Pine Island Eagle by BreezeNewspapers

VolumE 48, NumbEr 20

Island Bikeworks on the move and staying put!

Business now offering tours in season

By PAULETTE LeBLANC pleblanc@breezenewspapers.com

Island Bikeworks owner Judd Payne said after five years the business had outgrown its former location and it was simply time to relocate to a bigger place

“We’re committed to staying here staying on the island. The kids have gotten heavily involved with the business,” Payne said

Payne shared that his daughter, Kaelyn, 21, who is working on a master’s degree in accounting, runs the front desk and is in charge of all rentals, ads, Facebook and marketing, while his son, Kody, 18, is now a fulltime head mechanic

While the Paynes have owned a lot across from their previous location for the past few years, he said, the process of building there became too difficult

“It wasn’t the county, it was just dealing with engineers, surveyors, general contractors,” Payne said

After meeting all the requirements on the new building project, Payne said he went back to request necessary changes and eventually he tired of having to chase those necessary for the job After two years and approximately $100,000 invested in a project leading to seemingly nowhere, he decided the best course of action was simply moving on After keeping one eye on the building for a time, Payne said, he was satisfied their new location would work fine in comparison to the headache he’d been dealing with in trying to build something new

See ISLAND BIKEWORKS, page 14

The sign at Island Bikeworks in Bokeelia. PHOTOS SUBMITTED BY JUDD PAYNE

Celebrating Pine Islanders: Luretta Wilson

By PAULETTE LeBLANC pleblanc@breezenewspapers com

Wilson said she would describe herself as a very hard worker who loves the restaurant business Her family, she said, are some of Pine Island’s pioneers, having made their way to the island before the 1930s

Her immediate family’s journey began when her father came, almost unwillingly, to Pine Island on a fishing trip, and, much to his surprise, did not want to leave when the trip was over He came back, not long after, this time willingly, and brought Wilson’s mother, she said Wilson’s parents found work, running the pier and the local fish house, which would begin a life of hard work for her family on the island

Wilson planted her own flag at Capt’n Con’s, in 1995, with the restaurant becoming a favorite eatery to many islanders and daytrippers She has made her way through disasters such as Hurricane Charley and Hurricane Ian, in addition to her own personal issues. A few years ago, Wilson fell and broke her hip and since then, she said, it’s been one thing after another

“I can still do prep work, but for years and years I cooked Until the last year or so, I would go and do dishes for hours, I would bus tables I don’t ask my

See LURETTA WILSON, page 14

From left above are Stephanie Dodge, Luretta Wilson and Rachel Wilson

Residents association making upgrades to clubhouse, swimming pool at Flamingo Bay

The Flamingo Bay Residents Association is in the process of doing upgrades to the swimming pool and landscaping around the Flamingo Bay Clubhouse on Curlew Drive in St. James City. The pool has been completely resurfaced after repairing leaks, resealing fixtures and replacing tiles

The work was contracted through Chuck Navy and his company SolutionFx Work began Sept 3 Dozens of new plants were added around the clubhouse and pool enclosure to beautify the facility

Flamingo Bay is a community on Pine Island with water access to Pine Island Sound, the Gulf of Mexico and the beaches of North Captiva and Cayo Costa The Flamingo Bay Residents Association is a volunteer organization that provides social connections, activities, events and amenities to its members, the Flamingo Bay community and Pine Island

See FLAMINGO BAY, page 14

PHOTO PROVIDED The upgraded pool and deck area provided by the Flamingo Bay Residents Association

‘Post Ian Garden Restoration’ topic of Garden Club meeting

Island Garden club, at its monthly meeting beginning at 9 a m at the Fishers of Men Lutheran Church, will again host Jenny Evans, who will discuss challenges and successes of post Hurricane Ian efforts on

Recommendations will include selecting the most resilient native plants, pruning and preparing your landscape for future storms Packed with undergraduate and graduate degrees in the garden management field and a resume of work with botanical gardens and environmental edu-

serves as the Native Landscapes and Adult

Captiva Conservation Foundation, which

Island's Calusa Land Trust

Garden Club mission includes the protection and conservation of natural resources, encouraging island beauty and stimulating the study of the fine art of gardening Its civic duties include the creation and maintenance of the grounds at Philips Park, Museum of the Islands, Bokeelia Post Office, Kiwanis Children's Park and the butterfly garden at Pine Island Elementary School It produces the annual Garden Gala, the proceeds from which are utilized

CROW and the Pine Island Food Pantry.

Kendall at 239-283-8175

MCA to host Hurricane Ian recovery event on

The Matlacha Civic Association will be hosting the second annual Hurricane Ian recovery event Saturday, Sept 28, at 6 p m , at the RE/MAX Sunshine office at the corner of Pine Island Road and Island Avenue, Matlacha

This year’s theme is the butterfly, as the islands are in recovery and transforming into beauty

There will be live music, recognition o f c o m m

Sept. 28

Angel Awards, along with a guest speaker. Local artists have hand-painted butterflies that will be displayed the night of the event Over 300 LED butterflies will be lit in honor of our courage, strength and transformation of the islands

Please join the MCA and island community in this uplifting evening

For more information on the MCA, visit https://matlachacivic org/

‘We

will never for get!’ A m e r i c a n L e g i o n Riders Chapter 136 Pine Island held an annual 9/11 Rememb

honoring the dedication and sacrifice of all first responders over the past 23 years.

PROVIDED

PHOTOS

OPINIONS

Publisher Raymond M Eckenrode reckenrode@breezenewspapers com

Executive Editor

Valarie Harring

vharring@breezenewspapers com

Editor Paulette LeBlanc

pleblanc@breezenewspapers com

Advertising Director

Laurie Ragle

lragle@ breezenewspapers com

Advertising Sales

Charlene Russ cruss@breezenewspapers com

Design & Layout

Chris Strine

cstrine@breezenewspapers com

Obituaries Debbie Carletti

obits@breezenewspapers com

Subscriptions

Circulation (239) 574-1936

Classified Advertising (239) 574-5644

Display Advertising (239) 283-2022

Web Poll

■

Current Web Poll Question: Does continuous off-island development along Pine Island Road concern you?

■ Yes, the road is our only access to the island

■ Only when it encroaches too close to the islands

■ Not really

■ It’s gonna happen, what can you do?

Share your opinion at pineisland-eagle com

Sizzle, savor and support with Sizzle Dining

“Dine with purpose ” It’s the motto of Southwest Florida’s premier culinary event of the year, and a call to action for folks near and far to try something new for the benefit of local children

Sizzle Dining, now a three-week-long dining extravaganza in September that features a record-breaking 114 restaurants representing Collier, Lee and Charlotte counties, began in 2016

Year after year, Sizzle has grown substantially Participating restaurants create prix-

dishes that showcase the creativity and culinary genius of local Southwest Florida chefs and restauranteurs

Diners can participate in the Sizzle Dining excitement for lunch, dinner, or new this

restaurants offer the Sizzle menu for dinner or for both lunch and dinner This year, a few restaurants are offering a Sizzle lunch menu only The complete list of restaurants and menus are laid out at SizzleDining com, in addition to the three easy steps to participate

One constant is the impact that people can make by participating in Sizzle Dining 2024

One dollar from each meal purchased from a Sizzle menu will be donated to Blessings in a Backpack of Southwest Florida Over the past three years, Sizzle Dining’s participat-

Florida Blessings in a Backpack uses these

Vote for Kari Lerner — replace Donalds as representative for Florida's 19th congressional district

To the editor: Byron Donalds is an insurrectionist who voted against the certification of the 2020 election and refuses to commit to the peaceful transfer of power in the next election

He:

■ co-sponsored a bill to rescind subpoenas of Steve Bannon and three other Trump supporters who were held in contempt of congress

■ c o - s p o n s o r e d t h e N a t i o n a l L i f e a t

Conception Act legislation to make abortion illegal under all circumstances across the nation

■ signed onto Project 25, the threat to democracy game plan of Republicans to impose an ultra- conservative social vision

dollars to fill backpacks with nutritious food for food-insecure elementary school students to eat over the weekend when school-provided meals are unavailable Over the past three years, Sizzle Dining has helped more than 700 local children by ensuring 25,000

meals ”

“When you hear ‘Southwest Florida,’ many people think wealth and luxurious l

l i a S t Arnold, executive director of Blessings in a Backpack of Southwest Florida “However, one in six children in Southwest Florida are deemed ‘food insecure ’”

According to Blessings in a Backpack, children that are well fed have better test scores, behavior, reading skills and attendance rates

When their bellies are full, their brains are ready to learn. By simply going out to eat, diners can make a real impact within the community, and it’s not just local students that benefit from Sizzle Dining

S e p t e m b e r i s t r a d i t i o n a l l y o n e o f t h e slowest months of the year in Southwest Florida It’s a period of time when summer vacations have come to an end and seasonal residents aren’t quite ready to head back

Letters to the Editor

for the U S

■ earned an F grade from the Children’s Defenses Fund, voting NO on most legislation to protect women and children.

■ v o t e d a g a i n s t f u n d i n g f o r S o c i a l Security and Medicare

■ co-sponsored four bills hostile to the LGBTQ+ community

■ neglected and stalled post-Ian tax legislation

■

reduce gun violence, government regulation

Consumer Financial Protection bureau, and clean energy legislation efforts

■ failed to disclose over 100 stock trades he made, totaling up to $1 6 million

Florida born and raised, Kari Lerner is an experienced legislator and innovative businesswoman who inspires others to engage in respectful governance Her priorities reflect

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 mailed to: Pine Island Eagle, 10700 Stringfellow Road, Ste 60, Bokeelia, FL 33922; e-mailed to pineisland@ breezenewspapers com; posted to our Virtual Newsroom at www.breezenewspapers.com or faxed to 283-0232. All letters and guest columns must be signed and must contain a phone number for verification purposes. You also can comment on any letter or editorial opinion online at: pineisland-eagle com

industry suffers from low

report the opposite

“Last year was our first time participating in Sizzle Dining and we had the best September we’ve had in years,” said Jamie

L a Fontanella Ristorante in Bonita Springs and Fort Myers and B

year, all three of our restau-

Sizzle ”

All diners need to do is go o n l i n

restaurants, make a reservation and enjoy It’s also a great opportunity to try a new restaurant and have some fun

In addition to lunch and dinner, for the first time in Sizzle history, six themed popu p

Saturday and Sunday at six different restaurants

From an English Tea Party themed brunch

there’s something for everyone to enjoy

To learn more and to find a list of particip

SizzleDining com

Guy and Erin Clarke are the founders and organizers of Sizzle Dining

the preferences of southwest Florida voters: reproductive rights, housing, seniors’ retirement, health care, clean water, a secure southern border, education. She has experience passing bipartisan legislation Send Kari Lerner to Washington for us!

Mary Lewis Sheehan St James City

Vote Mucarsel-Powell

To the editor:

Debbie Mucarsel-Powell will be a senator for All Floridians

The cost of living is skyrocketing in Florida As an immigrant who worked her way through school at minimum wage jobs, Debbie Mucarsel-Powell understands daily financial struggle In contrast, Senator Scott is a billionaire who will cut Social Security and Medicare and give additional tax cuts to the very wealthy

Debbie Mucarsel-Powell knows that the decision to have an abortion must be made between a woman, her family, and her doctor She will protect every woman’s right to m a k e t h e d e c i s i o n t h a t i s b e s t f o r h e r Extremist Rick Scott cosponsored a national abortion ban and enthusiastically supports the Florida six-week abortion ban, which would mean that abortion would become illegal before most women even know they are pregnant Debbie Mucarsel-Powell trusts Floridians to make their own health care decisions.

Debbie Mucarsel-Powell knows that for

Guy Clarke Guest Commentary

Bursting at the seams: Lee County Schools’ capital funding crunch

D a y A n d w h i l e t h e p a r e n t s a r e b u s y f i gu r i n g o u t s l e e p s c h e d u l e s , L e e C o u n t y

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p a c k e d d i s t r i c t T h e p r o j e c t e d n u m b e r s s p e a k f o r

t h e m s e l v e s B y n e x t y e a r , L e e C o u n t y

S c h o o l s e x p e c t s a n i n f l u x o f 2 , 4 2 7 n e w

s t u d e n t s B u t t h a t ’ s j u s t a w a r m - u p I n t h e n e x t d e c a d e , a s t a g g e r i n g 2 4 , 6 7 5

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l i k e l y w o n d e r i n g w h y t h e l u n c h l i n e s a r e

s o l o n g . W i t h c u r r e n t c a p a c i t i e s a l r e a d y

b u r s t i n g a t t h e s e a m s , L e e C o u n t y

S c h o o l s i s s t a r i n g d o w n a l o g i s t i c a l n i g h t m a r e I m a g i n e t r y i n g t o f i t a s i

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

From page 4

C a p i t a l f u n d i n g i s w h a t t u r n s r a w p r o j e c t i o n s i n t o

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m o n e y t h a t b u i l d s n e w

s c h o o l s , e x p a n d s c u r r e n t

o n e s , a n d m a k e s s u r e

t h e r e ’ s e n o u g h r o o m f o r e v e r y f u t u r e v a l e d i c t o r ia n , c l a s s c l o w n , a n d s c ie n c e f a i r c h a m p . B u t f u n d i n g d o e s n ’ t j u s t a p p e a r l i k e m a g i c i t t a k e s s e r i o u s i n v e s t m e n t f r o m t h e s t a t e , l o c a l g o ve r n m e n t s , a n d c o m m u n i t y

s t a k e h o l d e r s B u i l d i n g a s c h o o l i s n ’ t

c h e a p ( n o r s h o u l d i t b e )

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m a k e f o r a w e l l - r o u n d e d e d u c a t i o n P l u s ,

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s t r u c t u r e , t e c h n o l o g y , a n d t h e k i n d s o f

a m e n i t i e s t h a t s u p p o r t 2 1 s t - C e n t u r y

l e a r n i n g C a p i t a l f u n d i n g e n s u r e s a l l o f

t h a t , p l u s a c u s h i o n f o r f u t u r e g r o w t h , i s

Letters to the Editor

Manatees on the move

On Monday, Labor Day 2024, I was working on my boat at the dock at Tarpon Lodge and saw a few manatees feeding just off the dock One of my colleagues who runs the Cabbage Key boats stopped to tell me that he has seen multiple young manatees returning to the area

As our dry season is returning and water temperatures will begin to cool, manatees are returning to our local rivers, bays, canals, estuaries and coastal areas Manatees move

f r e e l y b e t

d brackish waters Our waters provide

aquatic vegetation that are the manatee’s primary diet Manatees cons u m e u p t o 1 0 % o f

r b o d y weight in grass every day Hence, the nickname “sea cow ”

As the manatees are on the move, they have no leader or herd structure They are not territorial and have evolved with no significant natural predators There is no official scientific term for groups of manatees unlike dolphins who live in pods

Manatees are usually seen alone, in pairs or in small groups of six or less When manatees do gather in larger groups, it is usually because they are sharing habitat like warm water and shared food sources These informal gatherings are called aggregations

Mating groups are informal gatherings and are seen in shallow, nearshore waters They are typically composed of one female who is pursued by a group of several males These groups may stay together for hours or even days, but are not in danger of stranding, even though it may appear that way They are just having fun on the beach!

Watch for manatee zones that are located where manatees live or travel regularly or seasonally Anyone convicted of violating state law faces maximum fines of $500 and/or imprisonment of up to 60 days Conviction for violating federal protection laws is punishable by fines up to $100,000 and/or one year in prison

Captain Cathy Eagle has spent over 40 years boating on our local waters As a professional charter captain, she specializes in dolphin and nature tours Visit CaptainCathy com or call /text 239 994-2572 Welcome aboard!

American Legion Post 136 family donates school supplies to Pine Island Elementary

In a heartwarming display of community support,

American Legion and American Legion Auxiliary recently joined forces to provide much-needed school supplies to Pine Island Elementary School The donation drive, which took place over the summer, concluded with the delivery of backpacks, notebooks, pencils, and other essentials just in time for the start of the new school year

The initiative is part of the American Legion’s ongoing commitment to supporting local youth and education. The American Legion Auxiliary, in particular, has long been a champion of educational outreach, with a focus on fostering academic success for students of all ages

“This donation is

Ryzanych “We believe in supporting our local schools and providing children with the tools they need to succeed ”

The American Legion, along with its Sons and Auxiliary, remains an integral part of the Pine Island community, consistently working to uplift local veterans, their families, and other residents through various charitable initiatives

With the school year now underway, Pine Island Elementary students will be well prepared, thanks to this thoughtful act of kindness from the American Legion family

Capt Cathy Eagle Dolphin Tales

PHOTO PROVIDED

Legion Post 136 donating needed supplies to Pine Island Elementary.

Grandparents’ Day held at Pine Island Elementary

Grandparents’ Day was celebrated at Pine Island Elementary School Monday, Sept 9 P I E welcomed grandparents and grandfriends on campus to honor them There were lots of smiles, laughter and hugs!

Dr Galbreath shared that “It was a special time to have grandparents on our campus. Everyone had a great time visiting and making memories together!”

Inaugural Peace Day Pine Island Saturday at SJCCA

Peace Day Pine Island, an effort to “cultivate a culture of peace,” will be held Saturday, Sept 21, from 10 a m to 4 p m , at the St James Civic Association

Hosted by Sacred Souls

L L C a n d T h e P e a c e

C o t t a g e , i s l a n d e r s a r e invited and urged to bring their loved ones, friends a n d n e i g h b o r s f o r t h i s first-ever island event.

P e a c e D a y P i n e I s l a n d will feature over 40 vendo offering a variety of items including unique jewelry, clothing, art, readings and more, along with, according to event organizers, "a diverse variety of culinary treats in our food truck row "

Raffle drawings will be held every hour with prizes valued form $30 to $125 and a grand prize giveaway of a twot stay at the historic Tarpon odge valued at over $500

A food drive to support the Pine Island Food Pantry will also be held

Matlacha Hookers and its

n Scholarship Program

Sponsors for the festivities include Nourish Your Soul, Mobile Healer, the Bears Den Apothecary, Karma

There will be live music throughout the day including performances by Calypso Magic, Kerri Moore, Dan Cook and others, with emcee Issac Holeva

A free children's area will include face painting, scavenger hunt and take-home creations

Adventures, Peace Guitars Co , MRW Law Group, Honc Industries and Rare Mangos & Exotic Fruit

sacredsoulsllc@gmail com

The SJCCA is located at the corner of Lemon Street and 4th Avenue in St James City

PHOTO PROVIDED

From left, Elsie Stearns, Georgia Smith and Scott Stearns on Grandparents Day at Pine Island Elementary

‘Voices and Votes: Democracy in America’ exhibit opens at Cape Coral-Lee County Public Library

By CJ HADDAD cjhaddad@breezenewspapers com

5 0 years of government has arrived at the Cape Coral-Lee County Public Library this Friday

Opening Friday, Sept 13, “Voices and Votes: Democracy in America” will be on d

immerse themselves in The free exhibition is part of the Smithsonian Museum on M

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

“Lee County Library System staff are

“The exhibit offers people the time to pause and reflect on America’s nearly 250-year-old democracy and all the things we have in common It provides a simple, free way for visitors to take a unique look at the history of voting and how we elect our representatives ”

Mindi Simon, director, Lee County Library System

incredibly proud and excited to have been selected as one of just five libraries in Florida to host the ‘Voices and Votes: Democracy in America’ exhibit,” said M

Library System “Having the support of both Lee County and Florida Humanities to promote this part of United States history is a real privilege ”

morning featured brief remarks by Lee

County commissioners and other officials, followed by the first look at the display. In addition to the Smithsonian exhibit, the installation will include local history and

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

“The exhibit offers people the time to pause and reflect on America’s nearly 2

things we have in common,” Simon said “It provides a simple, free way for visitors to take a unique look at the history of voting and how we elect our representatives ”

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

Simon said all in the region should pay a visit to learn and take part in the series while it’s here

“The library is located in the community. People naturally come to take advantage of the library’s services,” Simon said “Having the display here, available for free, is a wonderful opportunity for people to take their time to absorb the history Plus, if they have a question about anything they see, there are librarians avail-

able to help them dig in and learn even more ”

The multimedia display, available to the public from until Nov 8, features hist o r i c a l a n d

video, engaging multimedia and historical objects like campaign souvenirs, voter memorabilia and protest material

“We really appreciate the opportunity to work with local organizations,” Simon said “For this event, the Cape Coral M

Supervisor of Elections Office and the Lawrence Kearny Chapter of the National S

Revolution have brought amazing artifacts and materials, which gives added layers to the main display ”

This is the fourth of five stops, with the

Library from Nov 16 to Jan 11 in Lake County

“Voices and Votes,” based on an exhibition from the Smithsonian’s National M u s e u m

“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 museumonmain-

Florida Humanities, visit www floridahumanities org Support for Museum on Main Street has been provided by the U S Congress.

The Cape Coral-Lee County Public Library is at 921 Southwest 39th Terrace, off of Mohawk Parkway

FWC’s 2024-2025 Fish Art Contest begins

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, in partnership with Wildlife Forever, is hosting the 20242

youth from around the world to connect with nature and learn about fish and aquatic habitats while exploring creative art and writing

Since its founding in 1997, the Fish Art Contest has reached over 85,000 youth in 46 countries building future stewards of the outdoors

The free contest is accessible to students from kindergarten through 12th grade Each year, thousands of entries pour in from across the globe, reflecting

impact Florida students can submit their artwork to Wildlife Forever using the Florida Fish Art Contest entry form page One first place winner and one runner up will be selected for each grade bracket (

through 6th grade, 7th through 9th grade, and 10th through 12th grade), one for

species and one for the best saltwater fish species

The 2024-25 contest is open for submissions until Feb 28, 2025

Participants can find more information, educational resources, and submission guidelines at MyFWC com/FishArt

Blessing of the Animals to be held Oct. 5 at St. John’s

Episcopal

The Blessing of the Animals on Pine Island will be held Saturday, Oct 5, from 10 a m to noon at St John’s Episcopal Church

Co-sponsors of the special Pine Island

United Methodist Church, and C R O W Animal Rescue.

This is a free event, just bring your pet and join the fun

St John’s Episcopal Church is at 7771 Stringfellow Road, St James City For more information, contact the church at 239-283-5439

SJCCA Schedule

St James City Civic Association has announced the following upcoming events and activities

Thursday, Sept 19

■ Ping Pong, 9-11 a m This is a fun way to meet the neighbors and play ping pong

■ Mahjongg, 1-4 p m This is a great place to learn to play mahjongg!

Tuesday, Sept 24

■ Ping Pong, 9-11 a m

A d d i t i o n a l d e t a i l s , c o n t a c t s a n d ticket sales are available on the SJCCAPI ORG website

All activities are held at St James City Civic Association at 3300 Fourth Ave , at the corner of Lemon Street, in St James City

VFW Post 4353 delivers pizzas to first responders on 9/11

On Wednesday, Sept 11, the Greater Pine Island VFW Post 4353 honored the island's first responders with a delivery of pizza and drinks, continuing a tradition started four years ago by the VFW Post in St. James City. Members of the post and auxiliary delivered pizzas and drinks donated by Sam's Club on Pine Island Road. This is also the second year including the firefighters from the fire department of Useppa Island. The VFW hopes first responders where glad to receive the pizzas and felt a special connection with the VFW as a result of this recognition of their efforts and sacrifices. The first responders are a professional group that was evident during and after Hurricane Ian. Islanders are fortunate to have them as part of the Greater Pine Island family

Lee County Parks & Rec to host National Public Lands Day celebration

Lee County Parks & Recreation invites visitors and residents to explore Prairie Pines Preserve, 18400 N Tamiami Trail, North Fort Myers, from 9 a m to noon, Saturday, Sept 28, to celebrate National Public Lands Day at a free, family-friendly event

The event will feature guided hikes, a Touch-A-Truck experience, and information on recreation opportunities at public

lands managed by local, state, and federal a

Florida region Visitors will also be able to learn about community services and volunteer opportunities

National Public Lands Day was establ i s h e d a s a d e d i

d d a y f o

p u

l i c engagement on public lands, whether volunteering on a workday or recreating at a park or preserve

tion2020@leegov com, or call 239-5335313

o u t L e e County Parks and Recreation locations, volunteer opportunities, or amenities and special events: visit www leeparks org, call 239-533-7275, email leeparks@leegov com

PHOTO PROVIDED

It’s redfish inshore and grouper offshore

H a r b o r a n d P i n e I s l a n d

S o u n d M o s t o f t h e l a r g e r ( o v e r 3 0 i n c h e s ) f i s h w e r e c a u g h t a l o n g b a r e d g e s o r

a r o u n d d o c k s n e a r t h e p a s s -

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Surprise!

Gag grouper season is closed two weeks after it opened Captain Bill Russell and granddaughter Ellie with a couple good gags caught before season closed. They went for live pinfish in 50-foot depths west of Redfish Pass.

PHOTO PROVIDED

Capt. Bill Russell On the Water

Island Bikeworks

From page 1

“I decided I’d rather have something that’s already built and ready to move into where we could do all the work ourselves, too, instead of hiring people to have it done So we pulled the trigger about 6 weeks ago,” Payne said

After moving into the new building, the family did whatever was necessary to make it into more of a bike shop on the inside and re-landscaped the outside, he explained There is soon to be a completed mural on the side of the building by artist Ashley Johnson

A local clothing line carried exclusively by Island Bikeworks is Mangrove Republic, by islander Dave Conner. They have expanded their rental fleet, Payne said, including both standard and EBike rentals and now Island Bikeworks offers seasonal EBike tours of Pine Island on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays The approximate 4-hour tour includes several local farms, as well as a stop to see the work of Bokeelia artist Jeff Abbott and some Pine Island history

To sign up for the seasonal tour, go to or call Island Bikeworks

“We’re invested in the island We’re here to stay and so it was time to buy a place with more space and get it set up so we’re able to serve people better,” Payne said Island Bikeworks is at 10571 Stringfellow Road, Bokeelia For more information, call 239-560-0320

The inside of Island Bikeworks in Bokeelia.

Wilson From page 1

employees to do anything that I wouldn’t do myself,” Wilson said

In the time since she has owned Capt’n Con’s, Wilson has seen many restaurants come and go, she said She has learned an important part of being a successful business owner, in a place where the seasons are a factor means

you can’t just make your money in the busy season and then spend it You have to pay your bills, she said, or you’ll never make it to next season. Wilson said she has made a habit of paying everything she can ahead of time

Her strategy, for life in general, seems to be working hard and getting things done, as Wilson said, playing games was never her thing Before any health problems presented themselves, Wilson said, she would work 16 hour days if necessary

“Whatever it took to keep the restaurant going,” Wilson said

Her love for Pine Island shines most brightly in the friends and connections she’s made in the years she’s served both publicly and in private Making her customers happy has always been a priority for Wilson, she said, adding that her response will always be immediate, if she is made aware of any issue More than that, she said, if anyone asks her to do anything she is capable of doing, she is happy to do it, such as helping with annual fishing tournaments or providing food for memorial services

“If anybody asks me to do anything, I do my best to do it,” Wilson said

In order to keep up with the times financially, Wilson said she has had no choice but to raise prices, something she has not done in years Although she understands that folks hate change, she found that it was unavoidable Fortunately, Wilson said, there are other restaurant owners and managers with whom she enjoys fellowship. She has told every restaurant owner she knows that if they need something that she has, she would be happy to help “I believe in restaurants helping each other and not stabling one another in the back or hoping somebody else will fail If you don’t have time to run into town to grab something, just come and ask me, and bring it back when you can,” Wilson said

Above everything else, through the years, Wilson said she is thankful that Pine Island has supported her and that she believes she is one of the oldest local restaurant owners

“We have to depend on each other, because even though we get a lot of people in from out of town, we still get a lot of local business I am very thankful for all the local support I’ve had for a l l t h e s e y e a r s , ” W i l s o n said Capt’n Con’s is at 8421 M a i n S t , B o k e e l i a Y o u can contact the restaurant for additional information at 239-283-4300

From page 1

Like many in Southwest Florida and Pine Island, the F l a m i n g o B a y R e s i d e n t s Association is still in the process of recovering from Hurricane Ian Numerous activities were resumed in January 2024 Upcoming a c t i v i t i e s a n d e v e n t s a r e being planned which will be open the public as well a s m e m b e r s , i n c l u d i n g bingo, line dance classes and ice cream parties Some past events can be viewed on the association Facebook page

Luretta

Cat of the Week

Elyssa

This 8-year-old beauty is very much a princess. She asked us to let you know that her beautiful calico coloring looks amazing in almost any setting Sitting next to you on the sofa, draped at the foot of your bed or with her fur dancing in the breeze through a window Not only is she a stunning conversation piece, but she will even allow you to pet her. How generous! Her royal-ness asks that you not fight over her, just simply come and meet her. She's sure to choose you as her companion. For more information, call Helping Paws Animal

Parkway E, Unit D, St James City, FL, 33956 or there’s always o u r w e b

t e w w w h

Pine Island Road work update

BARTOW, Fla – This weekly report was prepared by the Florida Department of Transportation to inform the public about upcoming road work in Southwest Florida

Pine Island Road Causeway and Bridge Permanent Repairs:

Construction project: As part of the Emergency Restoration of the Pine Island Road Causeway and Bridge, crews will be working in the project boundaries along CR 78 Pine Island Road from west of Little Pine Island Bridge (Bridge No. 120111) to West of Shoreview Drive

■ Phase 1 of construction on Little Pine Island Bridge has begun The bridge is reduced to one lane as part of the Phase 1 construction plan The bridge will remain one lane through the duration of Phase 1 Temporary signals are placed on both ends of the bridge and variable message signs are in place to alert drivers

■ The Little Pine Island bridge has been reduced to a single lane width of 12 feet through the duration of Phase 1

■ Motorists are reminded not to block driveways or entrances and to follow all posted signage throughout the construction zone

■ Since the start of construction with the Little Pine Island Bridge, boaters are asked to be aware of construction equipment and erosion control measures that are in place

■ Please be alerted to construction equipment in the construction zone To maintain safety, motorists should find alternate parking areas.

■ Pedestrians and bicyclists are not permitted within the construction zone

■ Please use caution and watch for workers and construction vehicles entering and exiting the roadway

■ Noise from construction equipment in the area is to be expected

Motorists are asked to please be patient and plan for additional travel time as it may be slower than usual in the area

■ Motorists can expect occasional lane c

delivery/removal of materials, transfer of equipment as crews perform work on the south side

n gpawsanimalsanctuary.com. The Beacon of Hope is offering GED (high school or general equivalency diploma) classes C l a s s e s m e e t o n T u e s d a y a n d Thursday from 10 a m until 2 p m in the B e a c o n o f H O P E c l a s s r o o m a t 5 0 9 0 Doug Taylor Circle, St James City

Travelers can visit www FL511 com or dial “511” from their phone to learn about traffic conditions on major roadways across the state

Beacon offering GED classes

The Beacon can also study in other ways that will help individuals pass the four tests to get their diploma If you have any questions about the classes or want to just sign up, call Mary Lou at 239-565-7012

Cape Coral Breeze Athletes

Week of the

(Selected by the Breeze Sports staff)

REDBARN

HugeEstateSale Sat,Sept21st-Sun,Sept22nd 8amto3pm 2813SW38thSt (offSurfside)

2244NW15thTer

Housefullofbeautiful furnitureincluding fabulousbedroomsets, formal&casualdining sets,lovelyhomedecor, kitchenfull&lanai f urniture. Garageissofullyou wonátbelievethetools, Craftsmantoolboxes, lawntools&everything youcanimagineaman mightneed. Youwonátbelieve thissale! Donátmissit! Pictures: facebook.com/RedBarnCapeCoral