape Coral will hold a remembrance cerem
Wednesday, Sept 11, on th front lawn outside of the P i n e I s l a n d A m e r i c a n
L e g i o n a t 4 1 0 6
Stringfellow Road, MM2, St James City, beginning at 8:30 a m
T h e c e r e m o n y w i l l include the presentation of c o l o r s b y t h e A m e r i c a Legion Honor Guards, a moment of silence, an invocation, remarks from Commander Austin White, with cer-
emonial raising of the flag by American Legion Riders The Matlacha/Pine I l nd Fire Control District, Lee ounty EMS and Lee County Sheriff Department will be honored
Please join the legion members and guests as “We remember!”
The ceremony is free and open to the public Refreshments will be availble
For more about the Kiwanis Club , visit https://www pineislandkiwanis org/
How to appeal FEMA’s decision
If you receive a letter from FEMA and you disagree with FEMA’s decision about your eligibility, you can appeal the decision FEMA might need more information to continue processing your application
O n c e F E M A h a s r e v i e w e d y o u r application, the results of the inspection and documentation you provided, you will receive a letter explaining:
■ Whether you are approved for assistance
■ How much assistance you will receive
■ How the assistance must be used.
■ How to appeal FEMA’s decision
If you are initially not approved for assistance, you may appeal within 60 days of the date of the decision letter If you have questions regarding the letter or how to appeal, you may visit a Disaster Recovery Center or call the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362
1 What to include when you appeal
The letter from FEMA will provide additional information on the types of documents or information that you may n e e d t o p r o v i d e F E M A w i l l a l s o
area
Please be patient and plan for additional travel time as it may be slower than usual in the area.
Travelers can visit www FL511 com or dial “511” from their phone to learn
Cat of the Week
Elyssa
This 8-year-old beauty is very much a princess She asked us to let you know that her b
g looks amazing in almost any setting Sitting next to you on the sofa, draped at the foot of your bed or with her fur dancing in the breeze through a window. Not only is she a stunning conversation piece, but she will even allow you to pet her. How generous! Her royal-ness asks that you not fight over her, just simply come and meet her She's sure to choose you as her companion For more inform
Animal Sanctuary at 239-2839
donate, our address is 10060 Mallory Parkway E, Unit D, St.
include an optional appeal form that may be used to help provide additional information.
When submitting any documentation or information to FEMA, you must include your FEMA application number a n d d i s a s t e
every
For appeals by a third party, the applicant or co-applicant must also have a valid Written Consent on file for the third party with authorization to appeal or represent the applicant at the time of inspection
2 How to submit your appeal
You can submit your appeal and supporting documentation:
■ Online at DisasterAssistance gov Log into your account and upload supp
Correspondence Upload Center
■ By mail: FEMA Individuals & H
& Households Program
Economic impact of Cape Coral Grove development estimated
site for project on Pine Island Road just west of German American Social Club
By CJ HADDAD cjhaddad@breezenewspapers com
As part of what the city of Cape Coral called an “historic day,” Cape Coral City Council approved plans for a much-anticipated mixed-use development
Cape Coral Grove, to be located on a 131-acre lot on Pine Island Road between C h i q u
B
Road, got the green light at the Aug 7 council meeting
The project will feature a variety of retail spaces, entertainment venues, hotel, and luxury apartments and townhomes, with the economic impact expected to be as high as $1 3 billion
“The Cape Coral Grove development is a testament to our city’s commitment to partnering with forward-thinking develo p e r s , ” s a i d C i t y M a n a g e r M
e l Ilczyszyn, in a release following the meeting “This project will not only enhance the quality of life for our residents but will also attract new visitors and businesses, f
dynamic and thriving community.”
During the first public meeting that
Ilczyszyn told Council he and city personnel have been in talks with the project’s development team, L&L Development Group, for some time, as they first showed interest in bringing the project to Cape Coral in the summer of 2021
Ilczyszyn said under the development agreement, there are two main components under consideration: the development agreement itself which has been developed under a Florida State Statute; and an inter-local agreement with the Community Development District overseeing the project, also pursuant to the same Florida Statute
I
agreement, the term is a 25-year term with a forced majority clause that may allow it to be extended, as long as both parties mutually agree
The developer does have multi-family residential units on the property, which are capped at 1,312 units Ilczyszyn said those units were taken into consideration when performing the amendment to the Pine Island Road district land use
GPIETF ready to help islanders
Those in need of help or who wish to volunteer can visit Beaconofhopepineisland.com and follow the Greater Pine Island Emergency Task Force portal to the “who we are” or “online volunteer application” pages
The task force has removed the Social Security request on the application for volunteers Background checks can be performed without that information
Ilczyszyn said there is an ability for the developer to include vertically integrated mixed-use multi-family over the town center in the core area Any of those units would not impact the cap, and would be a bonus.
Ilczyszyn added the city has created a
before used in the city with the developers
He said the city is going to have dedicated reviewers and inspectors within each department and division to accom-
reviews He added that the developer has agreed to compensate the city on an hourly basis for all actual time spent by
the qualified assigned professional, or a team at the city, to meet these deadlines
Ilczyszyn said once inspections are required, the city will further initiate a priority inspection team to perform ond
required by the developer The developer has also agreed to compensate the city for actual time spent performing such inspections
“Today, we have laid the foundation for the future of Cape Coral These projects will redefine our city and ensure that Cape Coral remains a place where opportunities flourish,” Ilczyszyn said of the vote
For more information on Cape Coral Grove, visit www.capecoralgrove.com.
Chiquita Boat Lock
removal of the lock,” Costello said. “This has cost the taxpayers of Cape Coral a significant sum of money to defend The petitioners and their qualified representative should repay the attorney cost and fees to the city ” According to a release from the city, staff has already taken immediate steps to secure necessary permits from the U S Army Corps of Engineers to advance the lock removal project The city has also been in contact with the lock’s removal contractor to ensure there is no delay with the project’s progress
In June of this year, an Administrative
Law Judge issued a recommended order authorizing FDEP to grant the ERP to the city, which came after a multi-week evidentiary hearing that concluded on Dec 20, 2023
A crucial step in the permitting process was the final administrative hearing with the administrative law judge, as it ordered the city and FDEP to submit their proposed recommended orders by April 29, 2024 The judge determined that the c
application met the standards necessary under the Florida law and the Florida Administrative Code
FILE
boat passing through the Chiquita Boat Lock in Cape Coral
Corridor coalition hails Burnt Store resurfacing
By MEGHAN BRADBURY news@breezenewspapers com
Concerns voiced by the Burnt Store Corridor Coalition were answered when a 5-1/2 mile section of road that expands from the Charlotte County line to Lee County was paved, now providing a safer evacuation route during a hurricane.
“A paving crew was resurfacing that area of Burnt Store Road on Aug 13 I was happily surprised that the first section of the road had been completed so quickly, and the rest would be done shortly, prior to the height of our hurricane season,” said Germaine Hyatt, Lee County, BSCC representative
BSCC Chair John Fleming said the 51/2 mile stretch that goes from Burnt Store Road in Charlotte County to Van Buren Parkway in Lee County is the only part of the road that has not been widened yet He said that part of the road has deteriorated very quickly
“When it rains really bad, it floods out a lot,” Fleming said
When Hurricane Ian came there was some sort of confusion of where it was going to hit, and the road became congested with people from Cape Coral head-
“Meeting with the Burnt Store Road Coalition was timely Through that discussion, the Coalition brought forward problems with Burnt Store Road from Charlotte County to Van Buren Parkway. I was happy to bring to fruition the paving of that 5-1/2 mile stretch of Burnt Store Road to make it safer for our residents who travel Burnt Store Road daily.”
Kevin Ruane, Lee County Commissioner
ing north and the road beginning to flood
According to county staff, that section of the road was showing signs of deterioration based on a countywide review of roadway pavement conditions Due to no funding in place in the next five years for the four-lane of Burnt Store Road, resurfacing was addressed in the interim
“Resurfacing of Burnt Store Road will provide a safe and efficient roadway for t h e a r
Director Rob Price in an email “We also went out in advance of the resurfacing and rebuilt some of the shoulder areas that were showing signs of wear and tear Drivers should see improved pavement conditions and shoulder conditions along this stretch of the roadway ”
BSCC went to Lee County Commis-
sioner Kevin Ruane to seek help, as they wanted to see improvements to the road before the height of hurricane season got underway.
“Meeting with the Burnt Store Road Coalition was timely,” Ruane said in an
Coalition brought forward problems with Burnt Store Road from Charlotte County to Van Buren Parkway I was happy to bring to fruition the paving of that 5-1/2 mile stretch of Burnt Store Road to make it safer for our residents who travel Burnt Store Road daily ”
$1,058,414
“He found that money and got it done for us,” Fleming said “Rob Price made it a priority on the worklist. He did a major thing They got it done on time ” He said now if a hurricane impacts the area people can be rest assured – they can use the road without any puddling, ponding or standing water
‘Stock the Box’ food drive winding down
Centennial Bank's “Stock the Box” food drive to benefit the Pine Island Food Pantry continues until the end of August
The drive began after the bank’s shred company provided a number of un-needed boxes, so employees began using the boxes to collect food for the Food Bank
The Food Bank is located at Our Lady of Miraculous Medal Church at 12175 Stringfellow Road Contact the church at 239-283-0456
Centennial Bank is at 5551 Sunset Lane, St James City The bank can be contacted at 239-283-1618.
Free Labor Day Hot Dog Social at St. Johns Episcopal Church Saturday
St John’s Episcopal Church at 7771 Stringfellow Road in St James City is holding a free Labor Day Hot Dog Social this Saturday, Aug 31, from 11 a m to 1 p m
Islanders are invited to come on out to enjoy food and fellowship with your neighbors
For additional information, contact the church at 239-283-5439
TOMáSCONCRETE,INC
