Pine Island Eagle

Greater Pine Island VFW Post 4353 provides lunch for local first responders

Beacon of Hope planning to put grant money to good use

By PAULETTE LeBLANC pleblanc@breezenewspapers com

Beacon of Hope board member Elsie Stearns wants to make it clear to islanders that although the Beacon was awarded a $500,000 grant from the Florida Disaster Fund to help Pine Island in its recovery f r o

Pine

Island

Kiwanis Club

installs new president and officers

By PAULETTE LeBLANC pleblanc@breezenewspapers com

Kiwanis Club District 19 Lieutenant Governor, Denny Sharma installed Pine Island Kiwanis Club’s new officers, i n c l u d i n g n e w p r e s i d e n t , C i n d y Bickford, at their installation dinner, Monday, Sept , 11, at the Fine Swine Restaurant, said outgoing Pine Island Kiwanis Club president Jayson Rider Rider’s one-year term as president of the Pine Island Kiwanis Club, which ends Oct 1, will by no means end his service to the organization, as he said, it is work that rewards him every time he sees a child’s face at an event or a high school student going off to college, as a result of scholarships funded by the organization Former president, Shawn Kinney, who also attended the installation dinner, was awarded as Secretary for distinguished service, and Jayson Rider for his outstanding service as President for 2022-

See KIWANIS, page 18

received the funds yet

“I think a lot of people are thinking that we have those funds and we don’t have those funds,” Stearns said, going on to explain that there is a 90 period given to allow the board time to plan for proper disbursement of funds

The weight of this responsibility has

b e e n t a k e n i n t o c o n s i d e r a t i o n b y t h e organization, she said, in that there has already been a task force put in place to ensure transparency and accuracy remain key factors in managing grant monies This task force, made up of community

Hook’d Up Bait Co & Art Gallery owners dream of mom and pop shop

By PAULETTE LeBLANC pleblanc@breezenewspapers com

Hook’d up Bait Co & Art Gallery opened on July 8 of this year In addition to offering necessary fishing tools, such as, live bait and tackle, the front of the store is an art gallery featuring local artists, said store owner, Brittney Bransfield

“It’s a neat combination, so the women stay busy shopping while the men get to buy all their fishing gear,” Bransfield said

After having had 4 feet of water, following Hurricane Ian, the previous tenants had no plans to stay and clean up the building This offered Bransfield and her husband Michael Dillevig a unique opportunity, since she had previous experience in the construction industry The couple was able to invest their own money and brought in a crew to do the necessary cleanup and work on the interior of the store to get the doors open Since they are both Pine Islanders, opening a bait and tackle shop, with the twist of artistry wasn’t a stretch for their imagination of a local business Formerly a full-time fishing guide, it was always Bransfield’s husband Michael’s dream to open a bait shop, she said After all the necessary cleanup following the hurricane, the couple found that they were ready financially to get into the store and open it

“We had a newborn recently, and once we had her, we took a leap of faith, and added the bait shop too,” Bransfield said

TOP PHOTO: Left to right: Shawn Kinney, J

Player /PHOTO PROVIDED BY CARLYN HERRING ABOVE: Award presented to Jayson Rider for his outstanding service as President for 20222023 /PHOTO PROVIDED BY JAYSON RIDER

See BEACON, page 18

PHOTO PROVIDED BY BRITTNEY BRANSFIELD

See HOOK’D UP, page 21

Florida Division of Emergency Management recognizes September as Florida Preparedness Month and historical peak of the Atlantic hurricane season

TALLAHASSEE, Fla – This week, Governor Ron DeSantis issued a proclamation declaring September as Florida Preparedness Month in conjunction with the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s “Ready” Campaign, National Preparedness Month The Florida Division of Emergency Management (Division) observes September as Florida Preparedness Month and focuses on the importance of Florida residents and visitors being aware of and preparing for natural and man-made hazards

“With one category three storm already making landfall this season, I implore residents to take time now to make a disaster plan, know their evacuation zone, and have a way to receive weather alerts,” said Division Executive Director Kevin Guthrie “September is the historical peak of hurricane season and your time to prepare

for the next storm that may impact our state is now ”

The Division continues to support ongoing response and recovery efforts in the Big Bend communities impacted by Hurricane Idalia by fulfilling missions and

household, including consideration of children, pets, and seniors Everyone in the household should assist in developing the emergency plan and understand the plan Visit FloridaDisaster org/PlanPrepare for more information

Centers To date, over

missions have been completed with

November 30, with September marking the historical peak of hurricane season During this time, every household and business is encouraged to take the necessary steps to finalize their disaster preparedness plans No-Cost and Low-Cost Preparedness Measures for Floridians:

∫ Make a Plan – Each household should have a disaster plan specific to the needs of everyone in their

∫ Have Multiple Ways to Receive Weather Alerts – Every household should have multiple ways to receive weather alerts and follow all directions from local officials Residents are encouraged to have a battery-operated or hand-crank weather radio to ensure they can continue to receive alerts from the National Weather Service in the event of power outages or damaged cell towers

∫ Know Your Zone, Know Your Home – It’s important for residents to know if they live in an evacuation zone, a low-lying, flood-prone area, a manufactured See PREPAREDNESS MONTH, page 19

Recognition of a job well done

On Sept. 11, Greater Pine Island VFW Post 4353 served lunch to the first responders on Pine Island and this year, Useppa Island. It has been become a tradition to honor these men and women for their service and sacrifices for our community. This year, Miceli’s Restaurant in Matlacha, donated the pizzas, and VFW, Auxiliary and Elks’’ members distributed the pizzas to the various stations for the fire fighters and sheriff's deputies to enjoy Although it is a small token of our respect and appreciation, it is recognition of a job well done Pine Island continues to recover from hurricane Ian after almost a year, and we grow stronger together. The VFW will always stand by our mission and our motto, "No One Does More for Veterans," and our community! Thanks to all who helped make this event successful

Pictured are (in no order) Chief Mickuleit, Captain Simer, Engineer Greer, Firefighter Robertson, Firefighter Saunders, Mike and H e a t h e r T h a t c h e r, D e b b i e H a y w a r d , B a r b a r a D e a n , J u d y H o p k i n s , To m Ferguson, Marty Eddy, Deb and Scott Huizenga.

PHOTO PROVIDED

The Matlacha Civic Association will be hosting an Ian Remembrance Ceremony

Thursday, Sept 28, at 6:45 p m , at the RE/MAX Sunshine office at the corner of Pine Island Road and Island Avenue.

There will be Color Guard from the Pine Island

T h e C h u r c h o f G o d o f P r o p h e c y w i l l b e h a v i n g a n o t h e r C h i c k e n D i n n e r o n O c t 1 4 D i n n e r w i l l b e t a k e o u t o n l y , n o d i n e i n T h e p r i c e i s $ 1 0 p e r d i n n e r F r i e d c h i c k e n , m a s h e d p o t a t o e s a n d g r a v y , c o r n o r g r e e n b e a n s , d i n n e r r o l l , a n d d e s s e r t . C a l l y o u r o r d e r i n t o 2 3 9 - 2 8 3 - 2 1 2 8 a s s o o n a s p o s s i b l e , q u a n t i t i e s

American Legion Post 136, the Trafalgar Middle School Choir, Community Hero Awards along with guest speakers sharing their stories Luminaries have been handpainted with care by island artists and will be lit in memory of those lost in the storm.

Please join us in this memorable moment

l i m i t e d P i c k - u p 1 2 : 3 0 - 3 p m C h i c k e n i s f r i e d i n p e a n u t o i l G l u t e n f r e e a n d b a k e d c h i c k e n a v a i l a b l e u p o n r e q u e s t T h e c h u r c h i s a t 1 5 1 4 6 S t r i n g f e l l o w R o a d , B o k e e l i a

Pine Island Democrats to meet Sept. 23

Pine Island Democrats will hold their September meeting on Saturday, Sept 23, at 10 a m in the Pine Island Library’s meeting room. The Library is at 10701 Russell Road in Bokeelia Featured speaker is Kathy Mayo, president of the local chapter of the National Organization of Women (NOW) Kathy has been a strong activist for democratic values in our area, and has a lot of information to share

All are welcome If you have questions, please contact Kathy Fanny at kfanny1@yahoo com

OPINIONS

Southwest Florida: It’s not just for tourists Eagle Editorial

Nothing says “normalcy” better than a return of events, festivals and other traditions

Lime Bistro and the South Seas Island Resort performance tent

so performers and will headline the Pink Shell Beach Resort Pool Party on Oct 1

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

Debbie Carletti obits@breezenewspapers

The roof may still have a tarp, the insurance company may still be balking, but the ability to walk away for an afternoon or evening, to enjoy a little music, a little food a n d a b e v e r a g e o f c h o i c e w i t h f a m i l y , friends, or neighbors known or not shows there is a bright spot on a familiar horizon

T h e r e t u r n o f t h e I s l a n d H o p p e r Songwriter Fest is one of those events and the addition of Cape Coral venues into the 10-day queue of music makes this year’s all the more welcome

Launched nine years ago by the Lee County Visitor & Convention Bureau as a way to attract visitors during the lag between summer and “season,” the festival kicks off on Captiva and runs from Friday, Sept 22, through Sunday, Sept 24, at Mucky Duck, Green Flash, ’Tween Waters, RC Otters, Key

It then moves to Cape Coral, thanks to the Westin which is providing rooms for out-oftown artists In the Cape the fest will be celebrated Monday, Sept 25, and Tuesday, Sept 26, at The Westin Cape Coral Resort at Marina Village’s Nauti Mermaid, Gather, High Tide Social House and Pinchers

Downtown Fort Myers is the next stop on Wednesday, Sept 27, and Thursday, Sept 2 8 , a t C i t y T a v e r n , B a n y a n H o t e l , Downtown Social House, Luminary Hotel and Sidney & Berne Davis Art Center

The festival wraps up on Fort Myers Beach with performances from Friday, Sept 29, through Sunday, Oct 1, at Pink Shell Beach Resort, Diamondhead Beach Resort, Matanzas Inn, Lighthouse Tiki Bar, Bayside Park and the Mound House

Chris Janson, a winner of multiple Academy of Country Music Awards, is one of the 90 or

F o r t M y e r s B e a c h m u s i c i a n S h e e n a Brook, known for her selection in NBC’s season 12 of The Voice, is scheduled for multiple performances on both the Beach and Sanibel/Captiva

A local songwriter event is also scheduled It will be Wednesday, Sept 27, at the Sidney & Berne Davis Art Center, 2301 First St , Fort Myers

Some of the shows require tickets Most are free.

For a full list of shows, performers, admission information, including ticket costs, if any, visit www IslandHopperFest com

I t ’ s b e e n a l o n g d o z e n m o n t h s s i n c e Hurricane Ian

And it’s time for a little staycation

S o u t h w e s t F l o r i d a : I t ’ s n o t j u s t f o r tourists

Get out Kick back And enjoy

Hope Clubhouse provides hope

Although September has been designated Suicide Prevention Month, every month should be Suicide Prevention Month U S suicides hit an all-time high of nearly 49,500 in 2022, the highest number ever a c c o r d i n g t o t h e C e n t e r s f o r D i s e a s e Control and Prevention In Florida, suicide rates in 2022 were higher than any of the last four years at just more than 3,400 people

Web Poll

Previous Web Poll Question:

Are you in favor of building height restriction changes for Pine Island and Matlacha?

■ Yes 56%

■ No 39%

■ I have no opinion 5%

■ Other 0%

Current Web Poll Question:

Are you concerned about development in Cape Coral along Pine Island Road and Burnt Store Road?

■ Yes, especially encroachment and increased traffic

■ No, it’s out of our hands

■ Why worry, local development is inevitable

■ Other

Share your opinion at pineisland-eagle.com

Higher rates of depression and limited availability of mental health services have contributed to this increase according to the CDC Nine in 10 Americans believe this country is facing a mental health crisis according to U S Secretary of Health and Human Services, Xavier Becerra Psychopath, wacko, crazy, nuts, maniac… words I frequently hear used to describe people suffering from mental illness Would we refer so callously to people with cancer, musc u l a r d y s t r o p h y , o r P a r k i n s o n ’ s d i s e a s e ? Mentally ill individuals have a disease, and they need treatment

I am the mother of a son who struggled with severe bipolar disorder for 13 years After his first attempt at suicide, and again following his second attempt, his family begged him not to ever do it again Yet despite the extraordinary and loving efforts of his family who supported him and advocated for him, his brain was telling him he wanted to die His third attempt was successful He had just turned 40 years old

Today, behind so many of those smiling

Commentary

f a c e s w e s e e a r e p e o p l e l i k e m y s o n s u f f e r i n g f r o m d e p r e s s i o n a n d o t h e r m e n t a l disorders who batt l e s u i c i d a l thoughts 24/7

S o m e p e o p l e reach such depths of despair and pain that they begin to b e l i e v e t h a t t h e y would be better off dead

M a n y b e l i e v e t h e i r f a m i l i e s would be better off without them.

Mental illness is cruel and embarrassing

It is not something people choose It is not a character flaw It is not a sign of laziness or weakness It does not discriminate based on age, class, or ethnicity It is an illness that can b e s u c c e s s f u l l y t r e a t e d w i t h m e d i c a t i o n

Mental illness does not have to result in suicide

The behavioral health community in Fort Myers is in crisis While the prevalence of mental health disorders continues to increase, the number of crisis-care centers, psychiatrists, and mental health counselors continues to decline Many residents are unable to access the care they need and succumb to a psychiatric episode

Hope Clubhouse of Southwest Florida is

the only non-profit organization in the Fort Myers community that supports adults living with mental illness These adults can spend a lifetime in and out of emergency rooms, jails, and psychiatric hospitals The power of the Clubhouse program is its effectiveness in keeping its members out of the hospital, reducing their encounters with law enforcement, and on a continuous path to recovery Hope Clubhouse provides opportunities for paid employment, access to education, affordable housing, and assistance in obtaining appropriate medical and psychiatric services The Clubhouse is not a treatment facility Rather, it is a gathering place with structure that promotes healing, opportunity, purpose, and empowerment It offers three prog r a m s f o r d e v e l o p m e n t B u s i n e s s , Culinary, and Horticulture Members work in the unit of their choice Membership is open to anyone over the age of 18 with a history of mental illness at no cost to members For m o r e i n f o r m a t i o n o n H o p e C l u b h o u s e(www hopeclubhouse org)

Fort Myers is the sixth fastest growing city in the nation according to the Census Bureau Access to mental health resources has not kept pace with this surge in population There is no health without mental health.

Dottie Pacharis is a mental health advocate and author of the book, Mind on the Run – A Bipolar Chronicle She lives in Fort Myers

We want your opinion

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

Dottie Pacharis Guest

Gavrinev joins John R. Wood Properties Christie’s

J o h n R . W o o d P r o p e r t i e s C h r i s t i e ' s International Real Estate is proud to announce the addition of Romana Gavrinev to its esteemed team of real estate professionals With her commitment to except i o n a l s e r v i c e , G a v r i n e v brings a wealth of knowledge of Pine Island As a member of The Pine Island

Romana Gavrinev

Team, Gavrinev will continue to provide unparalleled service and personalized solutions to her clients

J o h n R W o o d P r o p e r t i e s C h r i s t i e ' s I n t e r n a t i o n a l R e a l E s t a t e i s k n o w n f o r i t s u n w a v e r i n g c o m m i t m e n t t o e x c e l l e n c e a n d i t s a s s o c i a t i o n w i t h t h e p r e s t i g i o u s C h r i s t i e ' s I n t e r n a t i o n a l R e a l E s t a t e n e t w o r k T h e a d d it i o n o f R o m a n a G a v r i n e v u n d e r s c o r e s t h e c o m p a n y ' s c o m m i t m e n t t o a t t r a c t i n g t o p t a l e n t a n d e n s u r i n g t h a t c l i e n t s r e c e i v e t h e h i g h e s t l e v e l o f s e r v i c e " W e a r e t h r i l l e d t o w e l c o m e R o m a n a G a v r i n e v t o o u r t e a m , " s a i d J a y R i c h t e r , M a n a g i n g B r o k e r a t J o h n R W o o d P r o p e r t i e s C h r i s t i e ' s I n t e r n a t i o n a l R e a l

International Real Estate

E s t a t e . " H e r p a s s i o n f o r t h e P i n e I s l a n d c o m m u n i t y a n d h e r d e d i c a t i o n t o h e l p i n g c l i e n t s a c h i e v e t h e i r p r o p e r t y g o a l s a l i g n p e r f e c t l y w i t h o u r c o m p a n y ' s v a lu e s W i t h h e r e x p e r t i s e , w e a r e c o n f i d e n t t h a t s h e w i l l c o n t i n u e t o r a i s e t h e b a r f o r r e a l e s t a t e s e r v i c e s i n o u r a r e a " J o h n R W o o d P r o p e r t i e s C h r i s t i e ' s I n t e r n a t i o n a l R e a l E s t a t e l o o k s f o r w a r d t o t h e c o n t r i b u t i o n s R o m a n a G a v r i n e v w i l l m a k e t o i t s t e a m a n d t h e c o nt i n u e d s u c c e s s o f t h e f i r m i n d e l i v e r i n g e x c e p t i o n a l r e a l e s t a t e e x p e r i e n c e s t o c l i e n t s

Inc. 5000 rankings show strength, diversity of Lee County’s economy

By Holly D Smith

Inc Magazine recently released its 2023 Inc 5000 list of the fastest-growing privately owned companies in the U S This year, a whopping 16 businesses based in Lee County made the prestigious list

D i s s e c t i n g t h e l i s t g e n e r a t e s s o m e interesting analysis As an economy historically driven by tourism, there was quite an impressive and growing diversity of industries among the 16 Lee County honorees: construction (4), business products and services (2), financial services (2), logistics and transportation (2), consumer services (1), consumer products (1), energy (1), health services (1), manufacturing (1) and software (1)

There also was growing geographic diversity, showing the 16 top-performing companies don’t just stick to the region’s industrial core: Fort Myers (9), Cape Coral (3), Bonita Springs (2), Estero (1) and North Fort Myers (1)

What does this all mean?

Southwest Florida has emerged as a larger force in Florida’s economy Across Lee, Collier and Charlotte counties, 24 locally owned companies made the Inc 5000 list That puts us well ahead of the Gainesville-Ocala region (10), Panhandle (11) and Sarasota-Bradenton region (13) W h a t ’ s t r u l y i m p r e s s i v e i s S o u t h w e s t Florida has just one fewer company listed than the Jacksonville-St. Augustine met-

Guest Commentary

ropolitan region, which has a much larger population

W e s h o u l d n ’ t e n v i s i o n S o u t h w e s t F l o r i d a b e i n g t h e n e x t M i a m i - F o r t L a u d e r d a l e , T a m p a - S t P e t e r s b u r g o r Orlando-Kissimmee, and really, that’s a good thing Leading that next group of mid-sized regions is exactly where we want to be

The Inc 5000 rankings use a threeyear period to measure revenue growth To qualify, companies needed at least $2 million in sales last year The Lee County companies on the list reported three-year growth rates from 74% to 1,253%

“It’s extremely difficult just to earn a spot on the Inc 5000 list, but even harder to stay on it because you need to sustain elevated growth over a longer period,”

MY Shower Door President and Founder Bill Daubmann said in announcing his company’s inclusion on the Inc 5000 list for the seventh time Another Daubmann family enterprise, D3 Glass, also earned a spot for the first time

Joining Daubmann on the Inc 5000 l i s t w a s M a r k S t e v e n s , p r e s i d e n t o f Stevens Construction, and Ryan Carter, president of Scotlynn USA The three all work in different industries – consumer products/manufacturing for Daubmann, c o n s t r u c t i o n f o r S t e v e n s a n d

l o g i s t i c s / t r a n s p o r t a t i o n f o r C a r t e r A l l three leaders are among the community’s strongest advocates for our local economy. Each is a valued investor of the Horizon Foundation, a nonprofit that raises private-sector money to support efforts o f t h e L e e C o u n t y E c o n o m i c Development Office and Horizon Council to improve the area’s business climate Their support helps inspire growth and ensures that Lee County can recruit the right companies to the area while still maintaining and improving the region’s standard of living

“Investing in the Horizon Foundation is an investment into the future of Lee C o u n t y , ” S t e v e n s s a i d “ B u i l d i n g a stronger economy takes time and effort, and economic development extends far beyond just attracting new businesses to the area You must provide a support network that allows existing businesses to grow and thrive, and that’s what the Horizon Foundation has done for Stevens Construction and hundreds of other local businesses ”

Stevens Construction was founded in 2003, expanding from a single office in Fort Myers to include full-scale operations in Tampa, Orlando and Sarasota

Founded in 2010, Scotlynn USA’s n e t w o r k n o w e x p a n d s a c r o s s N o r t h

America, growing from its initial 1,000s q u a r e - f o o t o f f i c e t o a n e w 6 0 , 0 0 0square-foot headquarters that opened two years ago.

“The Horizon Foundation is an important piece to our public-private puzzle here in Lee County,” Carter said “Our support, along with that of other stakeholders, is our way of helping to ensure a bright and promising future for our community ”

MY Shower Door was founded in 2003 and opened its ninth showroom last year, the company’s first on Florida’s east coast The Daubmann family started D3 Glass in 2012 to fabricate, temper and laminate glass for its sister company.

“ A s a f a m i l y - o w n e d c o m p a n y , w e s t a r t e d l o c a l a n d s t a r t e d s m a l l , ” D a u b m a n n s a i d “ E v e r y e n t r e p r e n e u r looks toward the future, and the Horizon F o u n d a t i o n p r o v i d e s b u s i n e s s e s w i t h resources and a network to achieve their goals ”

Holly D Smith is president of the H o r i z o n F o u n d a t i o n , a c h a r i t a b l e 501(c)(3) organization that provides a funding vehicle for businesses to invest in Lee County’s long-term economic development and vitality For more informat i o n , p l e a s e v i s i t H o r i z o n C o u n c i l Foundation com or call 239-533-6800

Keep Lee County Beautiful earns Keep America Beautiful 2022 President’s Circle Award

Keep America Beautiful, the nation’s leading community improvement nonprofit organization, has presented K e e p L e e C o u n t y B e a u t i f u l I n c w i t h i t s 2 0 2 2

President’s Circle Award The President’s Circle Award recognizes exemplary performance by certified affiliates of Keep America Beautiful in creating clean, green and beautiful communities

In qualifying for the President’s Circle Award, KLCB has met standards of merit of Keep America Beautiful by conducting an annual Community Appearance Index; calculating the affiliate’s cost/benefit ratio; and administering initiatives to end littering, improve recycling, and beautify Lee County’s community

Keep Lee County Beautiful is one of more than 700 c o m m u n i t y - b a s e d a f f i l i a t e s i n t h e K e e p A m e r i c a B e a u t i f u l n e t w o r k w h o s e p r o g r a m s , i n i t i a t i v e s , a n d efforts, supported by millions of volunteers, help transform public spaces into beautiful places

“Achieving the President’s Circle Award means Keep Lee County Beautiful is working in strategic, creative, and sustainable ways to keep and create beautiful communities,” said Keep America Beautiful President and CEO Jennifer Lawson “Every day KLCB engages the community members of Lee County to take the responsibility of keeping clean neighbors, of growing beautiful places, and teaching others of the importance of waste reduction in and out of the home We are thrilled to celebrate your excellence and are grateful for your example and leadership ”

“Keep Lee County Beautiful is honored to be recognized for our dedication to the community,” said Trish

Annual Blessing of the Animals set for Sept. 30 at St. John’s Episcopal Church

T h e 2 1 s t A n n u a l B l e s s i n g o f t h e A n i m a l s w i l l b e h e l d S a t u r d a y , S e p t 3 0 , f r o m 1 1 a m t o 1 p m , u n d e r

t h e o a k s a t S t J o h n ’ s E p i s c o p a l C h u r c h a t 7 7 7 1 H

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

H o s t e d b y t h e R e v B i l l G i l m o r e , v i c a r o f S t J o h n ’ s

E p i s c o p a l C h u r c h , t h e b l e s s i n g w i l l a l s o i n c l u d e t h e R e v J a c e k M a z u r , p a s t o r o f O u r L a d y o f t h e M i r a c u l o u s M e d a l C a t h o l i c C h u r c h ; t h e R e v K a y l e e V i d a , p a s t o r o f P i n e I s l a n d U n i t e d M e t h o d i s t C h u r c h ; a n d t h e R e v T o m H a f e r , p a s t o r o f F i s h e r s o f M e n L u t h e r a n C h u r c h

A l l a n i m a l s a r e w e l c o m e - - p l e a s e r e m e m b e r t o b r i n g y o u r o w n e r

C o n t a c t S t J o h n ’ s E p i s c o p a l C h u r c h a t 2 3 9 - 2 8 35 4 3 9 f o r m o r e i n f o r m a t i o n

St. John's Episcopal Church Island Remembrance Service to be held Sept. 28

St John's Episcopal Church will be holding a community Remembrance Service Thursday, Sept 28, at 6:30 p m Everyone is invited to come together and pray:

∫ For those who lost their lives

∫ For those who lost their businesses

∫ For those who lost their homes

∫ For those who lost their pets

∫ For those who lost their livelihoods

∫ For those still struggling

The service is being hosted by the Rev Bill Gilmore, vicar of St John’s Episcopal Church, and will include the Rev. Jacek Mazur, pastor of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal Catholic Church, the Rev Kaylee Vida, pastor of Pine Island United Methodist Church and the Rev Tom Hafer, pastor of

Men

Fancher, Executive Director, KLCB “We have been serving Lee County for over three decades and will continue to inspire, educate, and engage the community in improving, beautifying, and protecting our environment KLCB is committed to its mission and looks forward to continuing our work with the volunteers and community partners ”

Each year, Keep Lee County Beautiful engages over 5,000 volunteers in more than 400 community improvement initiatives Make sure to follow KLCB on Facebook or Instagram to stay updated on future events You can also visit www klcb org or call 239-334-3488 to find out how to get involved and support KLCB and their efforts

Grandparents’ Day at Pine Island Elementar y

Grandparents’ Day was celebrated on Sept. 11th at Pine Island Elementary School. It was a huge success! P.I.E. welcomed grandparents and “grandfriends” on campus to honor them. There were lots of smiles, laughter, and hugs! Principal Millins said, “it was a special time to have grandparents back on our campus Everyone had a great time visiting and making memories together ”

New teacher at Pine Island Elementar y

Mrs. Postma has been teaching for 21 years, h a v i n g s p e n t t h e majority of her career s e r v i n g L e e C o u n t y Schools She is comi n g t o P i n e I s l a n d Elementary from Fort M y e r s H i g h S c h o o l where she was an IB t e a c h e r a n d I B Coordinator for many years. Mrs. Postma is a P i n e I s l a n d r e s i d e n t and she is looking forward to working more closely with her community

Grandparents buying books on Grandparents Day.

PHOTOS PROVIDED BY PRINCIPAL MILLINS Connor Martin and his grandparents

PHOTO PROVIDED

Manatees rescued

Two manatees, a mother and calf, were found stranded in a canal connected to the Coral Oaks Golf Course Wednesday. With the help of Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and the Lee County Sheriff's Office, both manatees were safely rescued, city of Cape Coral officials said. FWC performed health assessments on the mother and 1-month-oldcalf, deemed them both to be in good health, and safely released them back into the wild /SOURCE: CITY OF CAPE CORAL

Jack crevalle are one of are hardest fighting fish and you can expect to hook

where across inshore waters This one went for a live pinfish in Matlacha

Bill Russell

Good fishing weather continues across Southwest Florida waters

Other than a few fishing tournaments over the weekend, it’s been quiet on the water. With good weather, it’s a great time to take advantage of the lack of anglers as busy season is fast approaching Redfish up to 30 inches were caught in Pine Island Sound near Buck Key, and along the eastern shore of north Captiva and Cayo Costa islands around docks Reds were reported mixed with snook along Charlotte Harbors eastern shore and across the harbor around Bull Bay Kayak anglers caught redfish fishing islands and oyster bars in south Matlacha Pass near McCardle Island and the powerlines Live pinfish with tail trimmed, ladyfish chunks, shrimp, plus white jerk shad and root beer paddle tails were the favored baits

Capt Bill Russell

On the Water

Anglers found hungry snook around the keys and islands in Pine Island Sound and around the Gulf passes and beaches Over the higher tides snook were caught along the eastern shore of Charlotte Harbor From shore snook were caught from the Bokeelia Fishing Pier and Matlacha Drawbridge Several oversized fish were caught and released from the pier

Seatrout, with a few over 20 inches, were caught between Cabbage Key and Cayo Costa, off Bokeelia near oyster shoals and south of St James City near marker 13 Steady action with seatrout of all sizes came from Pine Island Sound west of the fish shacks, red light shoals in the southern Sound and outside of Bokeelia’s Shell Cut Spanish mackerel, bluefish, ladyfish and small sharks were hooked as well

Offshore, Spanish mackerel and mangrove snapper were caught around artificial reefs off Fort Myers Beach

and Sanibel in depths from 40 to 60 feet Live shrimp and pilchards worked best for snapper and small shiny spoons with a fast retrieve for mackerel Cobia and sharks were also spotted around the reefs Further offshore, a few captains report catching a mixed bag of grouper, snapper, large triggerfish and, of course, sharks

Around Charlotte Harbor, large schools of bait fish attracted feeding frenzies that included jack crevalle, seatrout, ladyfish, sharks up to 6 feet and cobia, with a few caught over 36 inches Watch for surface commotion and active birds that could appear at anywhere and anytime around the Harbor, plus all inshore and nearshore waters

Stay up to date with fishing regulations by visiting www myfwc com Also, upload the Fish Rules app on your phone It has current regulations with pictures to help identify fish

If you have a fishing report or for charter information, contact Gulf Coast Guide Service at 239-410-8576 (call or text); on the web at www fishpine island com; or via email at gcl2fish@ live com

Have a safe week and good fishin’

A s a l i f e t i m e r e s i d e n t o f Matlacha and Pine Island, Capt Bill Russell has spent his life fishi n g a n d l e a r n i n g t h e w a t e r s a r o u n d P i n e I s l a n d a n d Southwest Florida, and as a professional fishing guide for the past 23 years

Greater Fort Myers Chamber Golf Classic Oct. 20

The Greater Fort Myers Chamber of Commerce has announced sponsorship opportunities and registration for its annual Golf Classic, taking place Friday, Oct 20, in Fort Myers

The Golf Classic will be held on the greens of Eagle Ridge Golf Club, located at 14589 Eagle Ridge Drive in Fort Myers Check-in opens at 10:30 a m , followed by a shotgun start at noon Participants can expect a full afternoon of golfing and networking with local business leaders, tasty food and good times

The event will feature “Taste of the Chamber,” where local member restaurants will be set up around the golf course offering delicious samples of their specialties.

Registration is $800 per group of four and includes cart

and green fees, Taste of the Chamber samplings along the course, boxed lunch and beverages throughout the day and golfer promotional materials Corporate foursomes are also available at $1,000 for four people with all the benefits of the standard foursome registration in addition to two mulligans, $20 in prize drawing tickets, 5 feet of golf rope and other promotional materials provided to each golfer

Funds raised during the event will support the Chamber – a 501(c)(6) nonprofit – in serving the business community through its efforts to empower, connect and unite member businesses and organizations

To learn more about the event, sponsorship opportunities or to register or sign up to volunteer at the event, visit FortMyers org or email info@fortmyers org

PHOTO PROVIDED

into one about any-

Pass fishing with Capt

Baby dolphins and belly buttons

Bottlenose dolphins give birth to one calf every 2-3 years The gestation period is 11-12 months When a female dolphin gives birth, the umbilical cord connecting her and her baby breaks away and the baby is left with a belly button Unlike h u m a n s a n d o t h e r m a mmals, dolphins have smooth belly buttons, so that their bodies are streamlined

T h e n e w b o r n c a l f weighs about 35 pounds

Dolphin babies are born tail first, unlike most mammals

This minimizes the risk of drowning because the birth

c a n t a k e u p t o 2 h o u r s

Dolphin Tales

F o r t u n a t e l y , t h e b i r t h i n g mom has at least two female attendants to assist her with the birth These attendants are called “aunties ” They will stay with the mom during the birthing process and for weeks and months going forward to assist her in caring for her calf

When the calf is born, one of the aunties will take the baby away from the mother because there is blood in the water and that blood attracts sharks. Also, baby dolphins are mammals born under water and have to surface to breathe air The auntie will push the baby to the surface of

‘Customizing

the water numerous times

u n t i l t h e b a b y l e a r n s t o control the blowhole

Once

t h e b a b y h a s l e a r n e d t o breathe on its own, the auntie will take the baby back to the mother to begin nursing on demand

T h e b a b y w i l l s w i m tight against the mother’s side in the slipstream This gives the baby a ‘free ride’ where she is pulled along, protected, and can nurse The mother has to continually swim for the first two weeks of the baby’s life because the baby doesn’t have enough fat to float.

F o r t u n a t e l y , d o l p h i n s n e v e r c o m p l e t e l y s l e e p While one half of the brain sleeps, the other half is awake Moms and aunties take catnaps together with their calf during the crucial first two weeks of the calf’s life When the baby continues to nurse and gain weight, she will eventually swim on her own

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

Your

Bromeliads’

topic at Garden Club meeting

T h i s T h u r s d a y , S e p t 2 1 , t h e P i n e Island Garden Club, at its monthly meeting beginning at 9 a m at the Fishers of Men Lutheran Church, will again host Rusty Bell who will discuss aroids and customizing your bromeliads Originally from Maryland, he has served over 50 years as a horticultural professional with the last 15 years specializing in the growing, propagating and sales of bromeliads with Sundance Orchids and Bromeliads in Bokeelia

F o u n d e d i n 1 9 7 5 , t h e P i n e I s l a n d 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, and the butterfly garden at the PI Elementary School It produces the annual Garden Gala, the proceeds from which are utilized to financially support several island benevolent organizations, such as the Calusa Land Trust, CROW, Kiwanis Children’s Park and the PI Food Pantry F o r m o r e i n f o r m a t i o n , o n e m a y v i s i t p i n e i s l a n d g a r d e n c l u b . o r g o r c o n t a c t Marty Kendall at 239-283-8175

Captain Cathy Eagle

PHOTO PROVIDED

Ladies from the Pine Island Garden Club gave the Media Center planter at Pine Island Elementary a makeover with native plants from Hickory Hammock Native Plant Nursery Left to right: Cheryl King, Tom Millins (principal), Liz Duchaine, Susan Johnson and Joan Rosenberg

Beacon From page 1

members, business owners, and some Beacon board members, is representative of each area of the island

“This is a huge responsibility We have 90 days to put this plan in place We will be working with other professionals who have disaster case managers that follow and establish protocol for the distribution of aid It’s very important that we do this properly, it’s very important that we’re fair We understand that businesses and individuals have struggled through a lot of this and that’s important to us,” Stearns said

The Beacon of Hope still has existing funds available, that were raised following Hurricane Ian, she said, adding that those who are in need, should continue to reach out to the organization

“There are so many ranges and variations of how we can assist people We still have funds left and we want to use these funds We have procedures and

plans in place for funds we received initially, so people should still continue to reach out This new funding coming to us validates the hard work done by the Beacon since Hurricane Charley, but I cannot express strongly enough how important transparency and accuracy are to us. We understand the urgency and that the need is great The minute we receive those funds, we will make sure t h a t i t ’ s o n o u r w e b s i t e a n d Facebook we will let people know that it’s a go,” Stearns said

T h e r e i s c u r r e n t l y n o t i m e f r a m e which dictates the grant money having to be utilized in its entirety by any particular date, she said, only a 90 day time period allotted for a plan to be used as a blueprint for the disbursement of the grant funds, which they are working on diligently, she said

Beacon of Hope is at 5090 Doug Taylor Circle, Sant James City

Island Mahjongg

Arleen came to play today racking up 155 pts. Two others made triple digits. Mary Halbleib with 110 pts and Mary

Ann Harms totaled 105 points Thanks, Moose, for a great lunch and a nice place to play

Kiwanis From page 1

2023 His time as president for the past year, he said, was a refreshing change from the day to day hurricane rebuilds

“There was a comfort in being able to go from trying to take care of my own personal details, to going to help children through different events We have had a record of new members in this last year, but we are always looking for new members and volunteers,” Rider said

S h a r i n g t h e o r g a n i z a t i o n ’ s m i s s i o n statement, Rider said, “Kiwanis is a global organization of volunteers dedicated to improving one child and one community at a time That’s our pledge We are an international organization of volunteers ”

O n e o f t h e b i g g e s t o c c u r r e n c e s o f assistance in his time as president, came w h e n P i n e I s l a n d E l e m e n t a r y S c h o o l

Principal, Tom Millins explained to Rider that the afterschool program must be can-

celled due to damages at the Matlacha Parks and Recreation building, caused by Hurricane Ian

“We just felt that was not a good enough justification, and something had to be done That’s when we came up with the afterschool program and we were able to r a i s e o v e r $ 1 0 , 0 0 0 i n o n e w e e k e n d through the local Kiwanians of Southwest Florida District 19 That actually helped put the afterschool program back in effect for all those kids and parents who needed it That was huge,” Rider said Pine Island Kiwanis Club meetings are held at 8 a m every Wednesday morning at the Salty Girls Island Café, after 7:30 a m breakfast Anyone interested in learning more about Kiwanis, or joining, are welcome

Salty Girls Island Café is at 10700 Stringfellow Road, Bokeelia

PHOTO PROVIDED BY JAYSON RIDER

Shawn Kinney received a award for distinguished service.

Preparedness month

home or an unsafe structure during hurricane season It is important for residents to know their home and its ability to withstand strong winds and heavy rain This information helps residents better understand orders from local officials during a storm Visit FloridaDisaster org/Know for more information

∫ Keep Gas Tanks Half

Full – Residents should keep their vehicle’s gas tanks at least half full during hurricane season to ensure they have enough fuel to evacuate as soon as possible, without worrying about long lines at gas stations and to avoid gas shortages prior to a storm For Floridians with electric vehicles, it’s recommended that the battery be maintained between 50% - 80% capacity at all times, depending on the type of vehicle and what the vehicle’s manual r e c o m m e n d s V i s i t F l o r i d a D i s a s t e r . o r g / H a l f w a y F u l l f o r m o r e information

V i s i t F l o r i d a D i s a s t e r org for emergency information and to learn more about Florida hazards

To donate to the Florida D i s a s t e r F u n d visit VolunteerFlorida org/ d o n a t e , t o s u p p o r t Hurricane Idalia recovery efforts.

N a t i o n a l P r e p a r e d n e s s M o n t h a n d F l o r i d a

From page 2

Preparedness Month are observed every September The national public service campaign is designed to educate families and communities on the importance of d i s a s t e r m i t i g a t i o n , p r e p a r e d n e s s a n d response More information on National Preparedness Month can be found here

Hook’d Up

From page 21

A l t h o u g h t h e c o u p l e s e e s p l a n s o f expansion for the shop in their future, their desires include securing Hook’d up Bait Co & Art Gallery as a celebrated store owned by locals, where islanders will grow familiar with them and their family

“We want it to be that mom and pop shop, where people come in, sit and hang out and talk about what they caught that day or different things they’re doing out on the island a place where people gath-

e r a n d t h e c o m m u n i t y r e a l l y c o m e s t o g e t h e r W e w a n t t o b e p a r t o f t h e Matlacha rebuild, in a store with a smalltown island feel, that brought everyone together as a community and that will cont i n u e t o b r i n g e v e r y o n e t o g e t h e r , ”

Bransfield said Hook’d up Bait Co & Art Gallery

239-887-0689

4630 Pine Island Road NW Matlacha, FL 33993

PHOTOS PROVIDED BY BRITTNEY BRANSFIELD

Family photo: Brittney holding baby Caleigh, son Luke (6), father Michael Dillevig and Gracie the dog

Tony’s Tree Service