Cape Coral Weekend Breeze

Lee County also commits $10 million for Emergency

By MEGHAN BRADBURY news@breezenewspapers com

T

e

Commissioners approved more than $229

m

Tuesday, including more than $44 million for Cape Coral projects

“Receiving... (Community Development Block Grant-Disaster Recovery) funds for these projects is a significant step forward for the city of Cape Coral. These grants will provide critical financial support to help us enhance our infrastructure and community services, ensuring greater resilience and preparedness for future disasters ” Ryan Lamb, Emergency Management & Resilience director

P r o j e c t s a w a r d e d f o r C a p e C o r a l include: ■ Community Recreation Center and Disaster Shelter, $29,904,200 18

This will be located in north Cape Coral

The Cape Coral Breeze

and will offer after school care, day camps, behavioral and mental health services, therapeutic activities for individuals with dis-

9/11 Remembrance Ceremony to be held next Wednesday

By CJ HADDAD cjhaddad@breezenewspapers

com

Americans, as a people, vowed to always remember the events that took place on Sept 11, 2001 And next Wednesday morning in Cape Coral, first responders, city leaders, and members of the public will gather to “never forget ” On the lawn in front of City Council Chambers at 8:30 a m , the public is invited to gather to pay tribute to the thousands who lost their lives in the terrorist attack that rocked not just the nation, but the world 23 years ago

The ceremony will include the presentation of colors by the Cape Coral Fire and Police Honor Guards; a moment of silence at 8:46 a m , when the first plane hit the North Tower; an invocation, and remarks from Mayor John Gunter, Police Chief Tony Sizemore, and acting Fire Chief Mike Russell

The ceremony will end with attendees staking 2,977 American flags, each with a name of a victim of the attacks, in the front lawn of City Hall to honor their memory and reaffirming that “We Will Never Forget ” See 9/11 REMEMBRANCE, page 33

abilities, adult education and vocational training, as well as other programming during normal operations It will also transition into a disaster shelter when needed ■ Weir and Rehabilitation Upgrade or Replacement Project, $10,824,119 63

This will replace and upgrade existing weirs throughout the city, as they offer

BY CJ HADDAD cjhaddad@breezenewspapers com

The Lee County Grand Jury returned first degree murder indictments against two teens charged in the shooting death of 15-year-old Kayla Rincon-Miller Thomas Stein, 16, and Christopher Devon Horne, Jr , 16, will be tried as adults

They were both also indicted on three counts of attempted robbery - possession of a firearm

“My heart goes out to the parents and family of the victim in this case," said State Attorney Amira Fox in a release "I hope today’s Grand Jury Indictments and the continuing forward movement in this case, provide them some strength after the sudden loss of their child Thank you to the Lee County Grand Jury for their focus during the presentation of this case I also want to recognize the diligent and detailed investigative work of the Cape Coral Police Department into the multiple layers of this crime. This was a 15-year-old girl just trying to have fun with her friends Her hopes and dreams never to be realized, after her life was ended during a robbery "

Earlier this year, the State Attorney’s Office direct filed the cases against Stein and Horne, which took the cases from juvenile court and into adult court This allows for adult sanctions in the case

County Commission takes stand against state abortion amendment

By NATHAN MAYBERG nmayberg@breezenewspapers com

The Lee County Board of County Commissioners has taken a position in opposition to Amendment 4

The statewide initiative on the November ballot would “limit government interference with abortion,” and so overturn recently passed legislation limiting abortions in Florida to within six weeks of pregnancy

The 4-1 vote followed more than two hours of public comment from a sharply divided public Lee County Board of County Commissioners Chairman Mike Greenwell said the resolution was intended to oppose language in the amendment “because it is very vague ” Greenwell said the resolution is meant to encourage voters to read the language of the amendment, which will need at least 60% of the vote to pass

“I think the language is vague for a reason,” Greenwell said. “There is something wrong here and I think it’s important that we bring that up ”

Though he said the vote by the county commissioners was not meant to oppose the right of the voters to weigh in on abortion, Greenwell said “It’s a very hot subject, obviously There is no right answer We are a divided country but we should

always understand that we can always help the unborn.”

The ballot title is “Amendment to Limit Government Interference with Abortion”

The ballot summary states: “No law shall prohibit, penalize, delay, or restrict abortion before viability or when necessary to protect the patient’s health, as determined by the patient’s healthcare provider This amendment does not change the Legislature’s constitutional authority to require notification to a parent or guardian before a minor has an abortion ”

Lee County resident Melissa Isley accused the county commissioners of using their political positions to influence a statewide voter referendum

“You are using your seats to grandstand about a personal medical issue This is a disappointing misuse of your power,” Isley said

Opponents suggested that the Republican county commissioners were voting at the bequest of state Republican party leaders Isley said she believed State Rep Jenna PersonsMulicka, who shepherded the state’s six-week abortion ban through the State House, was holding influence over the county commissioners

Persons-Mulicka and State Sen Jonathan Martin appeared in front of the county commissioners Tuesday to urge a vote against Amendment 4

Persons-Mulicka called Amendment 4 “deceptive” and “extreme ”

“If you don’t believe that our Constitution should enshrine the right to taxpayer-funded abortions on demand without parental consent up to birth you should vote no,” PersonsMulicka said “It will tie our hands in the legislature ”

Martin, who stood next to Persons-Mulicka during her comments, said “I echo those words ”

Rick Carter, a self-described born-again Christian, compared the voting on Amendment 4 to a bill that would re-introduce slavery and compared abortion to the Holocaust

“You can not be neutral on this,” Carter said

The debate from the public often veered into religious opinions where some cited their religion as reasons to oppose Amendment 4

Those who supported Amendment 4 included speakers who shared emotional personal stories of being victims of

abuse that led them to seek an abortion.

Under the abortion law approved by the state legislature and signed into law by Gov Ron DeSantis last year, abortions are now limited in Florida to within six weeks of pregnancy

Opponents have argued that most women are not aware of their own pregnancies until a month or longer, leaving little time for the procedure

District 4 Commissioner Brian Hamman called some of the stories of speakers who spoke in favor of pro-choice were “heartbreaking” and “gut-wrenching” as he cited personal religious feelings and said he expressed “empathy” for those he disagreed with

“This language is very broad It is very open to interpretation,” Hamman said “I think voters need to be aware that this is something that deserved a second look ”

District 1 Commissioner Kevin Ruane said he was asked recently why the county commissioners were weighing in on the matter

“I think the language is far too vague,” Ruane said “It’s opposing the vagueness in the wording (of Amendment 4) ” District 2 Commissioner Cecil Pendergrass said he thinks Democrats were using “an emotional issue” through Amendment 4 “to drive people to the polls ”

District 3 Commissioner Ray Sandelli said he was personally “pro-life” and said the subject was personal in nature He said he has “taken back” when he was asked why the county commissioners were taking part in the vote

“In the end, this will be decided by all of us at election time,” Sandelli said “My constituency is all of Lee County whether it is a yes vote or a no vote ” Sandelli said he would not adopt the resolution

The commissioners voted 4-1 on the resolution, with Sandelli the lone dissenter

A couple members of the public yelled at the commissioners after the vote that “You should be ashamed of yourselves It has nothing to do with voting and everything to do with controlling women and you know it ”

The ballot summary language has not been the only source of controversy.

Proponents of the amendment legally contested what they say is misleading and inaccurate language concerning the amendment’s financial impact to the state

The Florida Supreme Court ruled 6-1 that the language, revised by a state panel, could appear on the ballot

The Financial and State Budget Impact Statements reads: The proposed amendment would result in significantly more abortions and fewer live births per year in Florida The increase in abortions could be even greater if the amendment invalidates laws requiring parental consent before minors undergo abortions and those ensuring only licensed physicians perform abortions There is also uncertainty about whether the amendment will require the state to subsidize abortions with public funds Litigation to resolve those and other uncertainties will result in additional costs to the government and state courts that will negatively impact the state budget An increase in abortions may negatively affect the growth of state and local revenues over time Because the fiscal impact of increased abortions on state and local revenues and costs cannot be estimated with precision, the total impact of the proposed amendment is indeterminate THE FINANCIAL IMPACT OF THIS AMENDMENT CANNOT BE DETERMINED DUE TO AMBIGUITIES AND UNCERTAINTIES SURROUNDING THE A M E N D M E N T ’ S IMPACT "

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

Question authority

A hearing examiner has recommended that Cape Coral temporarily suspend a “mandatory involuntary contribution” to the city’s Tree Fund, imposed as a condition by city staff on those seeking what previously were routine vacation requests In a recommendation dated Aug 9, Hearing Examiner Anne Dalton recommended the temporary abatement “so as to allow for in-depth City review” of the new condition of approval that, in the case heard, placed a five-figure demand on a property owner making a usually routine request for a vacation for the strip of property between the legal discription of his waterfront lot and his seawall

Ms Dalton specifically recommended the deletion of the staff-generated condition of approval requiring a $32,722 11 contribution to the city’s tree fund The staff condition also requires payment before matter can be heard by Cape Coral City Council, the final step in the city’s approval process

“From testimony, it appears that the City Council has not approved, by Resolution or otherwise, imposition of this requirement on single-family homeowners and has not approved, by Resolution or otherwise, the methodology of computation of such fee if such Council approval were granted,” she wrote, adding that as the city’s Land Use and Development Regulations require Council review for such fees for developers, so, “at a minimum, City Council would review such fee imposition on homeowners as well ”

“In short, the Hearing Examiner is concerned about how this Tree Fund obligation has been implemented as to owners of individual single-family residences, and specifically the imposition of the Tree Fund fee obligation solely on Applicants for Vacation An additional concern is the methodology utilized by staff to compute the fee,” she wrote

Ms Dalton then recommended that the mandatory involuntary contribution be temporarily suspended and that the contribution be deleted as a condition of approval for the vacation

She recommended approval of the remaining conditions, which are pretty much standard for requests of this type, which have been routine for decades due to how the city was platted by its developers who dug hundreds of miles of canals and sold thousands of lots as waterfront although the legal boundaries for some did not quite hit the water due to “undredged” canal edges a few feet wide in some places.

The hearing officer made a similar recommendation for a second case, calling for a contribution of $21,69 94 but made it clear her recommendation does not apply to previous cases or others in the queue

“The proposed suspension would not apply to those prior or pending Applications for vacations in which the Applicant stipulates/has stipulated to all the conditions proposed by staff (including but not limited to the imposition of a contribution by Applicant to the Tree Fund as part of the approval process)

“This would be deemed to be voluntary agreement to pay the fee ” Interesting

And unfortunate for anyone who bought literally city staff’s abridgement of Cape Coral City Council’s legislative authority

City Council sits as a quasi-judicial board on matters such as these with rules that are clear

Until this comes before Council as a properly advertised hearing, Council may not discuss this case as a board

We believe Council can, however, examine any policy within its purview, including this one which was never brought before them for consideration and approval or not

We urge Council to put the matter, including staff’s specious methodology to determine the amount of these “mandatory involuntary contributions,” on an agenda for discussion and a council determination ASAP

We also strongly suggest that among the hard questions for staff, Council ask why its policy-making authority smacks of being quietly, but quite brazenly, usurped Breeze editorial

‘Banned’ books: The misconceptions, the media and the mentality behind Florida HB1467

The Color Purple The Kite Runner The Hate U Give

As Florida continues its political and cultural attack on books, these are just three popular titles being elevated in the headlines. This trio of books also happens to be among the literary works of art that have impacted me the most as a longtime bibliophile

Since middle school, I have found myself picking up the most profound, controversial books that libraries offer and devouring them As you can imagine, hearing about the implementation of Florida HB1467 law and subsequent legislation evoked many feelings, including anger Mainstream news reporters have explained that Florida’s school boards tarnished the reputation of many books that I previously put on a pedestal. These stories highlighted lawmakers’ blatant disregard for democracy and America’s constitution As convincing as they appeared, these stories were excellent at serving their intended purpose: championing a partisan viewpoint without offering viewers and readers all the facts Realizing I, too, had fall-

Natasha Agarwal

Guest Commentary

en for the trap, I started asking myself questions: Why was the law initially introduced? What problems could it solve, if any? When I failed to find answers online, I knew that I had to take matters into my own hands and learn more

Let’s break down HB1467 and its baggage

The original intent of HB1467 was to protect parental rights and curriculum transparency in Florida public schools It requires all instructional materials in public schools to be selected and vetted by certified media specialists who have completed a mandatory training course established by the state Media specialists are required to publish a list of all books available in classrooms, libraries and class curricula through a publicly accessible online catalog In addition, all books already housed in public schools when HB1467 passed require reviews by two professional journal sources and approval by community stakeholders for media specialists to keep them available to

See GUEST COMMENTARY, page 7

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

State officials listen, Cape’s do not

To the editor:

Congratulations to Gov. DeSantis for preserving the state parks for all the people If only our city council, mayor and assistant city manager would listen to their voters instead of developers!

Jaycee Park was deeded to Lee County then transferred to Cape Coral with the stipulation that it be, used for the general public forever as a place for recreation

This small park at the end of the Beach Parkway houses 800 residences The city is determined to raze it to the ground and remove all the 50-foot high Australian pine

Australian pine trees were imported to Florida in the 1900s, because their roots intertwine under the ground, holding our land during hurricanes: Charlie, Irma, Ian, Idalia, while providing beauty and shade for park goers These Australian pine trees thrive in brackish water, no irrigation needed It will cost multiple millions to irrigate the park for the new 10-15 foot trees that will provide no shade for 10 years!

Volunteers worked at parks, libraries, Farmer Joe’s, Election and DMV offices collecting signed initiatives from 7,750 registered voters of Cape Coral, in a valiant attempt to save the No 1 voted, Best Park in the Cape, as well as rescinding of the 100%+ stipend the City Council bequeathed to themselves! We pleaded at most city council meetings for the last 15 months, to leave our park alone. We have a reasonable plan small upgrades to suggest and removing and replacing the Australian pine trees as they die

Jaycee Park is enjoyed daily by: diverse families in addition to our diverse group of seniors all of whom enjoy family dinners, Quincineras, weddings, fishing, the shore, professional photographers, birthday celebrations, baby and wedding showers, dog walkers and trainers, yogis, meditators, musicians, exercise equipment, daily AA meetings, bird watchers, walkers, parents playing catch, hitting balls, flying kites, pick-up soccer games, Frisbee playing, relaxing in the sun, special camping and a place of calm for PTSD sufferers It all happens in Jaycee Park!

Personal finances dictate that not all will bring their children to a park where they will be constantly badgered to purchase pizza, ice cream or drinks and will deprive those children of a chance to enjoy our natural environment The AA organization, Catholic schools, Boy and Girl Scouts’ insurance plans will not allow them go where alcohol is served, so they will be prevented from enjoying Jaycee Park, where many come each day

The city plan prevents the seniors and those who have handicaps from enjoying the shoreline experience as they move the parking across the park Most of these seniors are

unable to walk that far The public shore access will be limited to a small semicircle concrete area called the “Boardwalk,” with concrete seats but no trees to provide shade for humans or dogs, in our 94-95 degree heat and will be flanked in phase II with 24 boat slips north and south! The installation of boat slips will disturb and remove the habitat of manatees, historic swordfish, oyster beds, fishermen, all the birds that nest in those trees as well as the Coast Guard boating channel, according to CROW!

We are delighted to have an expanded playground that includes equipment for differing abilities, and have advocated ADA compliance for months The Jaycee Park group includes handicapped stroke victims, multiple wheel chair bound individuals, amputees, parents and relatives of children with handicaps and those suffering from PTSD.

In 1961 Jaycee Park had a beach but a big storm washed it away The city management moved the beach and imported the Australian pine trees! Now the city is removing ALL THE TREES IN JAYCEE PARK! So it can become a concrete jungle

We are against this commercialization The city of Cape Coral is building a 95-acre park in the north and converting the old golf course, neither is close to residents’ homes and are a better place for a bar!

When my friends meet, we sit under the Australian pines and just move our chairs with the sun The shade from these trees protects us while the river breezes cool us How long will we even have a park without these roots h o l d i n g

n d ?

Sanibel? They removed their Australian pine trees just before Hurricane Ian and total destruction!

Unrepresented Voter, Kathleen Lopez Cape Coral

Old golf course – What to do?

To the editor:

After reading the candidate responses to what to do with the Old Golf Course acreage, I was dismayed by incumbent Dan Sheppard’s answer. He states that botanical gardens bring in “revenue to the community at very little cost if any ” He based this on his research of other botanical gardens in our area Who wouldn’t want a botanical garden if it were free

Let’s look at the facts: The Naples Botanical Garden has an operating budget of $16 million and receives only $2 5M in revenue by charging $25 for admission Most of its operating income is from donations from philanthropists The Botanical Garden in Sarasota has an operation budget of $6 7M and only receives income of $1 7M by charging $28 for admission Again, most of the support of

See LETTERS, page 6

the garden is from donations A world class Botanical Garden in my home state of Missouri has a yearly budget of $51M and receives $8 7M from admission sales of $8 per day Again, most income is from taxation and donations

The city council told the residents in 2018 that we could get 10 new parks and enhancements to the Yacht Club for $60M The city has now overrun this cost by $40M and no answer for how to pay for their $100M+ vision for the Yacht Club Park These new parks were to be completed in 2021 How many are done?

This misleading statement from one of our officials about a Botanical Garden being very little cost is why we need to get rid of incumbents and start fresh with a new council Mr Sheppard also is a champion for median enhancements that cost property taxpayers $1 million per mile No wonder our taxes are continuing to climb out of control His visions are costing us a fortune!

Michele Shadrach Cape Coral

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Abor tion is about a woman’s right to make healthcare decisions

To the editor:

Trump is lying through his teeth when he claims, as he often does, that “everybody” including all legal scholars, wanted Roe v Wade repealed, and the abortion issue left up to the states Of course, in trying to win over his critics on the issue, he has revealed himself as Pro-Choice, thus giving evangelicals and other Pro-Life voters no reason to back him

That the abortion issue should be decided by the states is absurd There are some deeply moral issues that must be decided by Americans, as a nation, not by a collection of states Should slavery have been left up to the states? Personally, I don’t believe capital punishment should be left up to the states and I believe there should be a uniform standard for voting rights and election procedures

Think about it? What is the most important day of your life? Most of us would say: my birthday None of us would say: the day we were conceived We date our lives from the day of our birth; that’s the date recorded on our birth certificates and tombstones; we don’t date our lives from the moment we were conceived The abortion debate is largely about when a person is created, and the general consensus around the world is that a person is created at birth

And diversity And equity And inclusion And change And voters And librarians And celebrities They need to walk around with loaded guns to protect themselves from the boogeyman, which is typically, others with guns Battlefield weapons to be more exact

Being afraid is so much who they are that they are even afraid of their own leader None among them dares to speak against the dear leader. For fear he will be mean to them. Their elected representatives spoke out against him following their shared experience during an insurrection inside the capitol and an intended hanging of his vice president Until the next day when they were back in the fold, cowering and filled with praise for the liar, cheater, grifter, criminal, felon and admirer of dictators Fear Of everything

Rational Republicans This message is for you Practical advice from a lifelong independent Do you want your party back? Do you want to feel proud of your conservative ideology? Vote Democrat this election You don’t have to tell anyone You don’t have to be afraid

Peter Karastamatis Fort Myers

Pap packaged for public consumption

To the editor:

The Democratic Convention is a marketing miracle! Here is a sample of the rhetoric:

o p u l a t i o n a n d t a x b a s e , b u t

d o e s n o t g e t i t s f a i r s h a r e o f c o u n t y r e s o u r c e s K i z z i e w i l l f o c u s o n r e s o u r c e e q u a l i t y M o s t L e e C o u n t y C o m m i s s i o n e r s ’ c a m p a i g n s a r e r u n b y l o b b y i s t s f o r d e v e l o p e r s T i m e t o e n d t h i s H o u s i n g i n L e e C o u n t y i s m o r e e x p e n s i v e t h a n e v e r

P e o p l e n e e d a f f o r d a b l e h o u s i n g n e a r t h e i r w o r k

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

K i z z i e F o w l e r w a s b o r n a n d r a i s e d i n P a h o k e e , a

s m a l l t i g h t k n i t c i t y t h a t s i t s o f f t h e c o a s t o f L a k e

O k e e c h o b e e S h e i s t h e y o u n g e s t o f f o u r c h i l d r e n , w h o w a s r a i s e d b y a s i n g l e m o t h e r , w h o h e l d t w o t o t h r e e

j o b s , w o r k i n g i n h o u s e k e e p i n g a n d a s a c o o k t o m a k e

e n d s m e e t

K i z z i e i s a m o t h e r o f f i v e b e a u t i f u l c h i l d r e n a n d

m a r r i e d t o o n e o f G o d ’ s p r e c i o u s j e w e l s , h e r h u s b a n d ,

C o r n e l i u s F o w l e r T h e i r f a m i l y v a l u e s i n c l u d e l o v e ,

r e s p e c t , p a t i e n c e , a n d t i m e

K i z z i e ’ s w o r k f o r c e e x p e r i e n c e i n c l u d e s o v e r 2 0

y e a r s i n t h e p u b l i c s e r v i c e s e c t o r s , s u c h a s h e a l t h c a r e , e d u c a t i o n , c o r r e c t i o n s , s o c i a l w o r k , a n d n o n p r o f i t

o r g a n i z a t i o n s K i z z i e t h r o u g h h e r w o r k h a s a c q u i r e d l e a d e r s h i p a b i l i t i e s t h a t h e l p h e r l e a d a n d r e p r e s e n t w i t h d i g n i t y a n d r e s p e c t

D e n n i s R a u b e

F o r t M y e r s

Upcoming fundraisers for

Right to Clean Water

T o t h e e d i t o r :

F o r t h e p a s t s e v e r a l m o n t h s m a n y o f y o u m a y h a v e r e a d o u r l e t t e r s t o t h e e d i t o r r e g a r d i n g t h e F l o r i d a R i g h t t o C l e a n w a t e r a m e n d m e n t W e h o p e t h a t y o u a r e o n e o f t h e w o n d e r f u l f o l k s t h a t h a s s i g n e d o u r p e t i t i o n t o m a k e t h e r i g h t t o c l e a n a n d h e a l t h y w a t e r s a f u n d a m e n t a l r i g h t f o r e v e r y c i t i z e n o f F l o r i d a W i t h a r o u n d 9 0 0 , 0 0 0 s i g n a t u r e s n e e d e d t o a l l o w t h i s p e t i t i o n t o b e o n t h e 2 0 2 6 b a l l o t , w e n e e d l o t s o f h e l p !

O n e w a y y o u m a y w i s h t o h e l p u s i s t o s u p p o r t o u r n e x t f u n d r a i s e r o n S e p t 1 9 a t J a s o n s D e l i o n S a n t a

B a r b a r a B l v d i n C a p e C o r a l f r o m 4 - 8 p m A n y o n e

m a k i n g a n o r d e r t h a t m e n t i o n s c l e a n w a t e r , r i g h t t o c l e a n w a t e r , e t c , a s m a l l p o r t i o n o f t h a t c o s t w i l l b e c o n t r i b u t e d t o o u r c a u s e A n d l o o k i n g f o r w a r d , w e w i l l b e s p o n s o r i n g a C a p t i v a S u n s e t C r u i s e w i t h a l i v e o n b o a r d a u c t i o n ,

C a l y p s o m u s i c , a n d r e f r e s h m e n t s o n O c t 2 6

P r o c e e d s f r o m b o t h e v e n t s w i l l g o t o w a r d s s u p p o r ti n g a n d m a i n t a i n i n g o u r w o r k F u r t h e r i n f o r m a t i o n c a n b e o b t a i n e d o

Very few people believe a person is created at conception, some Catholics and other fundamentalist Christians, but this small group is having a huge influence over the abortion debate in our society According to them, a tiny bit of protoplasm in a woman’s womb, a fetus, is a person endowed with rights not just equal to those of its mother, but rights that in some instances supersede her rights. You’d be hard pressed to find another society on our planet where this belief is taken seriously

But the abortion issue is not just about personhood; it’s about a woman’s right to make decisions about her health care and reproduction

These are deeply personal decisions that belong to a woman and her doctor, not to government officials and politicians

Ray Clasen North Fort Myers

Vote for disaster

To the editor:

It should not be a surprise that Kamala Harris chose “Tampon Tim” Walz as her running mate

Perfect, a couple of candidates who would both destroy the country should they be elected In the next few weeks, we will hear the biggest bunch of hogwash trying to sell these two to the American people It has become standard procedures for the Democrat party to combine lies with election cheating to try to win elections

Rather than list all the pros and cons of the candidates since the airwaves are full of them, just consider this We have a rare opportunity to compare two administrations that are/were in office one after the other. If you think that the country is in better condition during the Biden administration than the prior Trump administration, than by all means vote for Harris One has to believe in the Easter Bunny and the Great Pumpkin to think that lying Kamala is going to fix anything

Why has the Democrat party put forward such unqualified candidates? Kamala Harris’ term as vice president hasn’t shown her to have any leadership skill Her constant flip-flopping on the issues makes it totally unclear just what she would attempt as president Apparently, the party feels they can control her, she would be a figurehead president for the party leaders behind the curtain This short list i n c l u d e s B a

Schumer Since they were obviously behind pushing Biden out of running, we can be sure they expect to control an otherwise inept Kamala Harris should she actually be elected

Neil Miller Cape Coral

What are Republicans so afraid of?

To the editor:

The rough and tough GOP presents itself as hard scrabble, grizzled and self-made True Americans But while they selfdescribe as the embodiment of the American story, their behaviors belie their rhetoric Which side of their mouths are to be believed? They are afraid of immigrants And poor people And people of color And girls And pregnant girls And queers And bathrooms And history And books And Disney

■ Trump is going to kill democracy (He was president for four years and didn’t kill Democracy??)

■ Speakers are calling this country chaotic right now and they blame Trump Trump has been out of office for almost four years and the country is chaotic???

■ The Democrats are going to provide a fair wage for everyone Socialism is the answer Pay more taxes or just add more debt?? We are already spending 9 5% more than last year and budgeted over $1 5 trillion more debt A fair wage bill would add $1-2 trillion more taxes or debt

■ The Democrats are going to solve inflation with federal price controls Around the world this has been tried and never worked

■ They are going to control the border (They set a record for illegal immigration the last four years with Kamala )

■ Going to provide reproductive freedom for every state (States would no longer be able to choose pro-life ) Allowing the killing the unborn right up to birth is a Democratic campaign theme. How sad.

■ Kamala had to work for what she got Kamala got her jump on politics by having an affair with then still-married Willie Brown, speaker of the House Assembly in California

■ Joe Biden was an outstanding president who defended democracy at a moment of great danger Hardly, considering the Afghan debacle costing 13 service personnel, thousands of American friends and $80 billion of American weapons left behind Biden/Kamala also took away the sanction on Iran so they could finance Hamas, Hezbollah and even the Houthis

■ Walz is salt of the earth and genuine He has driven Minnesota into a tax and spend quagmire (MN budget is 20% higher); taxes and spending are increased in almost every category; has passed abortion bills; took away some freedom of pregnancy centers; made it legal for minors to have transgender “healthcare ”

■ The Democrats will harness the power of government (after four years will harness? What did they do the last four years?); stress housing affordability (under Biden/Kamala we have the worst housing situation ever); health rights (under Biden/Kamala our health system is 50% more expensive than the second-highest country while we are 26th in longevity; labor rights (under Biden/Kamala wages have gone down 2 4%)

■ Bring the country together. The last four years of Biden/Kamala administration and the convention has caused more separation

During the convention, a speech said that this country is hopeless if Trump is elected With four years of Biden/Kamala the country is hopeless?

Trump’s negative remarks about Kamala are terrible The Democrats have called Trump Hitler, anti-democratic and even say that he will kill our democracy Every speaker said negative things about Trump But Trump must not say anything bad about Kamala??

The Democrats have been in charge for four years and the country is in terrible shape because of Trump??? But the same people who led the country the last four years are going to make it all better?? Some people will say anything for power

John Benedict Cape Coral

Vote Kizzie Fowler for Lee County Commission

Guest Commentary: Breaking down book ban law & its baggage

From page 4

students Nothing too crazy yet, right?

Here’s where things started to heat up This law also allows individuals to challenge the books offered in Florida public school libraries, classrooms or curricula To do so, a person must complete an objection form found on the school’s website. The school district’s review committee which consists of media specialists, community members, parents and department heads then has 30 days to read the book, convene and decide whether to uphold or overrule the objection Three criteria all books must follow are: (1) Age appropriateness, (2) Educational value and (3) No pornographic content However, these criteria are highly subjective and review committee members hold all the power over these decisions Both conscious and subconscious bias can creep into the decisionmaking process and a lack of consistency may exist across counties Also, this exercise feels duplicative given that all books were already vetted at the inception of HB1467 by a trained media specialist Why should non-experts on a review committee dictate what books stay in schools?

Already, the book review process is backlogged in several Florida counties Books are inaccessible to students after being challenged and before the review committee makes its decision Critics of the legislation argue that students should not be deprived of valuable academic materials during the waiting period, while supporters believe potentially harmful content should not be shared until it is deemed acceptable by a review committee

Spoiler alert: that was not the most contentious part of the law What triggered the wrath of so many people? Well, if a review committee decides to remove a book from a school, no child in that respective school district can access the book. For example, when The Hate U Give was challenged and removed in Lee County, no public school student in any school in Lee County could acquire it through school This provision has galvanized people to speak out and caused a heated debate as the lines between free expression and parental rights are blurred Why does one parent’s view dictate access to a book for thousands of children? Is this law promoting student wellbeing or hindering them from learning about important topics conducive to society at large? Why do most books that are removed contain similar themes, like gender identity, religion, racism, police brutality, offensive slurs or language, mental

health struggles, substance abuse, suicide and sexual assault? Most importantly, how do we find a balance between individual and parental rights before the situation spirals out of control?

After researching, I see the rationale for its passage I also believe that amendments are necessary to streamline the process and ease existing tensions There is a way to enforce parental preferences for individual students parents can create a “red list” for their child, and only their child If parents challenge a book, it should be noted and placed on a red list for their child only When a student goes to check out books from the library or classrooms, teachers and librarians will know what books that students can and cannot check out This solution does not step on the toes of other parents who have different reading preferences for their children It also eliminates the entire challenge process and its nuances (backlogging, nonparents submitting challenges, waiting periods, etc )

Finally, the state must ensure that an adequate number of trained media specialists are employed for each public school to handle the workload of vetting books It is critical to have the right number of resources to get this done in a timely manner

Since the implementation of HB1467, Florida has seen a dramatic rise in the number of books that have been challenged, sometimes for overt political purposes As a result, one measure (HB1285) was recently enacted to limit the number of book challenges a non-parent may make While both HB1467 and HB1285 have been portrayed by media sources in a biased, polarized manner, one must take the initiative to objectively investigate further, understand the true intent of the legislation and determine any shortcomings Only then can a suggestion like individual red lists come to fruition

Natasha Agarwal is a 17-year-old senior at Canterbury School and founder of BelieveNBooks, a nonprofit that distributes books to underprivileged children and teens in Southwest Florida She is the author of “Tales of African Women Trailblazers,” a book that explores successful historical figures through a collection of stories and illustrations

This week’s poll question:

Have political campaigns on the state and national level lost their civility?

∫ Yes

∫ Maybe on the Republican side

∫Maybe on the Democratic side

∫ No

∫When have politics ever been “civil?” Vote at capecoralbreeze com

Previous poll question

Are you pleased the state has approved the removal of the Chiquita Lock?

∫ Yes 81%

∫ Yes, but I would have

Agree? Disagree? Weigh in! Letters, guest opinions, comments welcome

The views expressed on the Opinions pages are just that opinions. These pages are intended to convey a range of viewpoints; opinions printed on this page do not necessarily reflect the views of this newspaper. Opposing views are welcome. Letters to the editor or guest columns may be e-mailed to vharring@breezenewspapers.com. All letters and guest opinions must be signed and must include a phone number for verification purposes Readers are also invited to comment on any letter or editorial opinion online at: capecoralbreeze.com.

Barbara’s Friends: ‘Wrapping the whole family in a hug’

‘Clips for Cancer’ fundraiser to be held Sept. 21 at Bell Tower Shops; donations welcome

By MEGHAN BRADBURY news@breezenewspapers com

A Cape Coral resident is honoring a friendship one of comfort that started at Golisano Children’s Hospital during Clips for Cancer

Childhood cancer survivors and patients will shave the heads of community leaders, who will help raise money and awareness while showing that being bald is a sign of strength, rather than weakness, in the long fight through chemotherapy treatment

“For any of our kids, they didn’t have the choice to lose their hair No child with cancer wants that side effect To voluntarily and willingly makes such a strong s

m e n t , ”

Barbara’s Friends & Children’s Miracle Network Senior Director Amy Frith said

Cape Coral resident Jordan DeLorenzo, 18, who has been a shaver in all six Clips for Cancer events, will have his head shaved this year in honor of his best friend, Adyn Pickett, who passed away in 2022 Pickett’s sister, Abby, 11, will shave DeLorenzo’s head in honor of his friend

DeLorenzo met Pickett while going through treatment They often went to each other’s room to hang out during treatment, talking, playing games and going to events

“It’s Barbara’s Friends that support these kids Kids with cancer need friends That is what the community supporting Barbara’s Friends is about Being a really good friend to a child and family that needs that support,” Frith said

The community can support DeLorenzo by visiting

CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

Adyn Pickett and Jordan DeLorenzo at the start of their friendship. In memory of Adyn, who died of cancer in 2022, DeLorenzo, now 18, will again have his head shaved this year in honor of his best friend, DeLorenzo has been a “shaver” in all six Clips for Cancer events

https://p2p onecause com/clips2024/jor dan-delorenzo.

H

Barbara’s Friends He is one of those kids that not only went through treatment, but is an advocate for all the other children in

treatment and he encourages them,” Frith said

The annual event, Clips for Cancer, will be held at Bell Tower Shops from 10 a m to 2 p m Saturday, Sept 21 The shaving will take place at 10 a m inside Dave & Buster’s community room The other activities, free of charge, will include games, animal encounters, first responder meetand-great with a touch-a-truck, as well as tours of the sensory friendly, first of its kind, Golisano Ambulance The “Go Gold” Bell Tower Shopping & Dining Discount Card will also be available to purchase, which will benefit Barbara’s Friends T h

G

Golisano,” is in recognition of the awareness symbol for childhood cancer the gold ribbon The community is invited to join the Go Gold and Fight Like a Kid

Friends Golisano Children’s Hospital’s cancer fund

leukemia on April 12, 2018, his mother’s birthday His symptoms began with a fever that would not go away, eventually leading him to the doctor and having blood work done

“The doctors and nurses there made sure I was comfortable as I could be They brought in various things to distract you from medicine,” DeLorenzo said He said there is a whole room dedicated to toys as well as a room for teenagers with board games and video games

See BARBARA’S FRIENDS, page 9

Barbara’s Friends: This year ’ s Clips for Cancer goal is $350,000

“It gives you a distraction to all the stuff that is going on around you,” DeLorenzo said, as well as going to the garden and taking big breaths of fresh air

Twice during treatment, he had toxicity towards the medicine he was taking, leaving him spending months at the hospital

“Being outside, walking around really helped,” DeLorenzo said

Six months into treatment, he went into remission

“My body was cancer free,” DeLorenzo said, adding he finished treatment three and a half years ago

He said shaving their heads helps kids mentally, as going through treatment can take a toll

“Getting to do something other than just sit in the hospital bed, getting to be out there doing something, helps a lot mentally,” DeLorenzo said

Frith said 21 have signed up to shave so far Last year the event attracted 60 who were involved in head shaving

“People sign up a lot in September We hope to continue to grow that Last year we raised almost $400,000 for kids with cancer,” she said of their biggest fundraiser

This year the goal is $350,000

Those who want to become a shavee, can register for $25 and set up a personal fundraising goal and page to support the cause

Frith said every shavee has a page online, kind of like a walk, to make a donation towards their head being shaved with 100% going back to Golisano and the canc e r p r o g r a m T h o s e c a n b e f o u n d a t https://p2p onecause com/clips2024

Once the kids are done and have completed their masterpiece of baldness, an

adult with Great Clips will step in and clean it up to finish off the good, fresh, shave

Clips for Cancer is an empowering event as people are giving up their hair and seeing first-hand the kids who are fighting cancer, Frith said

“They get to see the kids that are currently in treatment and are fighting and need those resources It is an emotional, heartwarming, cheers and teers,” event she said

This is the first year the event will be held at Bell Tower to make it a true whole community, family fun day event The Clips for Cancer was held at Golisano’s Children’s Hospital before COVID struck and the children could not be exposed to germs It was moved to Great Clips where everyone was spaced out with only eight kids shaving heads with everyone in masks while being broadcast on Facebook

“We were finally able to bring it back to the hospital last year There was such a crowd; we quickly outgrew the space,” Frith said

Since Bell Tower has been an amazing supporter, the event will be held there as the community center is large

“There might be standing room only,” Frith said

Barbara’s Friends, which is directly a f

Hospital is now 28 years old and has helped more than 12,000 kids locally with cancer and blood disorders.

“ C a n c e r i s s u c h a j o u r n e y , a n d

impacts the whole family,” Frith said “Funds we raise help provide things you think are so simple ”

Among them have been gas cards, transportation, and meals so parents can eat bed-

scholarships help youths who have gone through cancer to achieve their dream She said it’s about providing the resources and care they need, so they can beat this awful disease

“We are taking care of the whole family Making sure we celebrate birthdays, end of chemo celebrations balloons, cakes, toys, video games,” Frith said. “It’s wrapping the whole family in a hug ”

DeLorenzo said Barbara’s Friends is probably one of the best things a youth patient can ask for

“They help them, they help the families too, not just the kids They are helping the

family, siblings, to make sure they can all get through this together Sometimes kids aren’t fortunate enough to have someone there with them Barbara’s Friends makes it to where you can have someone there to be by your side when no one else can,” he said

DeLorenzo, an Ida Baker High School graduate, will attend Cape Coral Technical College to pursue graphic design.

“One of my favorite things to do in treatment was drawing It helped me get away from everything I realized that I could do something with this other than sit in my room and draw,” he said

Adyn Pickett and Jordan DeLorenzo, Christmas 2022

Tickets still available for Mayor’s Scholarship Ball fundraiser

By CJ HADDAD cjhaddad@breezenewspapers com

A major fundraising event to benefit the educational journey of Cape Coral students takes place later this month, with members of the public invited

The 2024 Cape Coral Mayor's Scholarship Ball hits The Westin Cape Coral Resort on Sept 21 starting at 5 p m

The non-profit funds two-year and four-year recurring scholarships that have a real impact on the lives of Cape Coral students throughout their post-secondary education

President of the Cape Coral Mayor's Scholarship Fund, Joanne Hayden, said the organization looks forward to the ball each and every year, with the hopes to give back more and more for local students

“Our sole mission is to raise funding to award scholarships, so every sponsorship, ticket, or auction item is preparing us for that goal in April,” Hayden said “The past two years we have been able to award 10, 4-year scholarships, and assist five technical students It would be wonderful to increase those numbers in 2025 ”

Hayden added they are putting the “fun” in fundraising, as the event begins with a social hour and time to review the silent auction items

“We have a really great selection,” she said

There will be a short video presentation with updates from current students, with time left over for having a good time There will be a 360-degree photo booth, and a live band, “Deep Cover,” playing until 10:30.

Dress is black-tie optional or cocktail attire, and don't forget your dancing shoes

“It’s a great opportunity to socialize, support a good cause, and maybe take home something great from the auction,” Hayden said

The theme this year is “Imagine the Possibilities ”

“We know that when our community combines its strengths, we can accomplish amazing things,” Hayden said “The support of individuals, organizations, and businesses make educational dreams come true, which shapes the future of our community Literally, imagine the possi-

“Our sole mission is to raise funding to award scholarships, so every sponsorship, ticket, or auction item is preparing us for that goal in April, The past two years we have been able to award 10, 4-year scholarships, and assist five technical students It would be wonderful to increase those numbers in 2025 ”

Joanne Hayden, president of the Cape Coral Mayor's Scholarship Fund

bilities ”

Hayden said sponsorships are vital to the fundraising effort along with the donations made by area businesses for the auction

“We have listed donors on our website, mentioned them on social media, and will have signage at the event along with a program all to recognize the generosity that makes scholarships happen,” she said

For 42 years, the volunteer, non-profit citizen’s action group has helped pave the way for local youth, some of whom have gone on to become doctors, nurses, engineers, psychologists, teachers, and difference makers

Scholarship Fund has now awarded $1 million in scholarships to more than 600 recipients Each year, the fund awards 15 scholarships to 10 high school seniors from Cape Coral, two each from Cape Coral and Fort Myers technical colleges, and one to the police and fire academy High school seniors receive a four-year, $4,000 scholarship, while the technical school and academy scholarship recipients receive a one-time $1,500 scholarship

“Also this year, we want to recognize and thank other nonprofit organizations in our community and the work they are doing,” Hayden added “Several of our auction baskets will be provided by them, and also include infor-

IF YOU GO:

What:

The 2024 Cape Coral Mayor's Scholarship Ball

When: Saturday, Sept 21, starting at 5 p m

Where:

The Westin Cape Coral Resort 5951 Silver King Blvd

Tickets:

Tickets for individuals or tables of eight are available online at www CapeCoralMayorScholarship com

mation about their mission Together, we are stronger, better, and build the community where we love to live, work, and play.”

Tickets for individuals or tables of eight are available online at www CapeCoralMayorScholarship com There is still time to be a sponsor or donate items to the silent auction by sending an email to Hayden at:joanne@capecoralmayorscholarship com

The Westin Cape Coral Resort is at 5951 Silver King Blvd

Cape man faces charges in Saturday morning crash

By CJ HADDAD

cjhaddad@breezenewsppers com

Cape Coral man has been accused of fleeing from an early morning crash with property damage Saturday morning

Aaron Olmstead, 28, was charged with driving under the influence (0 15 or higher), DUI property damage, and hit and run after he allegedly crashed his Dodge Challenger along the 4000 block of Coronado Parkway just before 2 a m

Cape Coral Police Department officials stated the reporting party called in the crash after she was awoken by a “loud noise that sounded like a crash,” and, when she went outside, saw a car with heavy damage in a parking lot by her home

Police say the witness told them that when she approached the wreck, she saw “a young white man in a white t-shirt standing in the driver's side doorway,” and that he "appeared impaired "

She said as officers were arriving, the person became

“alarmed and started running north from the crash site ”

CCPD officials said moments before the crash, another officer with CCPD was in the 900 block of Southeast 47th Terrace when he saw a blue Dodge Challenger peel out and drive west

“He noticed the driver was speeding and failed to s top at tw o s top s igns before reaching Coronado Parkway and driving north,” police officials said in a release “The officer noticed as the vehicle drove past that the driver was wearing a white t-shirt "”

Olmsteads' Challenger had heavy front-end damage, and debris was all over the southbound lanes of Coronado Parkway, police said Officers searched the immediate area and found Olmstead walking south on the sidewalk of Coronado Parkway and Southeast 43rd Street Police said he was wearing a white t-shirt, had a minor abrasion to his forehead and complained of pain in his left wrist The reporting party identified Olmstead as the person she saw at the crash scene

Officers noted Olmstead had bloodshot, watery eyes,

Room to run

Island Coast senior running back Gervaris Leaphart (4) breaks into the clear against Evangelical Christian Friday night. Leaphart scored four touchdowns on the night, including one on a school record 95-yard run, leading the Gators to a 27-0 win.

Florida Fish and Wildlife’s Jennings to discuss burrowing owls at CCFW meeting

Did you know that Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission biologists have an active program to band Cape Coral’s burrowing owls? Join Cape Coral Friends of Wildlife at its first general meeting of the season Tuesday, Sept 10, to learn more about this program and what it teaches conservationists about the owls’ behavior and habits

Nick Jennings, assistant regional species conservation biologist - FWC Southwest Region, will provide an update on local burrowing owl habitat, preservation efforts and recent activities around banding and tracking burrowing owls He is a local expert on burrowing owls and Southwest Florida wildlife He presented his work with Florida’s burrowing owls at the 2023 World Owl Conference and the 2024 CCFW Burrowing

Owl Festival

Tuesday's CCFW general meeting will be held at Rotary Park, 5505 Rose Garden Road The doors open at 6:30 p m for signin and networking, and Jennings’ presentation begins at 7 p m , followed by the CCFW business meeting

All are welcome

The Cape Coral Friends of Wildlife is an all-volunteer organization whose mission is to preserve and enhance the habitats of protected wildlife species and to educate the c o m m u n i t y a b o u t C a p e C

resources

If you are interested in donating to support Cape Coral’s wildlife, joining or volunteering, please visit the CCFW website ccfriendsofwildlife org or call 239-980-2593

a strong odor of alcohol on his breath, and slurred speech

“Officers noticed tire tracks moving northbound on the asphalt median of Coronado Parkway, which lined up perfectly with where the suspect vehicle went off the road, struck the curb, damaged the grass and landscaping, and hit pipes that control median irrigation,"” CCPD officials said “The damage continued across the southbound lanes of Coronado Parkway until the vehicle came to rest in the parking lot at 4000 Coronado Parkway ”

Police stated there was an estimated $3,000 in property damage due to the crash Officers noticed the seatbelts for the driver and front seat passenger were fully retracted and locked, which is a sign that the seatbelts were not being used at the time of the crash

CCPD reported that Olmstead’s breath samples showed a blood-alcohol content of 163 and 152

Olmstead was transported to Lee County Jail, where he has since been released on $1,650 bond

LeeTran to hold career fair Tuesday

Lee County Transit, LeeTran, will host a career fair from 10 a m to 1 p m , Tuesday, Sept 10, at the LeeTran headquarters building, 3401 Metro Parkway, Fort Myers The event is open to the public with the hope of encouraging prospective employees to join the LeeTran team

L e e T r a n o f f

diverse range of career opportunities, such as d

trative specialists and seasonal roles

Visit the upcoming event to:

■ Learn about available positions: Get the inside scoop on the various roles within LeeTran From driving buses to maintaining the fleet, there’s a position that suits your skills and interests

■ On-the-spot interviews: Attendees will have the opportunity to meet with hiring managers and participate in on-the-spot interviews

■ Competitive benefits package: Discover the perks of being part of the LeeTran family Opportunities offer competitive benefits, including comprehensive training opportunities, support and more.

Transportation is a public service that keeps Lee County moving Potential employees are offered the opportunity to amplify their skills in a collaborative environment through extensive on-the-job training and support

“We are seeking passionate, charismatic and reliable individuals to join our team, Transit Director Dominic Gemelli said “At LeeTran, we work together to deliver superior transportation services to the residents and visitors of Lee County Join us and be a part of our mission to serve our amazing community ”

Those interested in joining the LeeTran team who are unable to attend the job fair can visit https://www leegov com/leetran/nowhiring for more information

LeeTran is the public transit provider for Lee County LeeTran operates 25 bus routes during season and a paratransit service known as Passport LeeTran employs nearly 300 people and has a fleet of 57 fixed-route vehicles, five beach trams, 50 paratransit vans and six microtransit vehicles To learn more about the services offered by LeeTran, or for schedule and fare information, call 239-LEE-TRAN, or visit www RideLeeTran com

To receive updates from Lee County Government, sign up for the newsletter at www leegov com/resources/newsletters. Follow Lee County Government on Facebook, www facebook com/leecountyflbocc

CJ HADDAD

City receives proposal to rename Jaycee Park

Public input sought

As per city ordinance, the 30-day public notice period is now in effect, allowing residents and stakeholders to voice their opinions on the proposed renaming of Jaycee Park to Roger Dean Park

The public notice period will conclude on Oct 3

All input, which must be in writing, should be addressed to:

c i t y o f C a p e C o r a l a n d i t s c o m m u n i t i e s a s C a p e C o r a l ' s f i r s t

o m o t i v e d e a l e r s h i p ” “ I t w o u l d m e a n t h e w o r l d t o m e t o h a v e J a y c e e P a r k

r e n a m e d R o g e r D e a n P a r k i n h o n o r o f m y l a t e f a t h e r

H e w a s a w

a t i o n , o f f i c i a l s s a i d “ T h i s p r o p o s a l a

Parks and Recreation Director

1015 Cultural Park Blvd

Cape Coral, FL, 33990

Mailed responses must be postmarked within the 30-day window for comment

D i r

City FY25 Budget Public Hearings set for Sept. 12 & 26

5 b u d g e t o u t l i n e s h o w t h e c i t y w i l l a l l o c a t e t a x p a y e r d o l l a r s f o r t h e u p c o m i n g y e a r < ’ c i t y o f f i c i a l s s a i d F i r s t P u b l i c H e a r i n g w i l l b e T h u r s d a y , S e p t 1 2 , a t 5 : 0 5 p m T h e t e n t a t i v e m i l l a g e r a t e a n d b u d g e t w i l l b e e s t a b l i s h e d a t t h i s m e e t i n g

S e c o n d P u b l i c H e a r i n g w i l l b e

T h u r s d a y , S e p t 2 6 , a t 5 : 0 5 p m

T h e f i n a l m i l l a g e r a t e a n d b u d g e t w i l l b e s e t a t t h i s m e e t i n g

T h e t w o p u b l i c b u d g e t h e a r i n g s w i l l b e l i v e - s t r e a m e d a n d a c c e s s i b l e o n m u lt i p l e p l a t f o r m s :

P r i s m T V ( C h a n n e l 9 4 )

■ C a p e T V o n Y o u T u b e

■ C a p e C o r a l g o v L i v e s t r e a m “ D o n ’ t m i s s t h i s o p p o r t u n i t y t o b e i n f o r m e d a n d i n v o l v e d i n o n e o f t h e m o s t s i g n i f i c a n t d e c i s i o n s m a d e b y t h e c i t y e a c h y e a r , ” c i t y o f f i c i a l s s a i d

■ C a p e T V : a v a i l a b l e o n C o m c a s t C a b l e ( C h a n n e l 9 8 ) a n d C e n t u r y L i n k

UEstion oF tHE WEEK Q

Where do you see the city in ter ms of overall employee compensation, i.e. wages and benefits? What, if any, changes should Council consider?

Primary ElEction - District 2

❑ laurie lehmaNN

Before the city council or any of the upper level employees get raises we need to look at the wage levels for all employees If the council and the city stops the wasteful spending on projects citizens don’t want then the money would be there to increase the wages on lower paid employees Taxes would not necessarily have to be increased to cover wages. By stopping the stipend then the money would be there to increase wages It is sad that the city has employees that can not afford to live here but the council just spent

$

Amendment rights to free speech that would have been better spent on wage increases for many employees some of which are only making $13 an hour COLA increases for employees are not enough when the employee is at the bottom of the wage scale

Currently, in terms of the overall compensation for all city employees, the study shows that we are lagging behind During my second term in office, (2011 – 2015), city council approved a comprehensive study into the total employee compensation for all employees The study revealed that as an organization we were lagging behind in practically all areas Council then adopted a target goal of the seventy-fifth percentile Since that time, a current study of the employee compensation issue has been completed that still shows us lagging behind Council needs to prioritize this issue and set a target date for achievement ❑

DerriCk DoNNell Der rickDonnell.com

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

❑ DaN shepparD (iNCumbeNt)

As a business owner, I know the importance of investing in quality staff Staff that have the education, skillset, and knowledge to produce quality work as it has a direct impact on the level of a business’s success

Successful businesses stay competitive with salaries offered for staff retention or business declines

This science is also very important keeping our city on top when it comes to quality services That’s why as your city councilman I have been pushing for many years the importance of our minimum salaries to be at the 75th percentile We want our city to be the magnet for the best talent in the Lee County labor pool This has a positive impact on the quality of services delivered to our citizens, improves efficiency, staff retention, and saves money spent on training.

This minimum investment level should be applied to all people employed by our city

Primary ElEction - District 3

After 35 years working in government offices, I have experienced the demand that is placed on civil servants in their workplace The world is expected of us, and in return, we often do not get ample compensation The only way that I was able to secure good pay and benefits was by being a member of the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal workers union I think that the city needs to provide a good environment for unions so that workers feel secure in their employment In addition, I want to see benefits for our first responders increased After speaking with several firemen in the city, I have come to understand that city employees pay a large deduction for health insurance I want to see the city cover more of that cost I also want to assist our first responders who work 24+ hour shifts receive a stipend for food as the city currently does not cover the cost of food while on duty Financially responsible increases to wages and benefits for employees is my vision for our city! ❑ Deborah lee mCCormiCk mcCor mickforCapeCouncil.com

Primary ElEction - District 4

❑ riCharD Carr (iNCumbeNt) VoterichCar r.com

Compensation packages within the city vary depending on the type of position, with management and upper-level roles generally offering more competitive packages compared to entry-level positions While there is a genuine effort to bring all city staff salaries to the 75th percentile of comparable jobs in similar jurisdictions, I believe we should aim even higher to attract and retain top talent as our city grows. Our employees are the backbone of everything we strive to achieve, and without fair compensation, high morale, and the ability to recruit and retain the best, we risk falling short of our goals

Balancing fiscal responsibility, project prioritization, and associated costs is always challenging, but we must prioritize our employees when setting goals and allocating financial resources

Important dates

∫ General Election: Tuesday, Nov 5

∫ Deadline to register to vote or change party affiliation: Oct 7.

∫ Main ballots: First vote-by-mail ballots will be sent out on Tuesday, Oct. 1; new requests will be sent within 48 hours of being received

∫ Early Voting: Monday, Oct 21 through Saturday, Nov 2, from 10 a m to 6 p m daily Visit lee vote/Early-VotingInformation/Early-Voting-Dates-and-Locations for locations

JeNNifer NelsoN NelsonforDistrict4 com

We have always strived for the 75% when it comes to our employees which I agree with You have to compensate adequately to attract the best talent. We must also strive to perform salary studies annually with cities in Florida similar to our size and structure This keeps us competitive with key positions

Resources

The Lee County Supervisor of Elections posts all city-election related documents, including campaign reports at lee.vote.

Lee vote also offers a wealth of elections-related information concerning registration, voting, dates and candidate lists and documents

Information on the Constitutional amendments appearing on the ballot may be found at lee.vote/Election-Information/ProposedBallot-Measures

∫ The League of Women Voters, Lee County offers electionrelated information on its website, my.lwv.org/florida/lee-county.

Where do you see the city in ter ms of overall employee compensation, i.e. wages and benefits? What, if any, changes should Council consider?

prImary eleCtIon - DIstrICt 5

❑ Joseph KilRaine Kilr aineforcape com

Non-bargaining comp is 2 parts by ordinance, overall COLA adjustment (3% last-year) & department average for merit (3 25% last-year) “Similar-city” surveys are completed on targeted positions to determine any competitive adjustment Bargaining units are negotiated based on similar city/position surveys A stepped-system is followed that relates to merit i e adequate performance merits next step progression 75th percentile is universal target Problems areas exist e g 3 Police ranks grossly noncompetitive, step compression in general union & retirement med comp overall are a few Fixes too numerous for 100 words Principled leadership by forgoing 100% stipend, 21% to city attorney are good starters

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

❑ chaRlie pease votecharliepease.com

We should strive to ensure that our employee compensation packages for City of Cape Coral staff, trades workers, police, and firefighters are competitive and ensure that our vital human resources can comfortably afford to live and raise their families in our community. Unfortunately, our police compensation, for example, currently falls well short of other nearby agencies for multiple job classifications It’s unacceptable for our first responders to be paid less than those in areas such as Charlotte County We need to work collaboratively to bring employee compensation across the board up to the 75th percentile and beyond based on benchmarking studies

Rachel KaduK R achelK aduk.com

As a city, we need to ensure that we are paying employees comparable to other cities of similar size in the state. We need to do a comprehensive study comparing our compensation to those cities of similar size and adjust the compensation accordingly (usually in the 75% range) I would also suggest the City pay a portion of the employee’s health insurance cost based on years of service (for example- 5 years of service, the City pays 25% of employee health costs, 10 years 50%, 15 years 75%) This will incentivize the more veteran/senior employees to stay rather than leave for another job, leaving the City with a rookie or less experienced person to take over

I believe that it’s well known that the cost of living here has exceeded median wages, not just for our city employees but for our non-city-employed residents There continues to be a concern about the escalation in the cost of electricity, fuel, and food Inflation continues to have a major impact on all household budgets I will always support high-paying jobs coming to the area and keeping wages up with a cost-of-living adjustment It is extremely important to regularly review the salaries and benefits of employees to ensure they are receiving fair pay Morale amongst the team is everything

about Cape Coral CIt y CounCIl

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

Forums & InFormatIonal sessIons

Cape Coral Friends of Wildlife to hold candidate forum

The Cape Coral Friends of Wildlife and the Cape Coral Wildlife Trust will hold a City Council Candidate Forum from 5:30 to 7 p m on Sept 23

The event will focus on wildlife and environmental issues in the City of Cape Coral Candidates will have the opportunity to introduce themselves, answer questions and give a closing statement

“Due to time constraints, there will not be an audience question-and-answer period, however questions may be submitted beforehand on our website,” organizers said

All candidates running for city council office on the Nov. 5 ballot have been invited to participate

Seating is limited so pre-registration is required

Those unable to attend in person may participate via Zoom The meeting will also be recorded and available for viewing afterward.

To attend in person, join by Zoom meeting or submit questions visit: ccfriendsofwildlife org/programs/city-council-candidate-forum/

The Cape Coral Library is at 921 S W 39th Terrace

For more information visit ccfriendsofwildlife org or call 239 980-2593

League of Women Voters

The League of Women Voters of Lee County has scheduled the following infor-

General Election:

■ Proposed Amendments 1 and 4 to the Florida Constitution Impacts and League Positions Wednesday, Sept 18, 6-8 p m Registration 5:30 p m Unitarian Universalist Congregation, 13411 Shire Lane, Fort Myers

Proposed Amendment 1: Establish

Members

LWVFL Education Action Team; former Member Lee County School Board

Government Interference with Abortion

LWVFL Resource: Dawnyelle Singleton, manager of Volunteers and Community Programs, Planned Parenthood of Southwest and Central Florida Register for in-person and virtual: https://2024proposedFLAmendments eve ntbrite com

A zoom link will be emailed to registrants

■ Meet a n d Greet L ee C

y Candidates Tuesday, Sept 24, 6-8 p m Registration: 5:30 p m Alliance for the Arts, 10091 McGregor Boulevard, Fort Myers C

remarks and then talk one-on-one with voters.

https://LWVLeeMeetandGreet eventbrite c om

A zoom link will be emailed to registrants

Florida Constitution Saturday, Oct 5, 10-11:30 a m

Registration 9:30 a m Lakes Library, 15290 Bass Road, Fort Myers

This program is not sponsored/endorsed by the Lee County Library System

R

https://SixProposedFloriidaAmendments e ventbrite com

A zoom link will be emailed to registrants For Voter Identification Assistance, contact VoteRiders org 866-432-8683 Visit LWVLee org for more information on candidate forums and

General eleCtIon only - DIstrICt 7

❑ Michael david haRpeR

❑

Connect with LEE offers tutoring help

By MEGHAN BRADBURY news@breezenewspapers com

A free online tutoring program for those students struggling with math is being offered again for students of the School District of Lee County

“Math is the No 1 subject students connect with our teachers for help,” District spokesperson Rob Spicker said of why math tutoring is being offered. “We did not want to stop providing homework help just because the ESSER funding we have been using to pay teachers was expiring, so we determined what was most in need and budgeted the necessary funding to continue to support our students in that subject ”

Elementary, middle, and high school math help is offered from 5 to 7 p m Tuesdays and Thursdays

Connect with LEE is virtual and can be assessed through launchpad leeschools net on the student’s Chromebook, a computer, tablet, or phone.

The online video discussion will be had with a certified teacher Once the virtual meeting, and grade level is selected, the student is placed in a waiting room until a teacher is available to join them

“ S t u d e n t s h a v e t h e o p p o r t u n i t y t o explain what they need help with and the teacher is there to provide them educational support so they can understand the process and solve the problem,” Spicker said “All homework and class assignment help is one-on-one, so as soon as a teacher finishes with one student they close that

session and connect with the next student in line They will typically spend enough time with each student to have them confident enough to continue on their own ”

Connect with LEE has been very successful in years past, as the demand was incredibly high when it first began and remained steady through the second year

“The last two years we have seen the need for math remain high as other subjects became less and less requested We typically see peaks around exams and report card cycles,” Spicker said

Connect with LEE was launched in March 2021 to address the learning challenges posed by the COVID pandemic

“The support was one of many strategies to give students extra time with a teacher during a school year when many students were still attending school remotely For the 2021-2022 school year we expanded Connect with LEE to include daytime sessions for students home sick or under quarantine We then continued to offer afternoon and homework help in the 2022-2023 and 2023-2024 school years,” Spicker said

He said parents need to know that Connect with LEE is there to help them as much as it is their student

“They don’t have to try and figure out the solution on their own, but can instead turn to a teacher to get the support their student needs We hope they take advantage of it,” Spicker said

COMMUNITY

Plants just need space!

By SHERIE BLEILER

news@breezenewspapers com

The most common complaint I hear is, “My plants are too big ”

Another version of this problem is, “My plants always need trimming ” Or, “My bushes are too crowded ” Or, “My plants never bloom” because the blooms are trimmed off every month

Too often, we arrange our plants like furniture, so they look nice and cozy

a r o u n d e a c h o t h e r a f t e r

t h e y a r e p l a n t e d ( B e e n there, done that.) Instead we should think of them as children, who will grow and fill out as they mature

GARDEN CLUB OF CAPE CORAL

Read the tag and determine how large this shrub or tree will grow Get out your yardstick, and imagine the plant full size Plant it in that imaginary space It may look lonely at first with all that space around it, but you are doing it a big favor You can fill the space with temporary fillers such as Mexican heather, dune sunflower and annual flowers But do not crowd your babies

So much energy is wasted on plants improperly spaced Noisy, gas-guzzling trimmers fight the plant’s genetic destiny to grow up We fertilize them one week and trim them the next It seems the very definition of fruitless!

Another consideration is distance from the house

Some houses have a path around the house under the eves, which seems smart, especially this time of year when it often rains Plus, it is usually shady there If you prefer to have shrubs right next to your house walls, at least come out 3 feet You want to have room to walk next to the house when you repaint There is diminished light and rain under the eves Plants too close to the wall will reach for the light and tend to grow sideways, away from the wall. Plant them where they can just grow up. Large bushes and trees will need to come out much farther Again, look at their projected size and get out your yardstick

Perhaps you had a landscaper plan your plant design and trust them to space them properly Think again They may take advantage and charge you for twice as many plants as you need for the space If it results in pretty plants arranged attractively close to each other, you may be thrilled with the results But in just five years, you may be angry with the whole yard requiring too much maintenance It’s not the fault of the plants

It is the fault of the planner In my case, that is me All too often I have put a plant too close to the house, too close to the driveway or just too close together To imagine how large a firebush will get is so difficult for me

My yardstick is more objective and it helps

Although I love large plants in certain places, in recent years I have been on the lookout for small yet long-lived plants Small ground covers and flowers only last a season or two The goal is low, woody shrubs that

Weighton new senior pastor, head of staff at Faith Presbyterian Church

Faith Presbyterian Church of Cape Coral has announced the election of the Rev Dr Gillian Weighton as its next senior pastor and head of staff She will begin her duties on Sept 8

Scotland She earned her bachelor of divinity with honors in theology and ethics at the University of St Andrews She also earned a certificate in ministry from the University of Glasgow, during which time she worked as a chaplain in a drug rehabilitation center and in a large teaching hospital in Glasgow W e i g

Scholarship to study at Union Theological Seminary in the city of New York and graduated with a master of sacred theology in homiletics in 1991 Returning to Scotland, she was ordained by the Church of Scotland in September 1992 after spending a year as a probationary minister at The High Kirk of Dundee She was called to serve Ayr, St. James Parish Church on the west coast of Scotland in 1992 and remained there until called to Bridge of Allan Parish Church in 2004 While in the Church of Scotland, Weighton trained as a conflict mediator for the church and for “A Place for Hope,” working at times with the Scottish government in their fight against sectarianism In both Ayr and Bridge of Allan, Weighton also served as a university and hospital chaplain, served on General Assembly Committees and served as spiritual adviser and chaplain at conferences for newly ordained pastors In 2 0 1 3 , W e i g

Weighton was called to St Andrew Presbyterian Church in Suffolk, Virginia, as head of staff and pastor in August 2018 In the past six years this congregation has weathered the pandemic during which time Weighton taught nearly 200 online classes, developed new prayer ministries and welcomed in many new members

Weighton is a member of COM and the C

Presbytery of Eastern Virginia She also serves on the board of directors for a local non-profit, Firm Foundations, that strives to house young single mothers and equips them with practical skills that can enable them to find employment

While at St Andrew, Weighton completed her doctor of ministry and graduated

Seminary Her dissertation is titled, “Responding to the Pandemic, the Church as a Vaccine Against the Pandemics of Trauma and Loneliness.”

When asked to describe the ministry setting to which she believes God is calling her, Weighton replied, “My sense of call is toward a ministry setting where I can serve a church that understands itself as a family of faith A place where all are welcome, where community is important and where everyone is included and involved ”

Presbyterian Church, Racine, Wisconsin She had served this congregation on a pulpit exchange in 2004 and returned in 2013. Over the course of her ministry, Weighton has engaged in 18 pulpit exchanges across the United States and Canada During her time in Racine, Weighton helped establish a downtown food pantry in the church and led the congregation to financial stability as well as grow a partnership with a Presbyterian Church in Matanzas, Cuba She also served on the Committee on Ministry (COM) in the Presbytery of Milwaukee

The seven-member Pastor Nominating Committee conducted a national search over the past year during which they reviewed 77 potential candidates, watched dozens and dozens of sermons and interviewed five applicants In a letter to the congregation, the committee members wrote that Weighton “ consistently came to the top of every set of standards we envisioned and exceeded every expectation we had ”

Faith Presbyterian is one of the oldest churches in the Cape and the first to construct a church building in 1963

The church is located at 4544 Coronado Parkway, two blocks north of Cape Coral Parkway Further information may be found at www fpcfl org or by calling the office at 239-542-2858

Cape Coral-Lee County Public Library to host ribbon-cutting for Smithsonian traveling exhibition

Public invited to explore ‘Voices and Votes: Democracy in America’ at the library

The public is invited to attend the ribbon-cutting at 10 a m , Friday, Sept 13, to open “Voices and Votes: Democracy in America,” a Smithsonian Museum on Main Street traveling exhibition hosted by the Cape Coral-Lee County Public Library, 921 S W 39th Terrace, Cape Coral

The exhibition is free and open to the public during regular library hours

Florida Humanities, the statewide, nonprofit affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities, selected and awarded funding to Cape Coral-Lee County Public Library as one of five locations to host the exhibition during its 2024-2025 Florida Tour

“Voices and Votes” explores the nearly 250-year-old American experiment of a government “of, by and for the people” and the action, reaction, vision, and revision that democracy demands as Americans continue to ask and answer questions that shape the country

The multimedia display, available to the public from Sept 14 to Nov 8, features historical and contemporary photos and video, engaging multimedia and historical objects like campaign souvenirs, voter memorabilia and protest material

The ribbon-cutting will feature brief remarks by Lee County Commissioners and other officials followed by the first look at this impressive display In addition to the Smithsonian exhibit, the installation will include local history and artifacts courtesy of the Cape Coral Museum of

History, Lawrence Kearny Chapter, National Society Daughters of the American Revolution, and the Lee County Supervisor of Elections

“The exhibit allows us to reflect on our region's history and explore what it means to be an active participant in the governance of not only the country but our community as well,” said Mind Simon, director of the Lee County Library System “The library is offering a series of public events and activities for all ages through September and October to complement the exhibition and highlight its central themes of civic responsibility and engagement ”

groups are encouraged to contact the library to schedule exhibit tours, as guides and special activities may be available during their visit

“Voices and Votes,” based on an exhibition from the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History called “American Democracy: A Great Leap of Faith,” is part of Museum on Main Street, a collaboration between the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service (SITES), state humanities councils across the nation, and local host institutions To learn more visit museumonm

Support for Museum on Main Street has been provided by the U S Congress Support for Museum on Main Street has been provided by the U S Congress

Pastor Gillian Weighton

HEALTH

What are the signs and symptoms of ovarian cancer?

Ovarian cancer is the second most common gynecologic cancer in the United States, and it causes more deaths than any other cancer of the female reproductive system, according to the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention There are no screening tests available and symptoms can be nonspecific or not present at all, resulting in the cancer often going undetected until advanced stages

In recognition of Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month in September, it’s important to know what to look out for, check in regularly with your body and make an appointment with a physician if something feels abnormal

What are the ovaries and what is ovarian cancer?

The ovaries are almond-shaped organs in the female reproductive system that produce eggs and certain hormones

Ovarian cancer can be caused in three ways:

Lee Health

1 Ovarian epithelial cancer forms in the tissue covering the ovary, in the peritoneum (a thin, smooth tissue membrane that lines the abdominal cavity and covers most of the organs in the abdomen) or in the lining of the fallopian tube, which delivers eggs from the ovaries to the uterus

2 Ovarian germ cell tumors begin in the eggs, which are also known as germ cells or reproductive cells that develop into eggs in females and sperm in males

3 Ovarian low malignant potential tumors start in the tissue covering the ovary Abnormal cells may be present that could become cancer, but this is usually not the case

All types of ovarian cancer are treated the same way Ovarian cancer can cause nonspecific symptoms, such as abdominal swelling or pain, but for some patients, no symptoms at all are experienced Since it can be difficult to diagnose and symptoms can seem vague or similar to common issues, it’s important to see a physician for regular checkups

If left untreated, ovarian cancer can spread to the abdomen, pelvis and other parts of the body, making it much more difficult to treat To make an appointment with a physician or to get more information, please visit www leehealth org

What are some potential symptoms of ovarian cancer?

The signs and symptoms of ovarian cancer can be difficult to detect If you experience the following persistent issues, it may help to let a doctor know about them if they are abnormal for you:

■ Bloating and swelling in the lower pelvis and abdomen. Clothes may feel tighter than normal.

■ You feel full a lot quicker than normal or have trouble eating

■ Pain in your back, pelvis or abdomen

■ Urinating more frequently

■ Pain during sex

■ Unusual vaginal bleeding

■ Unexplained weight loss or gain

■ Unexplained fatigue

Are there risk factors for ovarian cancer?

It’s important to let your doctor know about a family history of ovarian cancer and to be aware of any inherited gene mutations, such as BRCA1 and BRCA2

Other risk factors include obesity, endometriosis and the use of hormone replacement therapy

Registration, sponsorships available for Lee Health’s ‘Caring for the Cape’ event

Jan. 31 program will benefit expansion of services in Cape Coral

Registration is now open for Lee Health’s second annual “Caring for the Cape” event which will be held Friday, Jan. 31, from 6 to 9 p.m. The tropical-themed event will include island-inspired cuisine, specialty cocktails, music and silent and live auctions featuring dining experiences, travel, memorabilia and more

The evening’s program at the Westin Cape Coral Resort at Marina Village will give guests insight as to the future of Lee Health’s services in Cape Coral, as well as how guests can get involved or learn more Funds raised at the event will be used to help provide access to a variety of health care services for Cape Coral residents

“We are invested in the health and wellness of the people of Cape Coral,” said Dr Cherrie Morris, chief physician and operations executive at Cape Coral Hospital.

“With the community’s support, we can broaden our world-class medical care through several expansion projects that will bring emergency and urgent care, primary care, pediatrics, oncology, cardiology, orthopedics, and more specialty services to the coastal community ”

Tickets to the event are $150 per person Sponsorship opportunities are also available Levels of sponsorship include Presenting Sponsor at $20,000; Gold Sponsor at $10,000; Silver Sponsor at $5,000; Bronze Sponsor at $2,500; and Table Sponsor at $1,200 Custom sponsorship and benefit opportunities are also available

To learn more about sponsorship opportunities or to register by Jan. 15, please visit LeeHealthFoundation.org/ CaringForTheCape or call Katy Martinez, development director for Lee Health Foundation at 239-343-6076

About Lee Health Foundation

Lee Health Foundation raises philanthropic dollars on

Free autism screening for young children Sept. 20

behalf of Lee Health to establish, expand and enhance innovative, lifesaving and preventative programs The Foundation provides financial support for all five Lee Health hospitals including Golisano Children’s Hospital as well as many service areas including Lee Health Cancer Institute, Lee Health Coconut Point, The Rehabilitation Hospital, Lee Health Heart Institute, Community Health Clinics and Golisano Children’s Health Center in Naples

Over the last year, the Foundation has distributed more than $27 million to support Lee Health’s mission Please visit LeeHealthFoundation.org or call 239-343-6950 for more information about the role of Lee Health philanthropy in Southwest Florida

HEALTH BRIEFS

Golisano Children’s Hospital of Southwest Florida, in partnership with Ronald McDonald House Charities of Southwest Florida, offers a free monthly autism spectrum disorder screening for toddlers 18 months to 5 years of age

The next screening will be held Friday, Sept 20, from 9 a m to 2 p m , at the Pediatric Specialist Office, 15901 Bass Road, Suite 102, Fort Myers

It is estimated that one in every 44 children is diagnosed with some form of Autism Spectrum Disorder, making it more common than childhood cancer, juvenile diabetes and pediatric AIDS combined

Medical consultants for the project stress that an early diagnosis can make a vast difference for toddlers and their families They say early intensive behavioral intervention can make an immense difference not just in the development of the child, but in their families as well

The ASD screening is conducted by the Golisano Children’s Hospital of Southwest Florida The screenings are administered by an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse, who has extensive training and experience in typical child development and developmental disorders

A physician referral is not required To schedule a screening, please call 239-343-6838

Drug Free Lee holding seminar on older adults and substance abuse

Drug Free Lee is holding an Aging Seminar "Substance Abuse and the Older Adult" Wednesday, Sept 25, at 8:30 a m

Topics to be discussed include "Increased Alcohol Use Due to COVID," "Medication Interaction with Prescription Drugs" and "Safety Prevention for Drugs/Alcohol Related Injuries

Cardenas-Flynn, manager of the Hazeldon-Betty Ford Addiction Services, Naples; Clorival Lappost, health and wellness coordinator for the Area Agency on Aging, SWFL; and Guy Blanchette, CEO of Drug Free Collier. The event will be hosted by Kristin Reagan at the Hazeldon-Betty Ford Foundation, 950 Sixth Ave , Naples

Seating is limited and reservations are available through eventbrite com

Christian Medical Ministries adds hyperbaric chamber to its treatments

Christian Medical Ministries, a free medical clinic specializing in the treatment of mold illness and chronic pain, recently announced the addition of a hyperbaric chamber to its range of services This cutting-edge therapy, made possible through grant funding, will be offered free of charge to qualifying patients

Mold illness, also known as Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome, affects tens of thousands of people in the area, particularly in the aftermath of Hurricane Ian Many residents are suffering from exposure to water-damaged structures, leading to significant health issues

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy enhances oxygen delivery to tissues, promoting healing from conditions such as fatigue, pain, brain dysfunction, neurological problems and gastrointestinal issues Typically costing at least $200 per session, this therapy is now accessible for free to those in need through our clinic

Christian Medical Ministries,a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization, is part of the Florida Department of Health Volunteer Healthcare Provider program and functions as a Sovereign Immunity Clinic It operate two existing clinics: the Mold Illness Treatment Centers and the SWFL Free Pain Clinic at the Daniels Parkway site, and soon at a new Grace Church location, both in Fort Myers

Ministries’ services, please contact Anna Hogan at 239308-7107 or anna@christianmedicalministries org

Dr. Edward Grendys

Cape Coral Hospital

School District sets College Night for Sept. 17

By MEGHAN BRADBURY news@breezenewspapers com

More than 100 representatives from colleges, universities and technical schools across the country will fill Suncoast Credit Union Arena at Florida Southwestern State College this month for students

“College Night is an opportunity to visit with representatives from schools across the state and country Students can meet with the ones they are interested in but also be exposed to schools they hadn’t thought of or heard of that may offer just what they want,” School District of Lee County

s p o k e s p e r s o n R o b S p i c k e r s a i d “ T h e information gained can be used to narrow down a list of favorites for campus visits or actual applications Choosing a college is a big decision and the more research into finding the right fit the better the overall experience is going to be ”

College Night will be held from 6 to 8 p m Tuesday, Sept 17, at Suncoast Credit Union Arena, 13351 FSW Pkwy , Fort Myers.

Each school, college, or university will bring a variety of information about their campus, student body, areas of study and financial aid The representatives will also answer questions students and families might have

“The most important thing to bring is an open mind and questions,” Spicker said “Visit with as many colleges as possible and ask insightful questions about what they can offer you so you can get answers beyond the pamphlets provided Ask the same questions of each college to make fair comparisons and bring a pen to write down key information to help remember it later ” College Night has been held for more than 20 years with a few missed during

“College Night is an opportunity to visit with representatives from schools across the state and country Students can meet with the ones they are interested in but also be exposed to schools they hadn’t thought of or heard of that may offer just what they want ” School District of Lee County spokesperson Rob Spicker

COVID

“Our largest year was about 4,000,” Spicker said about the attendance “Every year is different, but several hundred will at least attend and possibly more than that ”

T h e s c h o o l d i s t

nationwide to attend, particularly those that have come before, or have a high interest among the students, he said

“For our juniors, it’s time to start thinking about what your major might be, what kind of college do I want to attend and what kind of activities do I want to participate in For our seniors it’s time to select the schools you are going to apply to College Night is the perfect way to help make those choices,” Spicker said

Those that have confirmed include:

■ Berry College, Georgia

■ Bethune-Cookman College

■ Bryant University, Rhode Island

■ Cape Coral Technical College

■ Drexel University, Pennsylvania

■ Eckerd College

■

University

■ Flagler College

■ Florida Academy

■ Florida Army National Guard

■ Florida Atlantic University

■ Florida Gulf Coast University

■ Florida Gulf Coast UniversityCollege of Education

■ Florida Institute of Technology

■ Florida International University

■ Florida Polytechnic University

■ Florida Southern College

■ Florida Southwestern State College

■ Florida State University

■ Fort Myers Technical College

■ Furman University, South Carolina

■ George Mason University, Virginia

■ Indiana University, Indiana

■ Keiser University

■ Lees-McRae College, North Carolina

■ LIM College, New York

■ L o y o l a U n i v e r s i t

Maryland

■ Lynn University

■ Miami University of Ohio, Ohio

■ Michigan State University, Michigan

■ Missouri University of Science & Technology, Missouri

■ Montclair State University, New Jersey

■ National Aviation Academy

■ New York Film Academy

■ Norwich University, Vermont

■ NOVA Southeastern University

■ Oglethorpe University, Georgia

■ Palm Beach Atlantic University

■ Premiere International College

■ Purdue University, Indiana

■ Rasmussen College

■ Rider University, New Jersey

■ Ringling College of Art & Design

■ Rollins College

■ Savannah College of Art & Design, Georgia

■ S l i p p e r

Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania

■ Southeastern University

■ Stetson University

■ Temple University, Pennsylvania

■ The Salon Professional Academy

■ Troy University, Alabama

■ United States Coast Guard Academy, Connecticut

■ United States Military Academy, New York

■ Universal Technical Institute

■ The University of Alabama, Alabama

■ University of Central Florida

■

Connecticut

■ University of Florida

■ University of Kentucky, Kentucky

■ University of Maine, Maine

■ University of Miami

■ University of Nevada, Las Vegas, Nevada

■ University of North Florida

■ University of Notre Dame, Indiana

■

Pennsylvania

■ University of South Florida

■ University of Tampa

■ Valdosta State University, Georgia

■ Vanderbilt University, Tennessee

■ Western Carolina University, North Carolina

London, England

Cape Coral continues to meet with FEMA

By MEGHAN BRADBURY news@breezenewspapers com

The city of Cape Coral continues to meet every Tuesday with FEMA, to help them through the process of becoming compliant

Emergency Management Director Chief Ryan Lamb said its boots on the ground, so FEMA can advocate for them

“We are going to hit our deadlines,” he said, adding they are doing everything they can with their dedicated team to retain dis-

counts for residents.

Lamb said the city has until Sept 16 to create its action plan and Nov 18 for their substantial damage procedure plan

The substantial damage procedure plan focuses on how the city can make sure they rebuild and have development back in a special hazard area

The city is looking at various areas, one of which is looking at program improvements, as after every major disaster there are opportunities for continuous improvements Lamb

said they are also looking into 206 addresses to make sure projects there get finalized

There will also be a change to the flood plain ordinance, which will come before Cape Coral City Council in the near future Lamb said there are action items requested by FEMA programmatic improvements, which is looking at the rest of development activity across the city and continuing with having inspectors look at 1,200 addresses originally requested weeks after Hurricane Ian

He said 251 addresses will receive a letter this week, as more than 50% of the value of their structure was damaged and they did not obtain a permit

“Compliance is the goal We want them to apply for necessary permits and gain compliance,” Lamb said

He said there will be additional letters to other homeowners based on findings FEMA has, which has sufficient time to gain compliance

Cape Coral to place speed detection cameras in school zones

By MEGHAN BRADBURY news@breezenewspapers com

Cape Coral City Council approved a turnkey contract with RedSpeed Florida, LLC for speed detection camera systems for school zones

The approved resolution is an agreement that “piggybacks” on the city of Plantation’s contract

G

Plantation was the first contract in Florida

He said they have about 20 contracts in the state now Plantation, Hillsborough and Tallahassee

“Plantation is the best terms for the city of those three,” Parks said “We are in six jurisdictions now During the month of September there will be several more ”

The cameras will be installed at several intersections, school zone areas, or grade

crossings once the city completes a site analysis There is an initial term of five years with the option to extend one additional five-year period

It will be funded by funds collected through violation notices

Interim Assistant City Manager Mark Mason said the citation will be $100, $60 of which comes to the city and then pays the vendor for their turnkey services asso-

ciated with the camera He said the remainder is split as per state statute

The city will also receive $5 for retention and recruitment for crossing guards

A citation will be given for 10 miles per hour over the speed limit

Councilmember Keith Long said he was proud of the council to come together and approve the contract, as well as staff getting it across the finish line

City’s Oasis Charter Schools system reports across-the-board success

By MEGHAN BRADBURY news@breezenewspapers

com

continue to excel, according to a presentation by the superintendent during Wednesday’s Cape Coral City Council meet-

ing

Oasis Charter Schools Superintendent Jackie Collins said that all four schools wihin the municipal system received an A grade

“It should be noted in Lee County that only two high schools received a grade of an

A Oasis High was one,” she said

As far as student testing data, they far exceeded the scores that the state and Lee County earned in every testing category

“We did exceedingly better than our peers,” Collins said

The charter schools were also named Schools of Excellence, as their proficiency reached 80% or higher with its students

The graduation rate, Collins said was at 100%, as the final remaining student just fin-

ished a test

As an organization, they are always looking into continuous improvement, she said Under student achievement, they are striving to work on promoting career and college readiness through a systemic system to increase student engagement; increase the level of rigor and practice strategic teaching practices aligned with K-12, so all students are successful beyond high school when they choose to go into the workforce, or enter col-

lege

“It’s not just the administrative team It’s the teachers, students, and bus drivers, and food service workers, receptionist, paraprofessionals, and parents It takes a village to educate a child properly and we do that efficiently and effectively in the City of Cape Coral We continue to do good things and hope to be more successful in the future,” Collins said

Disaster Recovery: Lee County allocates $229 million via grants

From page 1

flood control

■ Planning Initiatives, $4 million

This will go towards supporting recovery and resilience continuity planning, business community resilience planning and emergency communications planning

“ R e c e i v i n g C D B G - D R ( C o m m u n i t y D e v e l o p m e n t Block Grant-Disaster Recovery) funds for these projects is

a significant step forward for the City of Cape Coral,” Emergency Management & Resilience Director Ryan Lamb said in an email “These grants will provide critical financial support to help us enhance our infrastructure and community services, ensuring greater resilience and preparedness for future disasters The projects are designed to improve public safety, emergency response, and disaster

recovery capabilities across the city This is once in a generation funding and these projects will have generational impacts

“We are grateful for the opportunity to use these grant funds to better prepare our community for future challenges These projects are part of our ongoing commitment to enhancing public safety and resilience in Cape Coral We look forward to working with our residents and stakeholders to ensure these initiatives are successfully implemented, providing lasting benefits for our city ”

In addition to project awards, Lee County will allocate more than $10 million for county-provided services in the city:

■ Cape Coral EMS Base/Safe Room, $10,073,439 96

Although the Cape Coral EMS Base/Safe Room project is a county project, it will improve emergency medical services by providing a fortified space that ensures our first responders can operate safely and efficiently during extreme weather events, Lamb said

The approval benefits about 20 public facility and infrastructure projects throughout Lee County

The money is from a U S Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Community Development Block Grant – Disaster Recovery allocation to Lee County

The projects were unanimously recommended by the Public Facilities and Critical Infrastructure Evaluation Committee

Lamb said the CDBG-DR funds will directly support the planning, design, and construction of these vital projects.

“For the Community Recreation Center and Disaster Shelter, the funding will allow us to build a multi-purpose facility that services both as a community hub and a safe haven during emergencies,” he said “Lastly, the weir

enhance our stormwater management systems, reducing the risk of flooding and mitigating potential damage during heavy rainfall ”

T h e U S D e p a r t m e n t o f H

n g a n d U r b a n Development, in early 2023, announced it would allocate $1 1 billion for the Community Development Block Grant – Discovery Recovery funds to support long-term recovery efforts to Lee County following Hurricane Ian’s landfall on Sept 28, 2022 The funds could be used for housing, infrastructure, economic revitalization, public services and planning that were affected by Hurricane Ian The grant must be used for at least 70% for low-to-moderate income households

Other projects for Lee County include:

■ Pine Island Fire Station 2, $5,033,395 85

■ North Island Water Tower and Facility Project, Fort Myers Beach, $4,681,844 90

■ Salvation Army Center for Hope Campus, City of Fort Myers, $13,093,500

■ Resilient Communications Towers, Lee County, $15,124,062

■ Parks & Recreation Revitalization, Fort Myers Beach, $8,336,753

■ S T A R S Expansion and Category 3 Hurricane Shelter, City of Fort Myers, $11,495,337

■ CoFM Wellfield Expansion, City of Fort Myers, $14,988,750

■ LCEC Cherry States, Lee County, $792,300

■ R a g s a l e / P e n n s y l v a n i a / A r r o y a l

Improvements, Bonita Springs, $21,000,000

■ Moss Marina Booster Pump Station Relocation, LCU/Fort Myers Beach, $14,850,000

■ Broadway Avenue West Improvements, Estero, $15,315,470

■ Countywide Drainage Improvements, Lee County, $11,050,000

■ Satellite Shop replacement and underground fuel tank replacement, Lee County, $6,000,000

■ Shelter hardening and generator installation, Lee County School District, $8,000,000

■ FISH of SANCAP building elevation, hardening, and associated site improvements for $6,990,194 24

■ Sanibel Fire Station 171 for $9,142,388 24

■ R

$12,460,000

According to a release from the city, the funding will go before City Council for award acceptance

BUSINESS

BUSINESS BRIEFS

Kaduk selected for Gulfshore Business 40 Under 40 for 2024

Sanibel Captiva Community Bank’s Rachel Kaduk has been named a 2024 Gulfshore Business 40 Under 40 honoree The award recognizes Southwest Florida rising stars who have made a unique contribution through their careers and in their communities, as well as a commitment to enriching the areas where they live and work.

Kaduk joined the bank in 2020 as an interim loan operations specialist to assist with the Small Business Administration Payroll Protection Program She was instrumental in helping to administer the program, which resulted in the bank securing over 1,100 loans for businesses, independent contractors and nonprofits totaling close to $110 million and helping save nearly 10,000 Southwest Floridians jobs She quickly earned a permanent position as a residential loan coordinator responsible for reviewing loan applications and preparing mortgage files for delivery to underwriting This April, she was promoted to residential loan officer in the bank’s Bridge Branch location at 9311 College Parkway.

To learn more, visit sancapbank com

SWFL Inc.'s State of the Region Tuesday

SWFL Inc recently announced that Richard Stern, director of the Grover M Hermann Center for the Federal Budget at The Heritage Foundation, will be the keynote speaker at this year’s State of the Region event to be held Tuesday, Sept 10, from 8:30-11 a m , at the Hyatt Regency Coconut Point

With over seven years of experience as a congressional staffer, Stern has been a pivotal figure in shaping federal budget policies H is leaders hip w ithin the Republican Study Committee was instrumental in crafting the FY 2020 and FY 2022 federal budgets.

Stern will address critical issues surrounding the federal budget, the broader economy, and the key drivers of innovation He will also share strategies for fostering innovation in both regional leaders and stakeholders

Tickets can be purchased at swflinc com/2024-stateof-the-region For any inquiries or if you are interested in sponsorship opportunities, please feel free to contact Katy Johnson, SWFL Inc 's events and programs manager, at Katy@SWFLinc com

REIS to host Real Estate Symposium

“Recovery and Sustainable Growth” is the focus of the 2024 Real Estate Symposium, presented by Real Estate Investment Society in partnership with Lutgert College of Business at Florida Gulf Coast University

The annual half-day workshop takes place Sept 19 at FGCU

Sessions include:

■ Live Local Act opportunities and conditions, Ryan Benson, Florida Housing Finance Corporation

■ Zoning Impacts on Housing Affordability, Nolan Gray

■ How to Finance Affordable Housing, Marcia Davis, Fort Myers CRA; Joe Bonora, Catalyst; Michael Allen, ReVital Development Group; and Patrick Russell, Bank OZK

■ CDBG-DR Funding to spur development, Glen Salyer and Jeannie Sutton, Lee County

■ Government Initiatives for Affordable Housing, Steven Kurk, Rural Housing; New Housing Alliance

■ The way forward in 404 Permitting, Kate English, Pavese Law Firm; Heather Samborski, Passarella & Associates; Tony Cameratta, Cameratta Properties; Col Brandon Bowman, U S Army Corps of Engineers

The symposium will begin at 8 a m and conclude at 12:30 p m Thursday, Sept 19, in the Cohen Center ballroom at Florida Gulf Coast University. Admission is $50 for REIS members and $70 for all other interested persons There is no charge for FGCU students or faculty Registration is required at www reis-swfl org REIS information and program schedule are available at www reis-swfl org -

SEPTEMBER 6, 2024

JP Sports Collectibles to participate in Topps Hobby Rip Night Sept. 14

By CJ HADDAD cjhaddad@breezenewspapers com

A Cape Coral sports memorabilia and trading card superstore is taking part in a global event next Saturday, with countless discounts, specials and free items for lovers of the hobby

JP Sports Cape Coral on Sept 14 is ticipating in Topps Hobby Rip Night, sp sored by Topps/Fanatics, with the aim draw card lovers, kids and families close the hobby they love, or have been wanti to explore

The all-day event from 10 a m to p m will see 15% discounts off all Top hobby boxes, and 25% off all Topps sin gle cards

There is also the chance that a specia guest appearance could be made by an athlete

“We're extremely excited to be able to host this amazing event,” said JP Sports s t o r e m a n a g e r J o n a t h a n P o w e l

“Collectors and customers of all ages get to enjoy an entire day of festivities This will be an event unlike any other in the history of JP Sports Collectibles Everyone will want to attend to be a part of the very social and global event ”

Anyone who purchases a Topps hobby or retail box is eligible for a free Topps Hobby Rip Night pack (one per customer) A raffle is taking place all day (for those who purchase a Topps product) with the prize including a JP Sports $100 gift card.

Perhaps most fun of all, “Pack Wars” will go down from 6-7 p m , where free packs are given out all hour long For the first 30 minutes, JP Sports will conduct Trivia Pack Wars, with the last 30 minutes being Classic Pack Wars

“For all those who haven't done Pack Wars before, it's a very fun and social activity to participate in,” Powell said “It will be fun for all ages ”

No matter what sport you collect, heading out to JP Sports for this event is an advantageous way for hobby lovers to experience discounted products, and a good time

“On the collecting side of things, hobby boxes don't go on sale very often, so when they do, customers can find some great deals and save a ton of money,” Powell said “For a customer who has never been to a hobby shop, let alone a superstore like JP Sports, you will be blown away by not just the inventory, but the passion that, not just the

customers, but employees have for the hobby Shopping at a JP Sports is very nostalgic for a lot of our customers who came in as children, and now sharing that experience with their children This event is bringing the community together for a common reason, and that's their love for collecting and the shop they've been going to for over 30 years ”

Rip Night is very much a social event, and JPs will be active on social media all day along with Topps They are bringing in extra help all day long, with 4-8 p m anticipated to be the busiest time of the day

Powell said JPs partnership with the global brand has only strengthened over he years, as the superstore is a one-stophop for all Topps products.

“I feel like our partnership with Topps as grown a significant amount over this ast year,” he said “We actually know ur sales reps by name We see them in e store, have monthly meetings and you ally get to know them and you feel their ssion for the hobby They want the cusmers to have a great experience just like do Topps really wants their accounts to ceed, and these events are such a great y to celebrate the shop through this event share an experience with our customers on a level that hasn't been seen before.”

Powell added that what's great about this event is the fact that it can draw in those that have been collecting for decades, as well as those who have been thinking about joining the hobby Rip Night could be a great way to become familiar with sports cards, especially Topps products

“It’s fun for both,” he said “The sales will bring in the seasoned card collectors and they can enjoy all the other extras that the day has to offer For first-time collectors, they will be blown away by not just the event but the store itself Our hope is that more people gain interest in collecting cards after the event concludes. JP Sports has always been a great place to talk cards, sports and comics, and we don't want that ever to change ”

JP Sports will also be promoting its live breaks on TikTok, which are coming in October of this year

For information on Topps Rip Night and JP Sports, visit www jpsports net or visit its social media pages

JP Sports Cape Coral is located at 2323 Del Prado Blvd , S , Suite #10, just north of the Veterans Memorial Parkway overpass

Slipaway Food Truck Park & Marina under construction in Cape Coral

A one-of-a-kind experience coming soon to Cape Coral, Slipaway Food Truck Park & Marina, is now under construction at 1811 Cape Coral Parkway, E , at the foot of the Cape Coral Bridge

The family-friendly waterfront destination will feature outdoor fun and entertainment, 10 food trucks, 30 boat slips, a fuel dock and more The space will accommodate regular seating for 300 guests and up to 500 guests for special events The concept aims to celebrate all that Southwest Florida has to offer including live music, shady outdoor seating pavilions and a nod to the endangered smalltooth sawfish, a Caloosahatchee River native

The first part of construction included dredging Mandolin Canal, installing a new seawall, establishing foundations for all eight buildings and structures and beginning ground-up work on the Central Pavilion, which will offer 154 seats and a waterfront bar Now, teams are beginning construction on the Ship’s Store behind the

fuel dock, which will offer grab-and-go beverages and Slipaway merchandise The park will also feature a 120spot parking lot and 1,370 feet of boardwalk paths It’s slated for completion in spring 2025

“We are proud to celebrate all that makes the Cape a great place to live, work and play as we embrace yet another exciting opportunity to enhance the region’s growing list of food and entertainment options ” said Gary Aubuchon, owner of Slipaway Food Truck Park & Marina

Slipaway received 140 applications from both local and out-of-state food trucks for its 10 available food truck stations Applications are still open for food trucks offering seafood, and barbecue cuisine The list of selected food trucks will be announced in the coming months

For additional information and the latest updates on the project, visit SlipawayCape com or email info@slipawaycape com

Lee BIA Builders Care, Leadership Cape Coral partner on home improvements for Cape homeowner in need

Lee BIA Builders Care, the nonprofit charitable arm of the Lee Building Industry Association, recently partnered with the Chamber of Commerce of Cape Coral for a landscaping and outdoor maintenance project to benefit a local Cape Coral family

Twenty-four volunteers from the Chamber’s 2024 Leadership Cape Coral class, as well as the city of Cape Coral Code Enforcement Office’s Tammy Whitaker and members of Builders Care, recently gathered to complete work on Yolonda Arroyo’s home The team of volunteers pulled weeds, mowed the lawn, created a low-maintenance garden area, pressure washed the exterior of the home and driveway and installed a new mailbox

Arroyo has faced a series of unimaginable challenges in recent years In 2021, she lost her husband of 44 years to COVID-19, and soon after his passing, she received a breast cancer diagnosis Despite these hardships, Arroyo has been raising her two grandchildren while trying to maintain her home on her own However, the physical and emotional toll made it increasingly difficult for her to keep up with the demands of home maintenance

Whitaker initially visited her home to address her overgrown yard and the home’s exterior discoloration Taking the time to listen to her story and recognizing her need for help, Whitaker reached out to Builders Care on her behalf With a mission to provide emergency construction services at no cost to needy and deserving elderly and/or disabled homeowners, and their families, who cannot obtain repairs through traditional means in Lee County, Builders Care was able to partner with the Chamber’s Leadership Cape Coral class to help alleviate Arroyo’s burden

“It was a special day to bring our volunteers and supporters together to complete these home improvements for the Arroyo family,” said Leigh Cloud, executive director of Lee BIA Builders Care “Projects like these are a big blessing to families in our community who are challenged with home maintenance needs, and we are thankful for community partners like the Chamber of Commerce of Cape Coral to provide a helping hand ”

When the transformation was complete, Arroyo and her family were full of gratitude and happy tears She made sure to hug every volunteer to show how thankful she was,

proclaiming with pride that “this is my home!”

“Leadership Cape Coral is a 13-week program that educates participants about the components that make up Cape Coral, and for the past several years, we have partnered with Builders Care as a way to help our members learn the importance of being involved in the community,” said Donna Germain, president and CEO of the Chamber of Commerce of Cape Coral “We are so proud to be able to provide this gift to the Arroyos, and seeing this sweet family’s reaction was a truly impactful moment for us all ”

Since 2005, Builders Care has helped nearly 500 individuals and families by providing A/C repairs, wheelchair ramps, roof replacements, remodeling projects and other critical repairs that allow deserving elderly and/or disabled homeowners, and their families, to live safely and comfortably in their own homes Projects are made possible through generous donors and community partners who provide labor and materials to bring a project into reality

For more information about Builders Care and its mission, visit LeeBuildersCare org

Golden Marine Systems helping restore Salty Sam’s Marina on Fort Myers Beach

Golden Marine Systems, in conjunction with Gorman Marine Construction, is making significant progress in the restoration of Salty Sam's Marina on Fort Myers Beach, following the devastation caused by Hurricane Ian in September 2022 The hurricane's destructive force left the marina in ruins, but Golden Marine Systems, known for its high-quality dock systems, has been instrumental in bringing the marina back to life

Recently, Golden Marine Systems completed the installation of the new D-Dock, featuring their innovative 850 Series dock system The dock is equipped with Endeck Ashwood decking, known for its durability and low maintenance The system also includes 12-inch adjustable cleats, pile guides and finger piers, all designed

to provide a robust and versatile docking solution This state-of-the-art system is built to withstand harsh marine conditions while providing a safe and user-friendly environment for boaters

With D-Dock now installed, work on C-Dock is underway. The ongoing efforts at Salty Sam's Marina represent another step in the broader restoration of the marina and the Fort Myers Beach area The project is part of a larger initiative to rebuild and enhance the region's waterfront infrastructure, making it more resilient against future storms

Golden Marine Systems' involvement in the restoration underscores its commitment to supporting communities affected by natural disasters The work at Salty Sam's

Marina is not only about rebuilding but also about strengthening the local boating community and fostering a sense of renewal and hope in the wake of Hurricane Ian Mike Shanley, president of Golden Marine Systems, stated that the company is very proud to have been chosen to replace the marina and looks forward to the completion of the project, and while the marina restaurant and activities remain open during construction, the resumption of public boating activities at this landmark marina

Golden Marine Systems is located in North Fort Myers at 17611 East St For more information about the company and its comprehensive range of marine solutions, please visit www goldenmarinesystems com or call 239337-4141

9/11: City of Cape Coral to host remembrance event at City Hall

From page 1

“During the Cape Coral 9/11 Remembrance Ceremony, we will come together as a community to honor the memory of the innocent lives lost on September 11, 2001 and reaffirm our commitment to the solemn promise that ‘we will never forget’ by staking 2,977 American flags, each one representing a precious life lost, in the front lawn of City Hall,” Russell said “This ceremony serves as a reminder of the resilience, unity, and strength that define our great Nation It is an opportunity for us to stand together in solidarity and pay tribute to those we lost and honor those who with dignity and courage made the ultimate sacrifice to help others ”

The terrorist attack on the United States reshaped the path of the nation moving forward, and tragically, nearly 3,000 people lost their lives and still many feel aftereffects today

Of the nearly 3,000 who perished, 343 were FDNY firefighters and 71 were law enforcement officers

“As we approach 9/11, we honor everyone who was impacted by the terrorist attacks at the World Trade Center, Pentagon and in Pennsylvania,” said CCPD Public Affairs Officer Lisa Greenberg “We honor the memory of the fallen heroes who gave their lives to save others during those attacks, and we honor those who are dying from illnesses related to 9/11 The City of Cape Coral, along with our department and the Cape Coral Fire Department, is hosting 9/11 Remembrance Ceremony to reaffirm that we will never forget that tragic day and we invite everyone to join us ”

The community is an integral party of the city service, officials said

"The City of Cape Coral is honored to host the 9/11 Remembrance Ceremony each year to pay tribute to the nearly 3,000 lives lost and to honor the brave first responders who risked their lives,” said city spokesperson Kaitlyn Mullen “This event is about remembering the past and coming together as a community to reflect on the resilience and unity that emerged in the aftermath of the

IF YOU GO:

What: Cape Coral 9/11 Remembrance Ceremony

When: Wednesday, Sept. 11, at 8:30 a.m.

Where: On the lawn in front of City Council Chambers, 1015 Cultural Park Blvd

attacks

“We encourage the public to attend to show solidarity and support for those who continue to be affected by the events of Sept 11 It’s an opportunity to express our gratitude and to remind ourselves of the importance of community and service ”

City Hall is at 1015 Cultural Park Blvd

Legion Riders Chapter 136 to host 9/11 remembrance ceremony

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A m e r i c a n L e g i o n R i d e r s T h e M a t l a c h a / P i n e I s l a n d F i r e C o n t r o l D i s t r i c t , L e e

C o u n t y E M S a n d L e e C o u n t y S h e r i f f D e p a r t m e n t w i l l b e h o n o r e d

e g i o n H o n o r G u a r d s , a m o m e n t o f s i l e n c e , a n i n v o c a t i o n , r e m a r k s f r o m C o m m a n d e r A u s t i n W h i t e , w i t h c e r e m o n i a l r a i s i n g o f t h e f l a g b y

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

R e f r e s h m e n t s w i l l b e a v a i l a b l e . T h e P i n e I s l a n d A m e r i c a n L e g i o n i s a t 4 1 0 6

S t r i n g f e l l o w R o a d , M M 2 , S t J a m e s C i t y ,

KLCB accepting applications for Youth Environmental Leadership Program

Keep Lee County Beautiful Inc is

Environmental Leadership Program The program is open to all Lee County high school students and seeks to infuse the youth voice into KLCB programs and build on the model of youth leadership

This is a unique opportunity for high school students from diverse backgrounds to participate in a service-learning and l

Members will contribute to and inform KLCB on programs while acting as ambas-

sadors and leaders for youth service at their schools and in their communities The KLCB Environmental Leadership Council provides young people with a unique opportunity to be drivers of their own ideas from conceptualization to implementation and reflection

The members will engage in creative

diverse settings across the county, often going behind the scenes on exclusive tours of local municipalities The students will be conducting local stewardship service

projects, and leading KLCB youth and community events while acting as a service-learning ambassador in the community

https://bit ly/KLCB YouthCouncil and the first meeting is tentatively scheduled for Sept 10 Additional information can be

involved/youth-advisory-council/ or email Jenn@klcb.org.

About Keep Lee County Beautiful, Inc Keep Lee County Beautiful, Inc , estab-

lished in 1989, is the county’s largest volunteer-based community action and education organization This local nonprofit forms public-private partnerships and programs that engage individuals to take greater responsibility for improving their community environments

infor-

Facebook @KLCBInc or Instagram @keepleecountybeautifulfl

Indicted: 2 teens arrested in shooting death to be tried as adults

From page 1

The SAO stated the maximum penalty the young men will face with the new charges in the indictment is life in prison Due to being juveniles, they are not eligible for the death penalty

The indictments against both Stein and Horne read in part: "On or about March 17, 2024, in Lee County, Florida, did unlawfully, from a premeditated design to effect the death of a human being, or while engaged in the perpetration of, or in the attempt to perpetrate a robbery with a deadly weapon, to wit: a firearm, kill and murder the victim, a human being, by actually possessing a firearm, and shooting her with a firearm, and during the commission of said offense caused the death of the vic-

tim "

Horne Jr was arrested on April 17, a month to the date of Rincon-Miller's murder Stein was arrested March 19

According to the Cape Coral Police Department, which was the investigating entity, Rincon-Miller was shot while walking to get food with two friends after seeing a movie at the Coralwood Mall on March 17

The incident occurred after a car pulled up behind the girls and blinded them with its lights on An occupant or occupants jumped out and tried to rob the trio before one fired, striking Kayla in the chest The other two girls were not injured.

The car then fled southbound on Southeast 16th Place

Rincon-Miller was conscious and alert when police arrived Despite lifesaving efforts by arriving officers and medical personnel, including the application a militarygrade compress, she died after being trauma-alerted to the hospital Stein and Horne remain in the Lee County Jail

Assistant State Attorneys Sara Miller and Andreas Gardiner, both, of the State Attorney’s Office Homicide Unit, are prosecuting the case

Lake Kennedy Racquet Center memberships top 700

Early signups already exceed projections for the whole year

By CJ HADDAD cjhaddad@breezenewspapers.com

Cape Coral's newest state-of-the-art tennis and pickleball facility has garnered quite a bit of attention in its first week of operation

The Lake Kennedy Racquet Center features 32 pickleball courts, 12 tennis courts, and opened Aug 28, offering a range of amenities for racquet sports enthusiasts of all levels

Since welcoming players to the grounds, the Lake Kennedy Racquet Center has seen membership numbers skyrocket

As of Wednesday, there has been a total of 230 individual memberships, 266 couple memberships, 128 family memberships, and seven junior memberships, resulting in more than 700 racquet sport enthusiasts joining up

The early sign-ups have blown membership predictions out of the water, Tom Stegeman, general manager of the Lake Kennedy Racquet Center, said the center budgeted for 625 memberships its entire first year open

“And they’re still coming,” he said “We haven’t even hit season yet It’s been great The reception has been great ”

The opening coincided with the center’s first tournament, the United Pickleball State Championship Series, which drew players from across the state to compete and ran until Sept. 1.

“It was ideal the opening happened in conjunction with the tournament, because the place was bustling, and there were a lot of players here,” Stegeman said “Everything all around has been great ”

Located in the heart of Cape Coral, city officials say the Lake Kennedy Racquet Center is “redefining excellence in racquet sports, both in Florida and across the nation

“Boasting cutting-edge facilities tailored for top-tier tournaments, this center is one of the grandest outdoor court parks in the state, establishing itself as the ultimate hotspot for pickleball and tennis lovers alike ”

Stegeman added that the biggest appeal to players is the venue itself and what it can offer

“People have a place where they can finally play with their friends, play with their peers, and play at the appropriate levels,” he said “They don’t have to wait for courts It’s organized It’s not just show up and hope you can get a decent game, it’s show up and be put in a decent game I think a lot of people are chomping at the bit to get the evening leagues going People love their pickelball Being able to have structure is part and parcel to it, but I think from an auxiliary standpoint they see the value to it They see what pricing they're going to get in the pro shop They see what programming they're going to get along with just the use of the courts.’

One piece of the puzzle that has yet to become operational is the venue’s concessions Stegeman said he expects it to open within a couple of weeks

To celebrate the opening, Lake Kennedy Racquet Center is offering a limitedtime discount of 50% off all annual memberships for the first year This registration period will be valid for the first two months of operation After this initial registration period, the fees will revert to normal rates Veterans and first responders who are residents of Cape Coral see a 20% discount on any membership in perpetuity (discounts cannot be combined)

Membership options (prices listed are full price, not including any discounts):

■ Annual Memberships: Individual at $250, Household Couple at $350, Household Family at $500, and Junior at $100

■ S e m i - A n n u a l Memberships: Individual at $125, Household Couple at

“People have a place where they can finally play with their friends, play with their peers, and play at the appropriate levels. They don’t have to wait for courts It’s organized It’s not just show up and hope you can get a decent game, it’s show up and be put in a decent game I think a lot of people are chomping at the bit to get the evening leagues going. People love their pickelball Being able to have structure is part and parcel to it, but I think from an auxiliary standpoint they see the value to it. They see what pricing they’re going to get in the pro shop. They see what programming they’re going to get along with just the use of the courts."

Tom Stegeman, general manager of the Lake Kennedy Racquet Center

$175, Household Family at $250

■ Monthly Memberships: Individual at $25, Household Couple at $35, Household Family at $50

Non-Cape Coral residents will be subject to initiation fees: $100 for annual memberships, and $50 for semiannual and monthly memberships

“We're already having a lot of players come from outside of Cape Coral,” Stegeman said “The beauty of the complex is the variety of play that you’re able to get You're going to improve day-in-and-day-out by playing different people, and people of different levels They're getting that here Once people are here and expense it, it’s kind of hard to not walk away from here and say, ‘OK, I get it ’”

New registrations for memberships will be available at www playlakekennedy com or alternatively in person at the Lake Kennedy Racquet Center

The center offers a variety of lessons, clinics, and camps for all ability levels, as well as paddle and racquet rentals In addition, the facility features a fully stocked pro shop with playing equipment and apparel, making it a one-stop venue for all Tennis and Pickleball lovers and players

Lake Kennedy Racquet Center is at 420 S W 2nd Avenue

general manager

Kennedy Racquet Center, is happy with membership signups thus far The center, which offers tennis and pickleball courts, opened last Wednesday

MARK CLIFFORD

Tom Stegeman,

of the Lake

Gag grouper anglers hampered by short season, daily rains

Southwest Florida gag grouper fans have it rough in more ways than one Not only are they faced with a short 15-day total season, but their time is shorted even more by near daily afternoon rain events

After all this time I should know better to predict anything in this life, especially the weather, but an early Saturday run out to your favorite near and offshore numbers may be your safest and possibly driest time to bring home your prized gag or red snapper for dinner

Gag grouper closes to harvest on the 15th of this month while the 6th through the 8th marks the second in a weekend series of open red snapper harvest opportunities continuing through to Thanksgiving Check the FWC website for any and all regulations and details.

With lots of email inquiries concerning grouper trolling, here are a few tips to get your rod deeply bent Trolling can be productive using a variety of techniques from simply dragging large, deep-diving plugs over hard bottom structure, to using planers or downrigger systems

Large, deep divers are generally effective down to 40 feet Depth control depends on how much line is out, braided or mono lines, boat speed, current and lure design Planers can get your baits down to productive depths without the use of large lipped plugs, allowing the use of alternative baits like jumbo curly tail grub and jig head combos or other soft plastic swimbaits Simply tie on a planer to your main line then attach a 10 to 20-foot leader to the planers' other end Tie the lure to the leader end and start the boat moving

Three to six mph seems to be the general response from most when asked about trolling speeds Successful trollers obviously know where the bottom structure is, natural or manmade, know their electronics and how to accurately interpret what they are seeing on the screen, know what depth their plugs are running and how much line is out to achieve the desired depth Skipping a big plug over some hard bottom at the right speed without getting hung up may very well result in a line ripping, rod bending, power strike and a fat gag grouper this brief September season

Tarpon seem scattered more than ever with Boca Grande to Venice worth a look for coastal anglers The deep holes in Charlotte Harbor are semi-productive one day and lonely the next, but there are always some in and around the passes to spend time chasing Never overlook area bridges, especially at night, which can provide the tarpon adventure of a lifetime Lots of juvie tarpon action right now in area canals but be warned, it’s never easy to fool them on lures and flies If you’re into a lite tackle angling challenge, baby tarpon are the fish to try and fool Highly addictive angling and most often very frustrating

There's lots of snook on the smaller side along the beaches and area mangrove shorelines A surprising number of pompano reports are popping up so break out your brightly colored Goofy Jigs and go hunting. Make a morning run out to your favorite nearshore numbers and get hooked up to a pompano's big cousin, the permit Approach quietly then cast a small crab into a school and hang on Fish from 5-50 pounds are possible

Inshore, seatrout are still moaning about the hot weather and now, the daily rains keep changing the salinity which has them even more upset and on the move,

See GAG GROUPER, page 37

State pickleball champions crowned at new Lake Kennedy Racquet Center

By CJ HADDAD cjhaddad@breezenewspapers com

A first-of-its kind pickleball tournament was held at Cape Coral's newest venue over the weekend, as more than 300 players turned out to be crowned a Florida State Champion

The Lake Kennedy Racquet Center opened last Wednesday for members and non-members to enjoy all it has to offer, while simultaneously being the home for the United Pickleball Association Florida State Championship Series, presented by Southern Pickleball, which drew players from across the state to compete from Aug 28 to Sept 1

The tournament was booked for the facility long before the opening date, giving the city even more incentive to showcase the brand new venue

“It was amazing,” said Matt Spackman, co-founder of Southern Pickleball, on how the tournament played out “The facility is just incredible It's one of the top facilities we've been to anywhere in the country They just did everything right when they built it It's a great place to play We had a great week ”

This was the inaugural UPA State Championships, which Southern Pickleball partnered with to put on the event

“It was incredible,” said Lake Kennedy Racquet Center General Manager Tom Stegeman of the tournament “I feel like we didn't miss a beat It was so well-ran, so kudos to Southern Pickleball ”

The tournament featured various age brackets and was broken down into skill levels, all while competitors from across the state vied for top spots in both singles, doubles and mixed action Participants who secured a medal are now eligible for a discounted registration fee to the United Pickleball World Championships to be held in Dallas, Texas.

“We had players from beginner to advanced, with our youngest player being 14, and our oldest over 80,” Spackman said “We had youth to adult in all skill levels, and everyone came together and had a good time That's one of the really cool things about pickleball, it just brings people of all ages together, and you see grandparents playing with grandkids -- it's just really cool for the community ”

Top winners in each category qualified for the afore-

Wednesday Volleyball

Mixed Doubles

3 5

Champions

Emiro Lopez and Laura Foy celebrate their title at the Lake Kennedy Racquet Center

MARK CLIFFORD

mentioned tournament, as well as the Southern Championships this upcoming January in Macon, Georgia, which will be held at the world's largest indoor pickleball facility, Rhythm & Rally

“We thought that was really cool, because we felt that Cape Coral was the nicest outdoor facility that we've been to, now they get a chance to qualify for the nicest indoor facility we know of,” Spackman said “Plus, they are the first-ever Florida State Champions That's something that can never be taken away from them ”

Lake Kennedy features 32 pickleball courts and 12 tennis courts, and boasts cutting-edge facilities tailored for top-

See PICKLEBALL CHAMPIONS, page 37

PREP REPORT

Canterbury 3, Oasis 0: It was the first non-tournament loss of the year for the Sharks (8-2), 25-14, 25-22, 25-19 Vanessa Moriarty had 11 kills and Jordan Baksh added 8, while Sarak Mikulus made 13 digs for Oasis Canterbury moved to 5-0

Girls Swimming

Charl otte 171, Oasis 100

200 medley relay: 2 Oasis (Amanda Saiz, Skye Persechino, Brianna Box, Evelyn Case) 2:12 74 200 free: 1 Skye Persechino (O) 2:02 60 200 IM: 2 Amanda Saiz (O) 2:39 58 100 butterfly: 1 Skye Persechino (O) 1:05 59 100 free: 1 Amanda Saiz (O) 1:02 17 500 free: 2 Brianna Box (O) 7:26 20 200 free relay: 2 Oasis (Isabella Appleby, Liniana Perez, Addy Pate, Evelyn Case) 2:17 28 400 free relay: 2 Oasis (Saiz, Pate, Box, Persechino) 4:25 80

Boy Swimming

Charl otte 157, Oasis 123

200 medley relay: 1 Oasis (RJ Brugal, Zach Poskon, Loir Chkour y, Cole Lager) 1:49 52 200 free: 1 Lior Chkour y (O) 2:01 37 200 IM: 1 Zach Poskon (O) 2:06 66 100 butterfly: 2 Lior Chkour y (O) 58 76 500 free: 1 Zach Poskon (O) 5:07 02 200 free relay: 2 Oasis (Nolan Lachermeier), Gabriel Fessel, James Wagenhoffer, Zach Fetzer) 2:02 17 100 back: 2 Lucas Quintana (O) 1:12 12 400 free relay: 1 Oasis (Lager, Chkour y, Brugal, Poskon) 3;37 88

Tuesday

Girls Swimming

Cape Coral 114, Gateway 9, Island Coa st 7

200 medley relay: Cape Coral (Ale Figueroa, Alexa Ferro, Emma Best, Dayanna Franklyn) 2:09 53; 200 free: Alexa Ferro (CC) 2:14 60; 200 IM: Sabrina Lara (CC) 2:32 44; 50 free: Dayanna Franklyn (CC) 28 03; 100 butterfly: Dayanna Franklyn (CC) 1:12 02; 100 free: Emma Best (CC) 58 19; 500 free: Sabrina Lara (CC) 5:35 19; 200 free relay: Cape Coral (Best, Lara, Ferro, Franklyn) 1;56 86; 100 back: Ale Figueroa (CC) 1:11 21; 100 breast: Terezia Mihaly (CC) 1:37 92; 400 free relay: Cape Coral (Ava Romine, Mihaly, Elise Meyers, Sophia Muschiana) 4:32 23

Boy Swimming

Cape Coral 126, Gatew ay 13

200 medley relay: Cape Coral (Hayden Tedhams, Jaidon Albers, Aayden Dugan, Mack Menassa) 1:57 12; 200 free: Hayden Tedhams (CC) 1:57 15; 200 IM: Aayden Dugan (CC) 2:09 34; 50 free: Mack Menassa (CC) 26 90; Diving: Reily Rountree (CC) 201 25; 100 butterfly: Aayden Dugan (CC) 58 43; 100 free: Jacob Lehman (CC) 1:02 17; 500 free: Hayden Tedhams (CC) 5:05 21; 200 free relay: Cape Coral (Nolan Best, Carlos Heredia, Lehman, Albers) 1:54 17; 100 back: Maverick Bailey (CC) 1:20 56; 100 breast: Jacob Albers (CC) 1:17 80; 400 free relay: Cape Coral (Marco Guba, Menassa, Dugan, Tedhams) 3:52 58

Boys Bowling

B i s h o p V e r o t d . E a s t L e e C o u n t y , f o r f e i t : C J Carranza rolled a 225 game and Seamus Murray had a 215 to lead the Vikings (3-0)

Girls Bowling

Bishop Verot d. East Lee County, forfeit: Mia Brooks had a 168 game and Sienna Gasperini a 163 as Bishop Verot improved to 3-0

Volleyball

North Fort Myers 3, Estero 0: In a hard-fought 2520, 25-22, 26-24 Red Knights win, Anna Byrne had nine kills and Mya Boyd-Kiphart added 8 Aliyah Santiago had 11 digs and 15 assists, and Harley Mendez made 10 digs Cape Coral 3, East Lee County 0: Cape (6-3) rolled to a 25-10, 25-15, 15-23 road victory

Bishop Verot 3, Imagine School North Port 0: The Vikings (6-2) completely dominated the match, 25-6, 257, 25-2

Mariner 3, Island Coast 0: The win lifted the Tritons to 2-3 on the season

Capt George Tunison

Pickleball champions: Lake Kennedy Racquet Center hosts event

From page 36

tier tournaments

Stegeman said he and his staff received nothing but positive input from tournament attendees

“There were two things we got from everyone,” Stegeman said “Shock that we had only been open literally days before -and that's a testament to our staff here We had our share of behind-the-scenes trials and tribulations, but to the people playing, it was seamless

“And as far as facility goes, it was, ‘Wow, we've never seen anything like this ’ Because they haven't They're playing in facilities half the size They're playing in tournaments that have multiple venues They're playing in tournaments that take the

MARK CLIFFORD

Eric Stratman lobs the ball over the net during the tournament.

entire day to format ”

The partnership worked out so well, there's already discussions for Southern Pickleball to return this winter.

“We're already talking about a December date, coming back here for a Christmas tournament,” Stegeman said “They were happy with it We were happy with it -- thrilled with (Southern Pickleball) ”

Spackman added, "Lake Kennedy is just an amazing place The people were great there, and we can't wait to be back ”

UPA Florida State Champions included: Men’s Doubles

Steve Neff & Charles BurgerSkill:(3 0) Age: Combined (60+, 70+)

Alexis Flores & Carlos RiveroSkill:(3 5 & 4 0) Combined Age: (35 And Above)

Breno Pessanha & Jake Dinoto -

Skill:(3 5) Age: (15 And Above)

Eddie Beyer & Rafael MaldonadoSkill:(3 5) Age: (50 And Above)

Terry Adelman & Jeffrey MeherSkill:(3 5) Age: Combined (60+, 70+)

Michael Oranksy & David PinskySkill:(4 0 & 4 5) Combined Age: (4 0 60+, 4.0 70+, 4.5 60+)

Dilan Scargle & Chris Pruitt - Skill:(4 0) Age: (15 And Above)

Germaine Mcfarlane & Andreas Gardiner - Skill:(4 0) Age: (50 And Above)

Peter Thompson & Steven GoodmanSkill:(4 5 & 5 0) Combined Age: (4 5 18+, 4 5 35+, 5 0 18+, 5 0 35+)

Martin Pickup & Donald Hopper -

Skill:(4 5 & 5 0) Combined Age: (50 And Above)

Men’s Singles

Chris Young - Skill:(3 0 & 3 5)

Gag grouper: Season, weather

From page 36

seeking comfort

Best inshore bet this month is our early showing redfish which are schooling up, being seen and being caught With so many reports of early schools, pods and single,s Red October may soon be known as Red September Sight fish them on lower tides

with lures and flies and, as always, follow them under the bushes when the water rises with dead and live baits

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

Ovarian cancer: Symptoms, signs

From page 20

A genetic blood test called the BRCA gene test can help determine if a patient has an inherited mutation When mutations in those genes develop, there’s an increased risk of breast, ovarian and other cancers BRCA stands for BReast CAncer gene About 3% of breast and 10% of ovarian cancers result from inherited mutations in the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes

A positive or negative result can help determine a patient’s needs and health management The BRCA gene test can also help patients better understand their health A positive result does not diagnose any disease; it tells you if you carry the gene muta-

tion that increases your risk A negative BRCA test doesn't guarantee you will not get cancer It means your risk is likely the same as the general population

If you think you’re a candidate for the BRCA test or would like more information, make an appointment with your physician by visiting www leehealth org

If you experience any potential ovarian cancer symptoms that aren’t normal for you and don’t go away after two weeks, please make an appointment with a physician as soon as possible

Dr Edward Grendys is a gynecologic oncologist with Lee Health

Space: Give plants room to grow

From page 19

will stay low under windows and live for decades Here is my short list: Indian hawthorne, Mrs Schiller's Delight (a dwarf Walter’s viburnum) and dwarf yaupon holly I am trying out horizontal cocoplum, which is quite wide but not tall I even found a ground cover that lasts for years, looks like holly with red berries, and only g e t s a b o u t 6 i n c h

h i g h : q u a

r y (Crossopetalum ilicifolium) It is a Florida native plant that likes to grow in our soil

Combined Age: (18 And Above)

Edward Eicher - Skill: (3 0 & 3 5) Combined Age: (50 And Above)

James Yi - Skill:(3.0) Combined Age: (60+,70+)

Drew Thomas - Skill:(3 5) Age: (35 And Above)

Keith Pomrenke - Skill:(3 5) Combined Age: (60+, 70+)

Paul von Saman - Skill:(4 0 & 4 5) Combined Age: (35 And Above)

Dilan Scargle - Skill:(4 0) Age: (18 And Above)

Chuck Jacobs - Skill:(4 0) Age: (50 And Above)

Robert Hunter - Skill:(4 0) Age: (60 And Above)

Donald Hopper - Skill:(4 5) Combined Age: (50+, 60+, 70+)

William Schneider - Skill:(5 0) Age: (18+, 35+, 60+)

Women’s Doubles

Heidi Strefling & Caroline RichardsSkill:(3 0) Combined Age: (18+, 50+)

Linda S Cook & Nancy CoronaSkill:(3 0, 3 5, 4 0 4 5) Combined Age: (60 And Above)

Laura Foy & Lauren Ziebell - Skill:(3 5) Combined Age: (35+, 50+)

Clarke Rankowitz & Ashley NatiSkill:(3 5, 4 0, 4 5) Combined Age: (3 5 18+, 4 0 18+, 4 5 50+)

Womens Singles

Lauren Ziebell - Skill: Combined (3 0 & 3 5) Age: (18+, 35+)

Susana Bustamante - Skill: Combined (4 0 & 4 5) Age: (18+, 50+, 60+) Mixed Doubles

Leslie Rowan & Ken JeffersonSkill:(3 0) Age: Combined (60+, 70+)

Carrie Paul & Ruben CarreraSkill:(3.0) Combined Age: (15+, 35+, 50+)

Haley Ovenhouse & Daniel McIntyre II - Skill:(3 5) Age: (15 And Above)

Laura Foy & Emiro Perez - Skill:(3 5) Age: (35 And Above)

MARK CLIFFORD

Hannah Stevenson returns a serve during the pickleball tournament

Claire Sweeney & John SmithSkill:(3 5) Age: (50 And Above

Mary Anne Bartholomew & Byron Higgins - Skill:(3 5) Age: Combined (60+, 70+)

Claire Rankowitz & Chris Pruitt - Skill: (4.0) Age: (18 And Above)

Lisa Caulfield & Wolfie Wolf - Skill: (4 0) Age: Combined (60+, 70+)

Debra Pawlowski & Gary Wilson - (4 0) Combined Age: (35+, 50+)

Stacy Rodman & Jorge RodriguezSkill: (4 5 & 5 0) Combined Age: (4 5 35+, 4 5 50+, 5 0 18+, 5 0 35+)

New registrations for memberships are available at www playlakekennedy com or alternatively in person at the Lake Kennedy Racquet Center at 420 S W 2nd Ave

CAPE CORAL ANIMAL SHELTER

Looking for a loving home

full of shells and sand May all your plants grow just the right size!

Mark your calendar: Tropical Plant sale at Rotary Park in Cape Coral, Saturday, Oct 19

Sherie Bleiler volunteers at the Cape Coral Library Butterfly Garden and is past president of the Garden Club of Cape C

ral com and like us on our Facebook page

Galway is a 1 to 3-year-old male He is a big dog with an even bigger heart, and he's got so much love to give He will admit, he still needs some training, but with the right guidance, he knows he can be the best companion ever If you’ve got room in your heart and home, and you’re up for caring for a large breed like him, he thinks you could be a perfect match! Loki and Hafthor are 1 to 3-year-old bonded males Loki is a bit on the shy side and tends to look to his brother Hafthor for confidence and reassurance They have been together their whole lives, and Loki feels much braver when Hafthor is around Hafthor is absolute love once he

gets to know you and enjoys gentle pets and affection from his humans They would love to go to a forever home together, where they can continue their special bond!

If you are interested in meeting any of the animals available for adoption at The Cape Coral Animal Shelter, visit its website at www capecoralanimalshelter com for additional information The shelter is located at 325 S W 2nd Ave , Cape Coral, and hours of operation are Tuesday and Thursday, noon to 5 p m , and Friday through Sunday, noon to 4 p m

Please call 239-573-2002 for additional information

Loki and Hafthor

Galway

Cape Coral Breeze Athletes

Week of the

(Selected

by the Breeze Sports staff)

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Saturday,Sept14th at10:00am Previewat9am

2244NW15thTer CapeCoralFL

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Sat,Sept7th-Sun,Sept8th 8amto3pm 3304SE8thAve (offCountryClub)

HumongousEstateof BeautifulAntiqueLenox China,FentonGlassware, Carnival&ColoredArt Glass,Clocks,Jewelry& early1900ásCollectibles. Over50pcsof FranciscanApplePottery. KingSleighBedroomset, WhiteCottageBedroom set,LeatherSofas& Victorianmarbletables. Youwonátbelieve thissale! Donátmissit!

Pictures: facebook.com/RedBarnCapeCoral

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Obituaries Death Notices

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