Cape Coral Weekend Breeze

$5

By MEGHAN BRADBURY news@breezenewspapers com

in Collaboratory-raised Ian funds made a big impact

The more than $5,000,000 Collaboratory raised to support Hurricane Ian recovery has been distributed and pledged in a plethora of ways throughout the community

Part of Collaboratory’s core mission as a community foundation is to provide an opportunity for donors to be able to respond to community challenges, and Hurricane Ian was the biggest challenge the community has ever faced, which FutureMakers Coalition

“Having that fund open created a vehicle to receive much needed financial support for our community ”

Tessa LeSage, FutureMakers Coalition director

Director Tessa LeSage said The SWFL Emergency Relief Fund, in partnership with United Way of Lee, Hendry, and Glades Counties, was opened and contri-

butions were made from every state, as well as international, for a total of $2 6 million “Having that fund open created a vehicle to receive much needed financial support for

By CJ HADDAD

our community,” LeSage said

United Way of Lee, Hendry & Glades President and CEO Jeannine Joy said they also worked on raising funds at the same time resulting in almost another $6 million that the United Way raised from special grants, funding and individual donors

The giving did not stop there

United Way, through its Gifts in Kind Program, received donations of tangible

See IAN FUNDS, page 45

Residents protest proposed plans for Redfish Pointe

By CHUCK BALLARO news@breezenewspapers com

Along Southwest 6th Place near Rotary Park on Wednesday was an area with yellow “Crime Scene” tape across it

No crime had been committed there However, residents who live in the area say there will be an environmental crime if a proposed development comes to fruition

Nearly 80 people braved rainy conditions to protest plans for Redfish Pointe they say will impact marked-for-preservation lands.

The protest march was organized by “Protect our Wetlands Cape Coral ”

Joe Bonasia, one of the organizers for the event, said hundreds of families were flooded during Ian, adding only the mangroves along the river kept the waters from causing even more flood damage in one of the most vulnerable areas in the country for storms

“The wetlands are there for storm protection and flood mitigation If they build over there, it will put us at greater risk,” Bonasia said “If the city council approves this, it means they care more about tax revenue than the safety of these families ”

Doug Fairleigh, who lives in the area with his wife, brought a sign depicting the damage done to his house from Ian He said a foot of water came in despite the mangroves Without them, he maintained it would have been much worse

“You go a mile from here where there are no mangroves, they had four or five feet of flooding Mangroves do their job They keep the storms away,” Fairleigh said

Management agreement for Coral Oaks on the table

By MEGHAN BRADBURY news@breezenewspapers com

The city of Cape Coral will move forward with a proposal to outsource operations of the Coral Oaks Golf Course

Cape Coral City Council agreed to pursue a contract with Troon Golf Wednesday with the caveat that all current employees at the city-owned course be given another job with the city at the same pay

The consensus was 6-1 with Councilmember Robert Welsh saying he thought the city should continue to manage and maintain the course Councilmember Bill Steinke had an excused absence

“I don’t think we are at the point to make this drastic move To me continue to do what we are doing out there,”

Welsh said

Financial Service Director Mark Mason said the Request for Proposals was a broad brush of options to operate Coral Oaks Golf Course management agreement, licensing, lease, maintenance and other, which fell under the response of restaurant management

The management agreement would keep all the revenues and expenditures with the city, as well as the city paying a

Council consensus was to move forward with for the full management agreement with Troon Golf, out of Scottsdale, Arizona and to offer all current employees at the city-owned course another job with the city at the same pay

monthly management fee, and potentially, a share of the profits

For licensing, the licensee would obtain all revenue and expenses, share net profit for improvements to the facilities, as well as set aside a percentage of revenues dedicated towards facility improvement

For a lease, the lessee would be responsible for all operations, including management and maintenance, and would retain all revenues and expenditures, as well as pay a lease fee to the city for use of facilities and generally shares in profit Mason said this would be similar to what they have for Sun Splash Family Waterpark , as well as the restaurant at the Yacht Club

The city would pay an annual fee for maintenance of the golf course grounds and the restaurant management would remain under city control and the applicant would take over the food and beverage services

“We received a response for all of them,” said Mason said of one lease proposal, one license proposal, two management proposals, one grounds maintenance and one restaurant

Those that responded included Bobby Jones Links and Troon Golf for a full-service management contract, Paradigm Golf Management Inc for lease agreement, SSS Down to Earth OPCO, LLC for grounds maintenance contract, Troon Golf for license agreement and The Spot Restaurant FL, LLC for restaurant only

Mason said the evaluation committee, although probably not necessary, felt they should give Council a recommendation, which was for the full management agreement with Troon Golf, out of Scottsdale, Arizona

“The money doesn’t come back to us; it goes into the Capital Reserve Fund All resources with the golf course, in terms of percentages, goes back into improvement of the golf course,” Mason said “All of these are negotiable, and we would look into that ”

The monetary proposal responses through the RTF

process for Troon Golf included:

■ Base license fee paid to the Capital Reserve Fund for $50,000 per year for term of agreement

■ 20% of gross golf revenue between $2 150 million and $2,349,999 would be paid into the Capital Reserve Fund, plus 40% gross golf revenue in excess of $2 350 million The threshold would increase by 1 5% or CPI, whichever is annually greater

■ Pay 5% of gross retail sales, and 5% of gross food and beverage sales into the Capital Reserve Fund

■ Put $90,000 per year into the Capital Reserve Fund for use of carts for five years

In addition, Mason said if Council determines to outsource the management of Coral Oaks Golf Course, all 14 full time positions would be absorbed into the organization

Councilmember Tom Hayden said this particular city amenity is very important to him, as he has played golf there and has studied the history of this course

“A couple of years ago when all this started, I saw what was happening It needed a newer irrigation system, a complete green rebuild,” he said, adding that there was also talk to make the course a destination.

Hayden said since that time they have experienced a hurricane, looked at financials through an audit and are still dealing with the same capital problems they had before He said he noticed the deterioration of the maintenance of the golf course because they cannot keep a superintendent

“I started to shift my position that maybe we weren’t the right people to manage the golf course,” Hayden said

He said he would like to see the continuation of record revenue at the golf course, which has been felt across the country, as well as higher participation records

“I would like to see that continue and I think the best way for us to continue down that path is to go with an outside management company,” Hayden said

With that said, he had a few caveats anybody with a job at Coral Oaks Golf Course will continue to have a job without a reduction in pay; any management agreement would include the Junior Golf Program, as well as the City championship should continue

“This particular company puts us in the best position to move forward,” Hayden said of Troon Golf.

Mayor John Gunter said the city should not be in the golf business, just as it should not have been in the water park business at Sun Splash He said as a local government they are good at what they do, providing public safety and meeting the needs of the community

“It’s a no brainer Economics Provide a better amenity to the community,” Gunter said, adding that it should be given to a firm that has the expertise

He also said it is very important to take care of the employees by finding a spot for them with no loss in income

“At no time should they have to sacrifice any pay for any different direction,” Gunter said. “I will support it and support staff recommendation ”

City Manager Michael Ilczyszyn said he will commence contract negotiations and bring the matter back to a workshop before the Council votes on it at a regular meeting

“It will likely take about three months before an actual change occurs,” Mason

OPINIONS

CAPE CORAL BREE ZE

RAYMOND M. ECKENRODE Publisher

VALARIE HARRING, Executive Editor

CHRIS STRINE, Editor

2510 Del Prado Blvd • Cape Coral, FL, 33904

• Phone 239-574-1110 – Fax 239-574-5693

Member Florida Press Association

One year later

Hurricane Ian, a near category 5 monster of wind, waves and catastrophic storm surge, roared ashore at Cayo Costa a year ago on Sept 28, 2022, destroying much of Fort Myers Beach and heavily damaging Sanibel, Captiva, Matlacha and parts of Cape Coral, North Fort Myers and Fort Myers

Winds were marked at 155 mph with gusts up to 161

Storm surge of 16 feet inundated Fort Myers Beach, Sanibel and Captiva and breached the Sanibel Causeway in multiple places and the bridge to Matlacha

Lee County took 14-1/2 inches of rainfall in the hours after Ian’s 3:05 p m landfall and the storm’s lingering presence

There were 161 deaths, 149 of them in Florida with 72 in Lee County, including 16 on Fort Myers Beach

More than 5,000 homes and 284 businesses were destroyed Thousands more incurred major damage

Ian was the fourth-strongest landfalling hurricane in Florida history, the fifth strongest in the U S

It is the third most costly behind Katrina in 2005 and Harvey in 2017. Damage estimates exceed $112 billion to homes and businesses; $297 3 million to Lee County properties and facilities, $300 million to public school campuses

One year later, all but two of the School District of Lee County’s schools are re-opened

One year later, our parks and beaches are almost fully accessible

One year later, the nearly 12 5 million square yards of debris strewn along roadways, piles of construction wreckage and mountains of destroyed vegetation is gone

But one year later, too many of us homeowners, businesses and government entities alike wait to be made whole as insurance payments and settlements drag and disaster funds continue to trickle in.

We’ll not complain too much about government response, at least at the state level Gov Ron DeSantis was here when Southwest Florida needed him and emergency funds and efforts for things like the repairs to the Sanibel Causeway and the Matlacha Bridge, made a huge difference

Huge

On Thursday, Sept 28, 2023, the governor announced the awarding of $338 million in hurricane recovery program monies, including $51 million each to the city of Cape Coral and the Lee County School District

One year later, though, the federal government and yes, the state, need to do more, especially in making insurance affordable and available

The Florida State Legislature has begun the process Legislation has addressed insurers’ costs by prohibiting assignment of benefits to third parties, allowing for mandatory arbitration and addressing “bad faith” claims and how attorney fees are awarded

For those of us who pay the premiums, insurance companies are now required to respond more quickly and face higher fines for failing to do so We, though, also must respond more quickly, filing claims within one year, instead of two

At the heart of the issue is how to address catastrophic claims, those FEMA classifies as disasters There are 10 on the current list, including Hurricane Idalia, but also wildfires, flooding and a variety of severe storms

Years ago, the federal government recognized that floods were a natural disaster of such scope that it partnered with a network of insurance companies, now standing at 50, to better assure affordable coverage

We recognize that in the last year or so, modifications have been made that have negatively affected flood insurance rates locally We still contend that needs to be fixed

But discussions on extraordinary catastrophic events, such a category 4 or 5 hurricane, or a wildfire of thousands of acres,

Florida got it right after Hurricane Ian

Rather than dictating, Gov. Ron DeSantis began collaborating, acknowledging that the damage would be more than government alone could repair

It’s been a year since Hurricane Ian tore through the Sunshine State last year, claiming more than 100 lives in Florida alone and causing over $100 billion in catastrophic damage across Florida and the Carolinas

But as devastating as Ian one of the costliest weather events in U S history was, it brought Floridians together in ways most of us couldn’t imagine before the storm, and resulted in much-needed public-private partnerships

As Ian made landfall last Sept 28, the state of Florida did exactly what it was supposed to do It responded with unrelenting search and rescue efforts and dispatched first responders to clear out roads and repair bridges It prioritized making sure Floridians got their power turned back on

Megan Rose Guest Commentary

And then Gov Ron DeSantis did something incredible He surveyed the anticipated needs across the state and acknowledged that the extensive damage would be more than government alone could repair

Rather than dictating, he began collaborating. In the critical hours before landfall, the governor activated the Florida Disaster Fund, which supports recovery efforts in partnership with public, private, and other nongovernmental organizations Not to be outdone, First Lady Casey DeSantis activated her innovative Hope Florida and CarePortal initiatives to better respond to families in crisis

They wanted relief funds to go directly to the communities hit hardest by Ian, and understood that the best way to identify their needs was to work alongside the people living there Just six weeks after Ian, the storm surge from Hurricane Nicole flooded many eastern Florida coastal communities, claiming five more lives

My organization, Better Together, is one of the local service organizations that received money from the Florida

Leave the land alone

To the editor:

Disaster Fund over the past year And I can personally confirm our impact has been exponentially larger because we are working in partnership with government, not competing with it.

While government focused on water rescues and repairing the infrastructure of our towns and cities, we delivered hot meals and supplies door-to-door, tarped up roofs, and offered emergency child care We provided temporary homes to those displaced by the storm and held a job fair where Floridians (who lost their jobs literally overnight) met employers eager to hire Other families needed shelter, food, and diapers, and a shoulder to cry on, and volunteers were often the only people knocking on their doors offering help

All of this happened in partnership with government We walked the streets of our communities with Florida Department of Children and Families Secretary Shevaun Harris right beside us She personally delivered mental health counseling services and a truck filled with supplies to storm-ravaged areas and alerted our staff to critical situations happening elsewhere so we could swiftly dispatch volunteers

We met with government officials, churches, community leaders and child protective services, local businesses, and many other community partners Together, we helped families in a much more effective and meaningful way, spending every dollar directly on those who need it most

This is the power of community at its finest In the wake of Hurricane Idalia and future storms, we need to hold on to this collaborative mindset Our volunteers will still be helping with physical needs, but they are also committed to helping these families put their homes and lives back together, remain in Florida, and regain stability

See GUEST, page 8

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Annette Barbaccia and Milo Aubuchon Realty Group state the obvious: Of course the paid environmental consultants that were brought in to examine Redfish Pointe are going to say that development of this land is not going to be damaging to the environment or increase traffic

Yes, there are exotics living there i e , wildlife and vegetation All which will be destroyed, devastated, and have animals running for their lives if these land hogs get a chance to go ahead with their absurd plans Where are the animals to go?

Building another marina in this area will do nothing more than injure or kill our manatees due the increased boat traffic Or they will starve as their feeding grounds are impacted

None of us believe the BS that was published in last week’s edition of The Breeze on Redfish Pointe regarding the development of this land i e , no harm to our wildlife, or natural vegetation, or flooding issues from tropical storms to hurricanes, to the homes in this vicinity Mangroves will replenish themselves as they have done for decades; they do not need artificial intervention from man Cement buildings are not going to protect us from the storm surge, the water will just run around them

The position otherwise is delusional. This project would damage the environment and there is no benefit Leave the land alone

The Conservation Easement signed in 1991 between C i t y o f C

Environmental Regulation clearly states “that the wetlands will be preserved FOREVER in their NATURAL STATE and specifically states no roads are to be built on it ” What words do Mayor Gunter and Milo Aubuchon Realty Group not understand?

Gunter took an oath to protect and serve the people of Cape Coral, which he has not done yet Gunter certainly does not protect the people Gunter only protects himself,

his council and his land developers and his own pocketbook The only people Gunter serves is himself, his council, and his land developers; after all Gunter is a real estate developer himself

It is time to get rid of Gunter, let’s vote Gunter out of office!

We can do better than this!

Marilyn Leisz Cape Coral

City must keep its word and honor conser vation easement

To the editor:

Response to Redfish Pointe article that the development would have “minimal impact ”

Where to start Where to start Let’s start with the fact that the city of Cape Coral was given the land and entered into a contract that is the Conservation Easement from the State of Florida on a parcel given to the city by Rotary International in 1991 In that easement, and directly in line with Florida Statute Chapter 704-Section 06, it SPECIFICALLY prohibits the following and I quote:

Construction or placing of buildings, roads, signs or other structures in or above the ground

Dumping or placing of soil or other substances or surface material as landfill

Removal or destruction of trees, shrubs or other vegetation

Excavation, dredging or removal of loam, peat

Surface use except for purposes that permit the land or water area to remain predominantly in its natural condition

Activities detrimental to drainage, flood control, water conservation, erosion control, soil conservation or fish and wildlife habitat preservation

These legally binding requirements in the Conservation Easement should stop any access to Redfish Pointe through

See LETTERS page 6

In court, a helping hand for abused, neglected children left behind

Arriving in New York City for a new life, my 5-year-old mind raced with the possibilities: new friends, a new school, a new neighborhood (Brooklyn) and best of all, a reunion with the parents who had made the difficult but necessary decision to leave me back in Haiti with my grandparents while Mom and Dad built us a new life here in America

Fast-forward several decades That shy, Creole-speaking girl has grown into a college and law school graduate, a wife, mother, attorney, taxpayer and, for nearly 30 years, a U S citizen

Crucially, our family had the means and the support to navigate the immigration journey together, although only after a two-year delay while my parents got settled in their new home Of course, many others in such circumstances lack this kind of support a glaring need that largely shaped my own personal and professional path as a new American

After graduating from Ave Maria School of Law in Naples and then working in private practice, I joined the Lee County Legal Aid Society That’s where I now oversee an innovative outreach effort to assist immigrant children and teens those who have been abandoned, entered the country alone, or are victims of human trafficking.

The three-year effort began late last year and is funded by a federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) grant of roughly $490,000, administered by the United Way of Lee, Hendry, and Glades Counties

From page 4

Rose Garden

Working in cooperation with a host of community partners, including the aforementioned United Way as well as Catholic Charities for the Diocese of Venice, Guardian ad Litem, 20th Judicial Circuit, Lee County Injury Prevention Coalition and more, we provide no-cost legal representation and critically, a path to legal citizenship for abused, neglected and abandoned youth under age 18 who, through no fault of their own, wind up in our community with no adults in their lives and with nowhere to turn

Eunice Gedeon Linot

Guest Commentary

Some are in foster care but will soon age out of the system, or were brought here against their will by human traffickers Rather than a punitive approach, this new effort provides these minors with the opportunity to earn a green card and legally live, work, study and pay taxes in the U S , strengthening our community while bolstering our economy and quality of life

The pathway to legal citizenship begins with a petition before Lee County Family Court for Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS) The SIJS designation is a special visa category established by Congress in 1990 that permits immigrant children who are dependent on a juvenile court to “self-peti-

And the ridiculous assertion that “the entry though Rose Garden would not impact traffic greatly” is nonsense If that is true, perhaps Ms Barbaccia could explain why their plan calls for Pelican Boulevard to be expanded to four lanes (which would take away the bicycle lane just put in a few short years ago and widely used by the neighborhood) and why their plans call for Cape Coral Parkway to be expanded to eight lanes from Pelican Boulevard to Coronado and six lanes to the bridge if traffic would not be greatly impacted And who do you think is going to pay for that road expansion? The developers? No, that will be forced on Cape Coral taxpayers one way or another so many wealthy people can live in their new resort that destroyed the ONE property in Cape Coral that could be a REAL tourist “destination,” the pristine example of South Florida wetlands that is Redfish Pointe

What wasn’t stated in the article is that the entire Pelican neighborhood and the wildlife in Redfish Pointe will have our lives totally disrupted with 3-5 years of heavy construction the noise, the commercial traffic the dust and dirt associated with it Three to five years of construction noise, dirt and dust will drive the wildlife away But they don’t want you to know that They want that and I see no way the wetlands will not be forever devastated Wetlands will be damaged and filled in; it is what developers do. And once that is done, the land is forever ruined and replaced with concrete And how they think putting in a massive marina will not detrimentally impact the environment and the wetlands there defies logic The answer is, they don’t care about the environment They only care about lining their pockets with millions at the expense of the pristine environment that is Redfish Pointe

The entire dissertation on how this will not impact us is based on speculation after the development is completed

They neglected to inform us of the devastation to the wildlife and the peace and tranquility of our neighborhood during the 3-5 year building process where they stand to make millions off the suffering and devastation of wildlife and wetlands and adjacent property owners

This proposed development will not benefit the people of Cape Coral It will benefit the wealthy If our city council agrees with this assault on the lives of some 3,500 families, they will be responsible for giving the city of Cape Coral the reputation of going back on its word and not honoring their contractual obligation upholding the requirements of the Conservation Easement At that point Cape Coral will become a city no one can trust to do the right thing only an entity that will add anything (regardless of whether taxpayers want it or not) to add to their tax rev-

tion” and obtain lawful permanent resident status

The juvenile court must first determine that family reunification is not a viable option, and that it is not in the child’s best interest to return to their home country

Once the dependency petition is approved, the case is sent to U S Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) for consideration of an adjustment of status to lawful permanent residency That classification then allows those clients to apply for a work permit and Social Security card

That was the path taken by our client Wilson, who came to this country on his own three years ago from Guatemala and was placed in foster care after running away from a Florida Department of Children and Families facility (To protect the privacy of Wilson and other clients, we only refer to them here by their first names, or pseudonyms)

With his SIJS status in hand, Wilson is now working in the Fort Myers area, has secured housing and is a new father with the hopes now of providing a far better life for his own child in a safe, secure and healthy environment

For most, their journeys to this point are beyond harrowing Another client, Lola,

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

enues for them to spend foolishly

From the Conservation Easement, and this is succinct as it gets, “The Conservation Easement hereby granted and the obligation to retain and maintain the land forever predominantly in the vegetative and hydrological condition as herein specified shall run with the land and shall be binding on the Grantor and successors and assigns, shall inure to the benefit or the Grantee and its accessors and assigns ”

Marie Kavanaugh

Cape Coral

It's time for single district council voting

To the editor:

I have addressed the following the Cape Coral City Council:

Dear Mayor Gunter and City Council Members,

I agree with Mr Bashaw’s editorial in the recent edition of the Cape Coral Breeze, the time has come to have single district voting for council in Cape Coral Districts vary widely District 6 is dealing with the major expansion of public utilities and dramatic growth to name a few issues District 7 has Pine Island Road running through the middle of it and is experiencing a dramatic increase in apartment building construction, new businesses and large increases in traffic and congestion

I live in District 2, where our main concerns are the Chiquita Lock, limiting future development of high-density housing projects in our single-family neighborhoods, traffic impact studies, the future widening of Chiquita Blvd , potential development of Redfish Pointe, and median beautification

My point is, I would not expect your typical citizen in Districts 1, 5, 6 or 7 to be fluent in what is important, and impacting District 2, and vice versa

Attracting and keeping strong and qualified candidates, and only requiring them to campaign in the district they are running in is imperative This will allow them to do less fundraising and will help minimize the special interest groups’ influence that have previously dominated our city elections, is critical to us growing as a city.

It is long past due to allow citizens to vote for their district city council candidate only I urge the members of City Council to get this referendum on the next ballot and put this issue in the hands of the voters, not the special interest contingent!

Steve Collins President, SWCCAC

Ghost of budgets yet to come

To the editor:

Over the last several months the Cape Coral City

came to us as a 14-year-old who ran away from home in Honduras to escape a drug- and alcohol-addicted mother and a father who, once his child turned 12, insisted she either work full-time or get married

Lola, now 16, is enrolled in Lee County schools and living here with an aunt She hopes to study nursing and dreams of one day becoming a surgeon

As a private, nonprofit organization, the Lee County Legal Aid Society has provided no-cost, civil legal aid to low-income residents of our community for more than a halfcentury Unlike in criminal law, there is no Constitutional right to an attorney in civil law, which includes landlord-tenant disputes, foreclosures, evictions, probate, debt collection, child custody cases, domestic violence orders of protection and more

We’re deeply appreciative of our community partners in this renewed effort to narrow the access to justice gap in civil cases – and stand ready to zealously advocate for those in need of assistance, including society’s most vulnerable

For more information, visit www leecountylegalaid org or call 239-3346118

Eunice Gedeon Linot is an immigration services and Florida family law attorney with the Lee County Legal Aid Society

Council has been promoting the idea of having a town hall meeting to give all the citizens an opportunity to learn about and ask questions about the city budget.

At the Sept 21 special meeting, which was advertised in this paper, to approve the budget there were about eight members of the public present; one speaker spoke during Citizen’s input Two of the eight council members were absent The entire meeting lasted 16 minutes and 29 seconds, gavel to gavel This is what the town hall meetings will look like

The Budget Review Committee consisted of eight members who worked side by side with city staff to ask questions and make suggestions from a taxpayer point of view Yes, City Council and the BRC often disagreed on various topics but that was the job of the BRC, not to be a rubber stamp

At the regular Council meeting of Sept 20 this council voted to sunset the Budget Review Committee Remember that the next time you vote for council members

George Starner Former Budget Review Committee Member

Council closes the box in public input

To the editor:

The Mayor and City Council have put the flaps on the box down:

1 Took away the overhead presentation during Citizen input time

2 Dissolved the Budget Review Committee

3 Hired city manager at $285,000/year salary Fired the previous one

4 Threatened environmental groups on Chiquita Loch Ness monster lawsuit

5 Effectively dismantled the Youth Council Advisory Board

6 Raised taxes with the three musketeers (Fire, Storm Water, Waste Pro)

7 Raised the LCEC city tax by taking away the first 500 kilowatts exemption

8. Planning to raise taxes again

9 Continues reckless spending of tax dollars on lawsuits etc

10 Consistently makes up their own resolutions circumventing the City Charter

There is something wrong with a city government that does not want any input from its voters and citizens

Our democratic society is a Republic The people vote for representatives to do OUR will not the mayor and City Council’s

Lou Navarra Cape Coral

Guest: State leaders got it right

From page 4

In the wake of Ian, we applauded Gov DeSantis’s plan to launch a “$50 million loan program to help local governments bridge the gap between the time they were impacted by hurricanes Ian and Nicole and when they can access federal relief or recover their revenues ” These loans, which are interest free and fast-tracked for local communities most in need, have helped

Yes, many homes and businesses are still covered with blue tarps awaiting roofs torn away by Hurricane Ian and Nicole But now is not the time for divisive bickering In a society that too often focuses on the things that divide us, Floridians are showing the rest of the nation that state government, local governments, NGOs, and the private sector can work together not only to recover from natural disasters, but also to improve the quality of

life and economic opportunities of individuals from different walks of life and political affiliation

Thankfully, our state leaders get it, and by encouraging private groups like Better Together to work with the state they are saving lives and keeping families together in the process Florida got it right because Gov DeSantis cared more about getting results than getting credit As a result, he should get both

Megan Rose is founder and CEO of Better Together, a Florida-based nonprofit that supports struggling parents by helping them work to build a better life, keep children out of foster care, and ultimately reunite families To help families in your community, get help or donate, visit BetterTogetherUS.org or call 239-470-2733

Editorial: Hurricane Ian

From page 4

may warrant coverage separate from a simple homeowners policy and spread over policy holders nationwide

And one more thing, one year later We fail to understand why Congress has failed to consider legislation to designate Hurricane Ian as a qualified disaster, which would give Southwest Florida additional and deserved relief

This must be done now

As Mary Feichthaler, a Cape Coral-based CPA, explains in her guest column in today’s Breeze, the Oct 15 extended deadline to file personal income tax returns is nearly upon us, and the ability “to maximize loss deductions without claiming other itemized deductions” would benefit those who took the heaviest hits We invite you to read her column, which may be found on page 35

We invite you to read, as well, two other efforts concerning Hurricane Ian

The first, a special edition, “Hurricane Ian One Year Later,” may be found inside today’s Breeze

At 56 pages and encompassing three separate sections, it provides a bit of a look back but focuses on recovery among the communities the Breeze Newspapers is proud to serve

We thank those who took the time to speak with our reporters, to contribute stories or photographs, or to advertise their own efforts and recoveries

We have, indeed, come a long way and much more quickly than any of us would have thought as we stood among the damage to our homes, our businesses and our communities and weighed the impacts on our lives

The second is “Ian,” a 128-page hardcover book produced by the Breeze Newspapers It features stories, first-person accounts and more than 100 photographs, most of them

crowd-sourced, which truly makes the book a grassroots effort

We thank everyone for their contributions

“Ian” is your story, one year later Copies are available for purchase on our onlinestore at capecoralbreeze com or at our office at 2510 Del Prado Blvd Details may be found in our story on page 4C of the special section inside Breeze editorial

This week’s poll question:

One year later, are you still feeling the impact of Hurricane Ian?

∫ Yes, our is a loss that time hasn’t healed

∫ Yes, insurance issues

∫ Yes, housing or employment issues

∫ In terms of normalcy, we’re getting there

∫ No

Previous poll question

How would you rate this year’s city budget process?

∫ Good, no issues Happy with the process, happy with the outcome 14.5%

∫ Few issues except the elimination of the Budget Review Committee 5%

∫ I have issues with the outcome; taxes and spending are too high 81%

∫ Other

* 62 votes at press time

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

First-time cultural event to benefit Museum of History

Festa Italiana to offer two components a daytime festival and an evening dinner concert

B y C J H A D D A D c j h a d d a d @ b r e e z e n e w s p a p e r s c o m A f i r s t - t i m e f e s t i v a l s e t t o h i t C a p e C o r a l t h i s w e e ke n d w i l l c e l e b r a t e I t a l i a n c u l t u r e , c u i s i n e , a n d a r t s T h e C a p e C o r a l M u s e u m o f H i s t o r y i s h o l d i t s i n a ug u r a l F e s t a I t a l i a n a , h o n o r i n g t h e h e r i t a g e o f C a p e C o r a l ’ s a n y I t a l i a n - A m e r i c a n r e s i d e n t s T h e t w o - p a r t e v e n t w i l l b e h e l d a t t h e G e r m a n A m e r i c a n S o c i a l C l u b o f C a p e C o r a l t h i s S a t u r d a y , f e a t u r i n g a f e s t i v a l f r o m n o o n u n t i l 5 p m a n d e v e n i n g d i n n e r , d a n c e a n d s h o w

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u n d e r a d m i t t e d f r e e T i c k e t s f o r t h e d i n n e r , d a n c e a n d s h o w a r e $ 4 0 T i c k e t s f o r t h e s h o w o n l y ( 7 t o 9 p m ) a r e $ 2 0 “ S o u t h w e s t h a s h a d a r o u g h c o u p l e o f y e a r s a n d i s c o n t i n u i n g t o h e a l , ” T r u l l a d d e d . “ B y p r o v i d i n g a f u n r e a s o n f o r t h e c o m m u n i t y t o g a t h e r , w e h o p e t o c r e a t e a n a n d e n j o y a b l e a n d m e m o r a b l e e x p e r i e n c e f o r a l l a g e s ” D i n n e r / c o n c e r t t i c k e t s a r e a v a i l a b l e f o r p u r c h a s e o v e r t h e p h o n e o n F r i d a y u n t i l 4 p m b y c a l l i n g t h e m u s e u m a t 2 3 9 - 7 7 2 - 7 0 3 7 A l l p r e - p a i d t i c k e t s w i l l b e l i s t e d o n a w i l l c a l l s h e e t a t t h e f r o n t e n t r a n c e T i c k e t s f o r b o t h F e s t a a n d t h e d i n n e r / c o n c e r t w i l l b e a v a i l a b l e a t t h e d o o r o n S a t u r d a y a s s u p p l i e s l a s t

T h e f e s t i v a l t a k e s p l a c e i n d o o r s a t t h e G e r m a n A m e r i c a n S o c i a l C l u b , a n d t h e e v e n t w i l l b e h e l d r a i n o r s h i n e T h e G e r m a n A m e r i c a n S o c i a l C l u b i s a t 2 1 0 1 S W P i n e I s l a n d R o a d

Ian: City to get $51 million for recovery

From page 1

back on their feet, and some have had to move on to another journey

One thing is for certain, and that’s no one that was here could ever forget what occurred on Sept 28, 2022

Wounds still continue to heal now 12 months later, through ceremonies such as the one that took place Thursday morning at Reflections Park in Cape Coral where a monument dedicated to the effort of city employees and in momory of the dead was unveiled, and the city-hosted resilience rally to take place Friday evening

“As Mayor of Cape Coral, I am proud that our community has made remarkable strides in recovery one year after Hurricane Ian,” said Cape Coral Mayor John Gunter via email “We’ve rebuilt homes, restored essential services, and strengthened our p r e p a r e d n e s s f o r f u t u r e c h a l l e n g e s

Together, we’ve proven that Cape Coral’s spirit is unbreakable, and we remain committed to ensuring a safer, more resilient future for all our residents ”

= I a n , t h e t h i r d - c o s t l i e s t h u r r i c a n e i n United States history forever changed the lives, and landscape, that so many call home

With sustained wind gusts over 150 mph, Hurricane Ian is a storm that will never be forgotten by those who experienced its power The system spanned more than 500 miles wide and was the most substantial storm to ever hit the Southwest Florida

After evolving into a tropical storm on Sept 21, by the time Ian had arrived to the Gulf side of Florida, it had increased to a Category 4 level storm, and even reached Category 5 criteria before making landfall at Cayo Costa just below peak strength

Originally forecasted to impact further north along the coast, Ian had other plans a n d v e e r e d r i g h t t o w a r d s S o u t h w e s t Florida, officially arriving on Sept 28

When the wind and rain subsided, thousands of homes, and lives, were lost.

Ultimately, Ian resulted in 161 fatalities, 149 of which were in Florida with 72 occurring in Lee County, far and away the deadliest county for Ian

Barrier islands were underwater, bridges were collapsing, roofs were being ripped off like an old Band-Aid

Lee County officials report the total estimated cost of the storm sits at $297 3 million, with the majority of costs associated with debris removal, solid waste, and emergency protective measures.

Since the storm, 6 29 million cubic yards of debris has been collected throughout the county, to go along with 3 83 million in vegetation, 2 3 million in construction and demolition debris, 36,000 cubic yards of concrete and 145,000 cubic yards of dirty sand

“ I n e x p e r i e n c i n g t h e s t o r m ' s s h e e r power, we were concerned for the wellbeing of our residents,” Gunter said “In the immediate aftermath, we were determined t o r e s t o r e s e r v i c e s a n d e n s u r e s a f e t y throughout the city. We prayed for those who suffered losses, and our spirits were tested as we faced adversity together

Hurricane Ian left its mark on our community, and while we were knocked down, we were not knocked out The storm and the weeks that followed reminded us that with strength, compassion, and determination, we would rebuild and recover ”

The city is on the road to recovery, officials said, adding they are proud of staff efforts in the wake of Ian, many of whom suffered personal loss

“Despite Hurricane Ian being the costliest hurricane in Florida’s history, Cape

Cape Coral Together: Resilience Rally set for today

T h e “ C a p e C o r a l T o g e t h e r : Resilience Rally” will be held today, Sept 29, from 6-10 p m at the GermanAmerican Social Club

The event will feature live music from Deep Cover (6 p m ), Deb & The Dynamics (7:15), and Taylor Goyette (8:45) as well as a variety of food trucks

In addition to bringing the community together for some fun, the event aims to aid local non-profit organizations whose resources were exhausted by the storm Organizations include the Cape Caring Center, Cape Coral Animal Shelter, Cape Vineyard Church, Faith Generation, Kiwanis and the Military Order of the Purple Heart

The German-American Social Club is at 2101 SW Pine Island Road

Coral made significant strides in recovery right away We were the first city in the area to restore water to its residents, prev e n t i n g a n e v a c u a t i o n o f C a p e C o r a l Hospital, and we provided water to our neighbors in Matlacha when their water plant wasn’t able to,” said City Manager Michael Ilczyszyn, who at the time of the storm was director of Public Works

“We then worked earnestly to restore the rest of Cape Coral’s infrastructure and remain resolute on the path of recovery At this point, a year after the storm, work continues with FEMA inspections, review, and approval to proceed with permanent work Traffic signal restoration will begin in November and should be complete within six months Cape Coral’s homes are at varying stages of repair, and our local businesses have shown incredible resilience Our community has persevered in the face of this adversity, demonstrating that even in the wake of our biggest challenges, Cape Coral's strength knows no bounds?”

Though Ian's might was impressive, it c o u l d n o t o v e r s h a d o w t h e h e a r t a n d strength of Cape Coral's own

“Looking back at the past year, I'm in awe of our residents' remarkable recovery following the storm,” Gunter said “Amidst the challenges, we witnessed incredible acts of kindness, neighbors helping neighbors, and a deep sense of unity that continues to define us To those still on the path of rebuilding, remember that your community is here for you Together, we will support each other, rebuild what was lost, and forge a brighter, more resilient future for Cape Coral ”

The city learned Thursday it would be receiving $51 million in state recovery funds.

Gunter said Cape Coral City Council has also worked to ensure the Cape is best prepared for the inevitable, and that's when another major hurricane will arrive in Southwest Florida

"Responding to and recovering from Hurricane Ian has been a formidable test for our City," Gunter said "It's also been a powerful lesson that better prepares us for future storms We've strengthened our emergency response systems, enhanced public works resilience, and improved community education and preparedness. Our experience with Ian has made us stronger, and we're committed to continuing these efforts to ensure the safety and well-being of our residents in the face of any future challenge "

REAL ESTATE

What deed changes are needed when homeowner gets married?

Mr Feichthaler, I have owned my Cape Coral home for six years in my own name, with no mortgage I was married a few weeks ago, and have taken the family name of my husband Do I need to deed the property to myself with my new name?

Dear Anne,

C o n g r a t u l a t i o n s o n your marriage! An initial review of your facts i n d i c a t e t h e s a m e owner (you) will have ownership both before and after marriage If y o u w e r e t o s e l l t h e p r o p e r t y , a n a m echange affidavit should be all that is needed, along with a copy of your marriage certific a t e , t o c o n v e y t h e property in the future

Anne S

T HE BREE ZE

SEPTEMBER 29, 2023

The Fed and Ian still impact Cape’s condo sales and supply

O n e y e a r l a t e r , t h e i m p a c t o f Hurricane Ian is still being felt in our area as repairs to homes, condos and businesses continue and more stories a b o u t c o n t r a c t o r f r a u d e m e r g e T h e financial hit to individual homeowners and condo associations who lost large sums of money to scam artists in the aftermath of Ian is heartbreaking

On the ground, we are continuing to see a steady flow of property owners choosing to sell and move away for a variety of reasons, many of which loop back to Hurricane Ian in one form or another Rising property taxes, especially for non-Homesteaded homeowners, and rising insurance costs combined with the headaches many have experienced in dealing with contractors and insurance companies, are forcing some to sell Fortunately, we also continue to see a lot of people from elsewhere looking to move here, however, the recent spike up in mortgage rates above 7% and questions about insurance are causing some buyers to hit the pause button

Homing In

an list price for condos in the Cape came in at $317,900 and there are currently 94 condo listings at $275,000 and below, with 19 of these units priced below $200,000 At the other end of our price spectrum there are a total of 52 condos priced at $500,000 and above, with 9 of these units listed at $1 million and up We currently have 63 Cape Coral condos under contract with buyers as pending sales at prices ranging from $150,000 to $655,000 Most notable is the fact that there are only two “luxury” condos, which we define as $500,000 and above in the Cape, under contract versus the 52 active listings in this segment With a current median pending sales price of $275,000 for Cape Coral condos, half of the 63 contracts to purc h a s e a c o n d o a r e p r i c e d b e l o w $275,000 in contrast to the current median list price of $317,900 A total of 46 of the 63 pending sales, or 73% of our condo market, are under contract at $325,000 or less

Estate Law

In the alternative, you can deed the property to yourself with your new name Whichever you choose, it is advisable to do this sooner than later This issue could cause delays in a sale if your present name doesn’t match the deed

Another consideration is your marriage If this is homestead property, your husband has certain rights granted under the Florida Constitution, including a right to live there for life if you died while owning it as homestead Typically, my clients deed out to the new husband and wife couple This avoids potential court action regarding your husband’s rights, as well as a potential need for probate No documentary stamps / transfer tax is due when adding a new spouse, even when there is a mortgage on the property I have seen many title issues arise when newly married couples mishandle this process, and it ends up costing a lot more Speak with a real estate attorney before proceeding with any changes to your home.

Eric P Feichthaler has lived in Cape Coral for over 35 years and graduated from Mariner High School in Cape Coral After completing law school at Georgetown University in Washington, D C , he returned to Southwest Florida to practice law and raise a family He served as mayor of Cape Coral from 2005-2008, and continues his service to the community through the Cape Coral Caring Center, Cape Coral Museum of History, and Cape Coral Kiwanis He has been married to his wife, Mary, for over 20 years, and they have four children together He earned his board certification in Real Estate Law from the Florida Bar He is AV Preeminent rated by Martindale-Hubbell for professional ethics and legal ability, and is a Supreme Court Certified Circuit Civil Mediator He can be reached at eric@capecoralattorney com, or 239-542-4733

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

To be sure, Hurricane Ian created some incredible challenges to our real estate market and the impacts will be felt for years to come However, as we have noted in this column numerous times in the past 18 months, the serious and rapid policy shift to higher interest rates by the Federal Reserve beginning in March 2022, to fight the out-of-control “transitory” inflation, had already changed our market well before Ian shifted and roared through Southwest Florida Basically, our real estate market peaked somewhere around April 2022, and started softening from there

The correlation between the shift in the Fed’s monetary policy and the shift in our condo market is revealing Back on Jan 4, 2022, there were only 37 condos listed for sale through a Realtor in the Cape with 70 condos under contract with buyers as pending sales On April 5, 2022, we had 53 active condo listings and 124 pending sales. Just weeks before Ian on Sept 6, 2022, we were up to 162 condo listings on the market and down to 64 pending sales, as the Fed continued to jack-up rates

Fast forward to this Tuesday, Sept 26, and there were 299 active listings in the MLS for Cape Coral condos at list prices ranging from $135,000 to $3 9 million The second lowest priced condo was at $155,000 and the second highest priced condo was at $1 75 million The medi-

For t Myers CRA approves extension for McCollum Hall

In the overall Cape condo market, there were 30 closed sales in the month of August, which was 47 4% lower than the 57 closed condo sales in August of 2022, and 3 2% below the 31 sales in July of this year In the first eight months of this year, there were a total of 364 condos sold overall in the Cape, which was down 30 3% from the 522 condo units sold in the first eight months of 2022

The August median sales price was $272,250 for the overall Cape condo market, which was 1 0% below the $275,000 posted in August 2022, and 4 5% less than the $285,000 in July of this year In the first eight months of 2023, the median sales price averaged $282,403 per month in our overall condo market, which was 2 7% above the average of $275,031 per month in the first eight months of 2022

Gulf access canal condos

In the Cape Coral gulf access canal condo segment, which includes all “saltwater” canal condos, there were 15 closed sales in August, which was 34 8% lower than the 23 condos sold in August 2022, but 66 7% above the 9 sales in July of this year In the first eight months of 2023, a total of 167 saltwater condos were sold, which was 29 8% less than the 238 sales in the first eight months of

REAL ESTATE BRIEFS

The Fort Myers Community Redevelopment Agency has approved a six-month extension on the commencement of the renovations of McCollum Hall

The CRA Board of Commissioners granted the developer, G C McCollum, LLC, a requested six-month extension to commence construction as they seek approval from the city of Fort Myers Historic Preservation Commission and the Southwest Florida Water Management District

McCollum Hall, located at 2701 Dr Martin Luther King Jr Blvd , Fort Myers, is being developed by Alexander Goshen + Cornerstone Strategic Partners, LLC

Plans include developing a 26-unit multi-family residential building and a 14,200-square-foot food and market hall for the city of Fort Myers to enjoy. With multiple failed attempts by other developers to restore the area, Alexander Goshen + Cornerstone Strategic Partners, LLC, are confident they can bring the complex back to its former glory Additionally, their goal is to establish THIRTY8 Collective to be an integral part of the community

McCollum Hall was constructed in 1938 by Clifford

See IMPACT, page 15

McCollum, Sr , as a commercial center in the Dunbar area

The second story housed a dance hall whose stage hosted many famous performers like Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Louis Armstrong, B B King and others throughout the 1930s and '40s It was a center for commerce, music and entertainment and one of the few places Blacks and whites commingled during segregation

McCollum Hall has officially been added to the National Register of Historic Places To honor the history of McCollum Hall, Clifford McCollum will be memorialized within the space

For more information and updates on the development, visit thirty8collective.com

Since 1984, the CRA has managed redevelopment trusts to revitalize blighted areas in the City of Fort Myers This reinvestment can take the form of public infrastructure, residential and commercial grant programs, public arts, affordable housing development, safety initiatives and historic preservation The Fort Myers CRA office is located at 1400 Jackson St , in the historical downtown River District

See REAL ESTATE BRIEFS, page 15

Bob and Geri Quinn

Eric P Feichthaler Real

SVN Commercial Advisory Group manages $1.65 million land transaction in Cape Coral

SVN Commercial Advisory Group has announced the recent completion of a $1 65 million transaction involving prime undeveloped acreage at the corner of 18th Street, N E , and Santa Barbara Boulevard in Cape Coral

Advisor Mary O’Malley, CCIM, represented the property seller, Event Horizon Realty in Palm Beach, Fla This commercial parcel comprising 1 99 acres is earmarked for the development of a three-story self-storage facility, making it a valuable

asset.

Collaborating with O’Malley on the transaction were Nick Malagisi, SIOR, of SVN Real Estate Advisors, and Hans Hardisty, CCIM, of SVN Hardisty Commercial Their combined expertise was pivotal in the execution of this deal

The new owner of the property is Shadowbrook Development, a real estate development and acquisition company headquartered in Longwood, Fla Shadowbrook Development recognized the

potential of this site, which is situated adjacent to a thriving residential area, ensuring a steady stream of potential customers for future commercial developments

This land deal is another sign of the selfstorage industry’s strength in the Sunshine State, with its growing population, inflow of seasonal residents and favorable regulatory policies

A full-service commercial real estate brokerage firm, SVN Commercial Advisory Group works with large corpora-

tions, middle market businesses and individual entrepreneurial investors The group provides advisory services for the sale, leasing and management of commercial properties Advisors at SVN Commercial Advisory Group have deep experience working with many types of investment real estate They serve the greater areas of Sarasota, Manatee and Charlotte counties For more information on the SVN Commercial Advisory Group, visit suncoastsvn com

Impact: Key factors in Cape Coral condominium sales and supplies

From page 14

2022

The August median sales price came in at $290,000 for the Cape’s saltwater canal condo segment, which was 13 4% below the $335,000 posted in August of 2022, and 30 1% lower than the $415,000 in July of this year In the first eight months of 2023, the median sales price averaged $347,301 per month, or 4 5% higher than the average of $332,188 per month in the first eight months of 2022

Direct sailboat access canal condos

In the Cape Coral direct sailboat access canal condo segment, which is a subgroup of gulf access condos where boaters have no bridges to go under in the canal system, there were 7 closed sales in August This

From page 14

Geis Development completes industrial project in For t Myers

Geis Development, a multi-generational and national, family-owned real estate firm, has announced the completion of two i d e n t i c a l s p e c w a r e h o u s e s t o t a l i n g

500,000 square feet in Fort Myers The distribution center, dubbed Legacy 500K, is located at 16670 Oriole Road Within the Alico Business Corridor, the project provides tenants access to major highways serving the entire state The Southwest Florida project is being developed in partnership with Stonemont Financial Group

Both buildings will measure 250,000 square feet with 32-foot clear-height ceilings, ESFR sprinkler systems protected by high cube storage Each spec warehouse can accommodate tenants ranging in size

was down 41 7% from the 12 condos sold in August 2022, and even with the 7 units sold in July of this year In the first eight months of 2023, a total of 93 direct sailboat access canal condos were sold in the Cape, which was 38% below the 150 sales in the first eight months of 2022

The August median sales price came in at $355,000 for direct sailboat access canal condos, which was 8 3% below the $387,000 posted in August 2022, and down 21 9% from $449,900 in July of this year In the first eight months of 2023, the median sales price in this segment averaged $391,231 per month, or 5 3% higher than the average of $371,588 per month in the first eight months of 2022

Dry lot condos

In the Cape Coral dry lot (non-canal) condo segment, there were 13 closed sales

in August, which was 53 % lower than the 28 condos sold in August 2022, and 18 8% below the 16 sales in July of this year In the first eight months of 2023, there were a total of 160 dry lot condos sold in the Cape, which was 32.8% below the 238 dry lot condo units sold in the first eight months of 2022

The August median sales price was $242,000 for the Cape’s dry lot condo segment, which was 7 5% higher than the $225,200 posted in August 2022, and 5 8% above the $228,750 in July of this year In the first eight months of 2023, the median sales price for dry lot condos in the Cape averaged $245,274 per month, or 7 4% more than the average of $228,472 per month in the first eight months of 2022.

The sales data for this article was

REAL ESTATE BRIEFS

from 37,000 square feet up to single-tena n t o c c u p a n c y o f t h e e n t i r e 2 5 0 , 0 0 0 square feet

Clive Daniels, which provides fine furnishings and custom residential and commercial interior design, is set to occupy 175,000 square feet in Building One with 21 dock doors and 39 trailer spaces making it perfect for the import and export of its product The facility will serve as the logistics hub for its four showrooms It will also be the center of Clive Daniel’s corporate operations, serving as the headquarters for merchandising, accounting, advertising, and C-suite teams There will be more than 85 full-time team members working out of the new building

Geis Companies started developing in Southwest Florida in the 1980s with the A i r p o r t W o o d s C o m m e r c e C e n t e r Industrial Park and is now back developing

additional projects focused on the Alico Business Corridor such as Legacy 500K and The Centro Apartment Complex For m o r e i n f o r m a t i o n , v i s i t www BuildGeis com

Krizen joins Heatherwood Construction

Heatherwood Construction Company has hired Sean Krizen as a project manager. He has over 18 years of construction a n d c o n t r a c t i n g e x p e r i e n c e t h r o u g h o u t Southwest Florida

P r i o r t o j o i n i n g H e a t h e r w o o d C o n s t r u c t i o n , K r i z e n w a s S o u t h w e s t

Florida division manager for Southwest Electrical Contracting Services in Fort Myers where he took a leading role in planning projects with other project managers and superintendents From 2019-2021, he was director of JS Held in Naples, working

Multiple Listing Service Matrix for Lee County, Fla , as of Sept 25, 2023, unless otherwise noted It was compiled by Bob and Geri Quinn and it includes information specifically for Cape Coral condominiums, townhouses, and villas, and it does not include any single family homes, short sales, or foreclosures The data and statistics are believed to be reliable, however, they could be updated and revised periodically, and are subject to change without notice The Quinns are a husband and wife real estate team with the RE/MAX Realty Team office in Cape Coral They have lived in Cape Coral for over 44 years Geri has been a full-time Realtor since 2005, and Bob joined Geri as a full-time Realtor in 2014. Their real estate practice is mainly focused on Cape Coral residential property and vacant lots

as an owner’s representative and project manager

Krizen was owner of HK Construction Group in Venice for 10 years, managing various retail, office, government and residential projects He also served as project m a n a g e r f o r H a l f a c r e C o n s t r u c t i o n Company in Sarasota from 2005-2009

Heatherwood Construction Company is a full-service, commercial general contractor serving the west coast of Florida from Marco Island to the Panhandle Since 1980, the firm has provided complete construction services, including site search and selection, feasibility analysis, site development, value engineering, vertical construction, LEED certification, and more Recent p r o j e c t s i n c l u d e s c h o o l s , m u l t i - f a m i l y , retail, restaurants and community amenities For more about the business, visit https://heatherwoodconstruction com/

Mealybugs

(Editor’s note: The following column was published previously in The Breeze )

By JANETTA FOX news@breezenewspapers com

Chances are pretty good that at some point in time your plants will be subjected to insect damage The mealybug is one pest that I am well acquainted with, as are my plants

Although you may see adults crawling about, normally you won’t notice much of an issue until the appearance of cotton-looking substances on the leaves, stems or bark. These cottony masses serve as protection for the adult female mealybug’s eggs

Special Pops dancers participated in the recent National Ballroom Dance Week celebration.

USA Dance chapters host National Ballroom Dance Week celebration

groups of dancers in the mornings and afternoon on Mondays

GARDEN CLUB OF CAPE

CORAL

Once the eggs hatch, the n y m p h s , a l s o k n o w n a s c r a w l e r s , w i l l p o s i t i o n themselves in ideal locations, protect themselves w i t h a w a x y c o a t a n d , using their piercing stylets, begin to suck the sap life out of leaves and stems In exchange, they deposit saliva that is toxic to the plant and which will ultimately lead to the plant’s demise (McCormick, 2019).

And, as if that weren’t enough, these pests resort to leaving a trail of honeydew in their wake, the sweetness of which attracts ants The ants return the favor by doing their best to protect their benefactors Not to mention that the honeydew is a breeding ground for sooty mold, which will limit the amount of sunlight the plant can take in for the purpose of photosynthesis A lot is going on in this scenario with the plant paying the ultimate price if control measures are not in place

Online sources offer preventative and remedial recommendations for the control of mealybugs, a number of which are presented below As you will note, not all are considered eco-friendly

1 Inspect your plants before purchase Oftentimes, we end up bringing mealybugs and other pests home with the plant Make certain you are purchasing one that is healthy and free of pests

2 When selecting plants, ensure they are the right ones for the location you have planned for them Even healthy plants can be attacked by pests However, those that become weakened because their needs are not being met offer an even greater invitation to mealybugs and other pests

3 For light infestations, try a burst of water to dislodge the unwanted pests, keeping in mind you may also be dislodging beneficial insects

4 Dab a cotton ball with 70 percent isopropyl alcohol and gently remove the unwanted pests by hand Avoid spraying alcohol directly on leaves as it can cause leaf damage

5 If you see evidence of mealybug predators, such as parasitic wasps, lacewings, midges, spiders or black ladybugs, also known as mealybug destroyers, consider leaving the plant alone You can be assured that these good bugs are taking care of business

See MEALYBUGS, page 41

National Ballroom Dance Week The celebration included the reading of the city proclamation designating "Special Populations/USA Dance Day" by Cape Coral Mayor John Gunter Special Populations, a Cape Coral facility for adults with developmental and intellectual disabilities, celebrated with parents, relatives, friends and Special Populations staff/friends

An audience of 75-plus enjoyed watching the new USA Dance Cape Coral Special Populations dance team USA Dance chapters 6049/6123 have provided dance classes for the past 11 years Dance coaches Carol Davis, James Sonsalla and Roseann Hoffman have instructed two

The team has performed for 5 Cape Coral mayors and two Fort Myers mayors The traveling dancers have performed at the "Tree lighting Ceremony," Streets Alive and even performed at the Marlins baseball field

To end the joyous day the "Pops" team asked their guests to dance with them The floor was full of happy dancers with smiles everywhere

For more information, contact Carol Davis of the Cape Coral/Fort Myers USA Dance chapter, call 239-565-7947 or email dancingtala@gmail com

Daughters of the American Revolution chapter participates in Constitution & Citizenship Day

On Friday, Sept 15, the Lawrence Kearny Chapter, NSDAR and other chapters from The Great Southwest Florida Regents’ Council participated in the second annua l C o n s t i t u t i o n & C i t i z e n s h i p D a y a t t h e F e d e r a l Courthouse in downtown Fort Myers

Opening remarks were by the Honorable Sheri Polster Chappell, president Lee County Bar Association, who was a sponsor of the event he Caloosa Chapter SAR’s Lighthorse Harry Lee Color Guard presented colors, the Cypress Lake High School TAG singers lead the “Star Spangled Banner” and the 5th graders from Saint Michael Lutheran School recited the Preamble to the Constitution

Thirty candidates given the oath of citizenship by presiding judge - the Honorable Kye C Dudek

Following the oath, remarks were shared. One of the speakers, the Hon Carlos Baradat had come to America as a child and later in life became a naturalized citizen Part of his speech was a quote from President Regan: "You can go to live in France, but you cannot become a Frenchman You can go to Germany or Turkey or Japan, but you cannot become a German, a Turk or a Japanese But anyone, from any corner of the Earth, can come to live in America and become an American ”

Fourteen individuals from organizations in Lee County and the courthouse personnel read parts of the Constitution of the United States of America These focused on the three Branches of the Government and the Bill of Rights.

In the closing remarks, The Honorable Nicholas P Mezell shared a story about what should have been the 12th Amendment The 27th Amendment, commonly known as the Congressional Compensation Act of 1789,

was actually the second of 12 amendments proposed by the first Congress in 1789 (10 of these would be ratified and become the Bill of Rights) Absent a time period for ratification by the states, the expiration of which would render the amendment inoperable, it remained dormant for almost 80 years In 1982, after an undergraduate research paper written by Gregory Watson became the foundation for a movement to curtail political corruption by ratifying the amendment, efforts picked up steam By May 5, 1992, the requisite 38 states had ratified the amendment (North Carolina had re-ratified it in 1989), and it was certified by the archivist of the United States as the Twenty-seventh Amendment on May 18, 1992, more than 202 years after its original proposal [The Amendment XX11 prevents members of Congress from granting themselves pay raises during the current session Rather, any raises that are adopted must take effect during the next session of Congress ]

The flag was retired, and the new citizens, friends and family went inside the courthouse for the citizens to receive their naturalization certificates and have individual photos taken as they received the certificate They then were able to have a photo taken with Dudek

The DAR had two welcome tables with decorated cookies, scrolls of the Constitution, welcome packets and little bottle of water with American flag decals, and each new citizen was given a red, white and blue carnation. All with a big “congratulations and best wishes "

For additional information about the Lawrence Kearny Chapter of the DAR, please visit https://fssdar com/ LawrenceKearny/

PHOTO PROVIDED

Mealybugs on a plant

PHOTO PROVIDED

L e f t : F o r t M y e r s B e a c h Mayor Dan Allers (left to right), Lt Gov Jeanette

N u n e z , G e o r g e M e r s c h m a n , L i n d a M e r s c h m a n , R e p A d a m

B o t a n a , L e e C o u n t y C o m m i s s i o n e r R a y S a n d e l l i , F o r t M y e r s B e a c h C o u n c i l m e m b e r Karen Woodson and Fort M y e r s B e a c h C o u n c i l m e m b e r J o h n King look on as the new Ti m e s S q u a r e c l o c k a s u n v e i l e d A b o v e , K e i t h M o s e s a k a “ C a p t a i n Silver” and Derock Nagle, aka Sunny Trombone provide some entertainment

/NATHAN MAYBERG

One year later: Recovery assistance promised, provided

By NATHAN MAYBERG nmayberg@breezenewspapers com

Promises of assistance and pledges to see Fort Myers Beach through its recovery was the message delivered by an impressive roster of state and county officials at a reopening of Bayside Park Thursday While an announcement from Gov Ron DeSantis Thursday afternoon for $14 million to the Fort Myers Beach Fire Control District was proof of those words, it would be the unveiling of a new clock at Times Square that would bring hundreds of people together in cheer, laughter, hugs, handshakes, dancing and embrace

At a park on Old San Carlos Boulevard that was filled with pile of debris a year ago but which had been recently restored to its former glory with a $500,000 grant from the private donations of a hurricane recovery fund run by First Lady Casey DeSantis, Lt Gov Jeanette Nunez told the crowd

“Our administration remains committed. We are going to be with you every step of the way ”

Later that afternoon, Gov DeSantis announced that $338 million had been approved for communities throughout the state for hurricane aid recovery part of the $350 million the state approved in its budget earlier this year While the initial announcement didn’t immediately spell out if other aid for Fort Myers Beach was on its way, the town is expected to get funding for some projects it has requested - including new lighting. The town the hardest hit area of Lee County is also looking for funding for a new town hall, for roads and to make up for a loss of revenue lost due to a $2 7 billion drop in property tax value

The town is also seeking to have an $11 9 million bridge loan forgiven by the state Asked if Gov DeSantis would forgive the loan to Fort Myers Beach, Nunez said “I will certainly talk to him about it I haven't discussed that I know the governor is committed to the full-time recovery ”

Cape Coral to get $51 million in recover y funding

Gov Ron DeSantis awarded $338 million in state funding to communities impacted by Hurricane Ian to support long-term recovery efforts and resiliency

These funds will be used to assist with ongoing hurricane repairs and recovery efforts for schools, sheriff’s offices, fire stations, parks and recreation centers, roads, wastewater treatment plants, beach renourishment, and will assist local governments with loss of revenue since the storm

Local funding includes:

■ $51 million to the City of Cape Coral

■ $14 million to Fort Myers Beach Fire Control District

■ $600,000 to the City of Fort Myers

■ $4 3 million to Lee Memorial Health Systems

■ $51 million to Lee County School Board

■ $8 million to Sanibel Fire and Rescue District

■ $28 million to the City of Sanibel

■ $1 million to Captiva Erosion Prevention District

■ $350,000 to Captiva Fire Control District

The Hurricane Recovery Program was established in the Framework for Freedom Budget to assist with gaps recovery efforts Funds can also be requested to assist with loss of revenue due to the impacts of these storms

Sen Jonathan Martin (R-33) said talks are under way about forgiving the loan.

“There is talk about that,” he said Martin suggested the state could also forgive the interest if not the entire amount

Officials promised they would not turn their backs on Fort Myers Beach

“The State of Florida is not going to forget the pain you endured,” said Florida Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis

As heartfelt as the promises and words were from state politicians at Bayside Park and as nice of a sight the park was with its colorful shade sales and stage for music (some of which survived Hurricane Ian), it was a clock that brought that the community most together

The clock, donated by George and Linda Merschman of Illinois, brought a rapture of applause at Times Square Thursday morning that rivaled the serenading of the town's former utilities director Christy Cory when it as

announced water had been fully restored after Hurricane Ian.

The clock may seem like a simple fixture though at a cost of $40,000 to the Merschmans plus electrical work installation costs for the town, it was a major project to replace the former clock that been there for 21 hours until being destroyed by Hurricane Ian The clock's symbolism for a Times Square devastated by Ian could not be more pronounced Hundreds of people surrounded the clock for the unveiling with cameras up to take photos as noon approached Some waited hours for a good spot at Times Square to see the unveiling which has been anticipated for weeks After the clapping, there was hugging, handshaking and dancing on Times Square as music took over nearby at La Ola Restaurant and down Old San Carlos Blvd at Snug Harbor Waterfront Restaurant, Wahoo Willie's, Matanzas on the Bay and Yucatan Beach Stand

Ms Merschman said she and her husband started coming to Fort Myers Beach in 2017 and invested in building homes on the island “It's a sign of rebirth,” Ms Merschman said “It's the least we can do It brings back memories ”

Mr Merschman said the couple had more donation plans for the beach They will be donating a percentage of each home they sell on Fort Myers Beach to the town to rebuild its pool at Bay Oaks Recreational Campus

“This is kind of our happy place," Ms Merschman said “It's where we get away from everything ”

Closing out the Bayside Park reopening ceremony was the Fort Myers Beach Elementary School Choir. Lee County Schools Supt Dr Chris Bernier spoke about the school board's decision to rebuild Fort Myers Beach Elementary School

“Schools are not just a place They are the heart of a community,” he said “They are where dreams begin ”

Other state officials in attendance who spoke were Florida Division of Emergency Management Director Kevin Guthrie, Rep Spencer Roach (R-79), Rep Jenna PersonsMulicka (R-78), Rep Adam Botana (R-80) and Lee County Sheriff Carmine Marceno

Fort Myers Beach Vice Mayor Jim Atterholt said he spoke to Patronis Thursday to ask that the state and insurance commissioner's office investigates the underpaying of insurance payouts to Hurricane Ian victims Atterholt said it was not enough to fine insurance companies He said the state must ensure the insurance companies pay out to what is owed to property owners

Atterholt said he believed the attendance of so many state officials at Thursday's ceremonies “further invests them in the island I think it will pay dividends in the long run." He said the outpouring of the community on the one-year anniversary of Ian was “a wonderful mix of reverence and optimism ”

Substitute teachers plead for additional pay

B y M E G H A N B R A D B U RY n e w s @ b r e e z e n e w s p a p e r s c o m S u b s t i t u t e t e a c h e r s , w h o a r e m a k i n g l e s s t h a n $ 1 6 a n h o u r i n L e e C o u n t y ’ s p u b l i c s c h o o l s , a r e a s k i n g f o r w h a t t h e y s a y i s a l o n g o v e r d u e b u m p i n c o m p e n s at i o n “ W e a r e t e a c h e r s N i n e t e e n d o l l a r s w o u l d b e a n i c e i n c e n t i v e b e c a u s e w e d o n ’ t w a n t t o l e a v e , ” L e e C o u n t y A s s o c i a t i o n o f P r o f e s s i o n a l S u b s t i t u t e t e a c h e r s P r e s i d e n t S h e r i d a n C h e s t e r s a i d “ I t ’ s g o i n g t o t u r n o u t t h e w a y i t i s s u pp o s e d t o t u r n o u t I d o n ’ t t h i n k t h e c h i ld r e n a r e s u p p o s e d t o s u f f e r t h e r e s t o f t h e i r l i v e s f o r i g n o r a n t a d u l t s W e a r e c o n c e r n e d a b o u t o u r c h i l d r e n ” O v e r t h e l a s t 1 0 y e a r s , s u b s t i t u t e t e a c h e r s h a v e h a d t w o r a i s e s , e a c h f a l l i n g u n d e r 7 0 c e n t s a n h o u r , t o p u t t h e m a t w e l l b e l o w $ 1 6 a n h o u r m a r k “ T h e y p u t u s i n a c o r n e r . W e h a v e n o o p t i o n s T h e o n l y t h i n g w e c o u l d d o i s n o t s h o w u p Y o u c a n n o t n o t s h o w u p , c a n n o t a s k f o r p e o p l e t o d o t h a t , ” C h e s t e r s a i d b e c a u s e t h e s t u d e n t s w o u l d b e t h e o n e s t o s u f f e r “ W e s t i l l w a n t t o k e e p d o i n g i t , b u t w e d o n ’ t w a n t t o d o i t f o r f r e e ” C h e s t e r s a i d e v e r y b o d y k n o w s w h a t t h e p r o b l e m i s , b u t w h y i s n ’ t a n y o n e l i st e n i n g ? “ I t c a n b e r e s o l v e d , i t ’ s j u s t t h a t e a s y , ” s h e s a i d . T h e a d d i t i o n a l c o m p e n s a t i o n i s b e i n g a s k e d b e c a u s e t h e y , t o o , a r e f e e l i n g t h e

“We are teachers. Nineteen dollars would be a nice incentive because we don’t want to leave. It’s going to turn out the way it is supposed to turn out. I don’t think the children are supposed to suffer the rest of their lives for ignorant adults We are concerned about our children ”

Sheridan Chester, president of the Lee County Association of Professional Substitute Teachers who said subs working within the School District of Lee County make less than $16

p r e s s u r e o f i n f l a t i o n , a s w e l l a s t h e h i g h c o s t o f l i v i n g i n S o u t h w e s t F l o r i d a “ I t i s t o o e x p e n s i v e t o l i v e h e r e T h e r e i s n o e x c u s e f o r F l o r i d a t o b e t h e m o s t e x p e n s i v e p l a c e t o b u y a h o m e , ” C h e s t e r s a i d T h e r e a r e b e t w e e n 1 , 5 0 0 a n d 1 , 7 0 0 s u b s t i t u t e t e a c h e r s w h o f i l l i n f o r t h e 2 5 0 t o 4 0 0 t e a c h e r o u t a g e s a w e e k , s h e s a i d T h e y c a n g e t a c a l l a s e a r l y a s 6 p m t h e n i g h t b e f o r e t o a s l a t e a s 5 : 3 0 a m t h e m o r n i n g t h e y a r e n e e d e d “ I t ’ s u p t o y o u t o t a k e t h e c a l l S o m e t i m e s y o u g e t l o n g - t e r m a s s i g nm e n t s , ” C h e s t e r s a i d , a d d i n g t h a t t h e y c o l l e c t l o n g - t e r m a s s i g n m e n t p a y a f t e r 3 0 d a y s “ O n e o f m y b o a r d m e m b e r s h a d t h e j o b 2 9 d a y s a n d t h e n t h e y s w i t c h e d h e r t o a n o t h e r c l a s s a n d t h e n s h e d i d n ’ t g e t t h e l o n g - t e r m p a y T h e e x c l u s i o n o f f a i r n e s s , t h a t i s t h e o n l y r e a l i s s u e I h a v e ” S h e s a i d t h e r e i s n o r e s p e c t “ W e d o t h e w o r k t h a t t h e t e a c h e r s

d o n ’ t w a n t t o d o b e c a u s e t h e y a r e n ’ t t r e a t e d r i g h t T h e y e x p e c t u s t o p i c k u p t h e s l a c k , ” s h e s a i d “ I f e e l s o r r y f o r e v e r y b o d y i n t h e s i t u a t i o n , t e a c h e r s a s w e l l W e a r e t h e t r i c k l e d o w n W e a r e n ’ t c o n s i d e r e d e m p l o y e e s w e a r e a t - w i l l e m p l o y e e s I f a s t u d e n t d o e s n ’ t l i k e y o u , o r p r i n c i p a l d o e s n ’ t l i k e y o u , y o u a r e o n a d o n o t c a l l l i s t ” S u b s t i t u t e t e a c h e r s a r e i n t h e c l a s sr o o m s b e c a u s e t h e y l o v e w h a t t h e y d o , a s m o s t h a v e t a u g h t b e f o r e

“

W e h a d a s u b w o r k i n g u n t i l s h e w a s 9 2 y e a r s o l d I a m 7 5 , ” s h e s a i d

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

“

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

s u b s t i t u t e t e a c h e r s , n o s a f e t y p r o t o c o l s a n d , a g a i n , n o r e s p e c t “ T h e y m a d e n o s a f e t y p r e v e n t i o n s f o r u s f o r C O V I D W e c a m e i n f o r C O V I D w h e n t e a c h e r s c a l l e d o u t , ” s h e s a i d W i t h t h a t s a i d , C h e s t e r s a i d t h e k i d s w i l l a l w a y s b e h e r b a b i e s , a s s h e h a s d o n e t h e j o b f o r n o m o n e y f o r s o l o n g , i t d o e s n ’ t m a t t e r a n y m o r e “ T h e c h i l d r e n a r e g e t t i n g s o c h e a t e d i n t e r m s o f e d u c a t i o n , ” s h e s a i d

W h e n C h e s t e r r e t i r e d f r o m t h e F D A d u e t o a d i s a b i l i t y , s h e b e g a n v a c a t i o n i n g t o S o u t h w e s t F l o r i d a w h e r e t h e w a r m t e m p e r a t u r e s h e l p e d h e r S h e f o u n d B i g B r o t h e r , B i g S i s t e r b e c a u s e s h e w a n t e d t o b e w i t h c h i l d r e n . S h e e v e n t u a l l y b e c a m e a s u b s t i t u t e t e a c h e r f o r t h e S c h o o l D i s t r i c t o f L e e C o u n t y a f t e r t a ki n g a w e e k l o n g c l a s s a n d b e c o m i n g c e rt i f i e d “ I s t i l l l o v e i t , ” s h e s a i d 2 2 y e a r s l a t e r “ I t ’ s n o t a j o b R e a l t e a c h e r s a r e d r a w n t o t e a c h I t ’ s i n y o u t o t e a c h I d o n ’ t k n o w h o w t o o p e r a t e a n y o t h e r w a y ” C h e s t e r s a i d s h e ’ s s e r i o u s l y t h i n k i n g a b o u t r u n n i n g f o r t h e s u p e r i n t e n d e n t ’ s p o s i t i o n “ T h e o n l y p e r s o n t h a t i s g o i n g t o m a k e a d i f f e r e n c e i s s o m e o n e w h o c a r e s a b o u t e v e r y o n e t h a t i s i n v o l v e d i n t h e p r o c e s s , ” s h e s a i d “ I f w e a r e n o t a t e a m , w h a t a r e w e a n d w h a t a r e w e p r e p a r i n g o u r c h i l d r e n f o r ”

Protest: Support

“Water seeks the path of least resistance,” he added

The protest began at Rotary Park and ventured to Southwest 6th Place, where the entrance to the proposed development is planned It was there that the crime scene tape was stretched

There were cries for the county to purchase the land under 20/20 Conservation so it can remain as is in perpetuity for pennies on the dollar, as was done with Four Mile Cove three years ago.

Jason Pim, an environmentalist who grew up sailing and fishing in the area, said he appreciates a natural resource like the wetlands

“We tend to take these green areas for granted You see a project like this and Four Mile Cove come along and you learn they can be developed,” Pim said “You realize they are worth saving, which is why we’re here ”

Organizer Ruth Hague said such an undertaking takes more than one person or any group of people.

“We are neighbors and we face the same challenges We need you and we need actionable events Stand ready because there will be more of these,” Hague said “We’re going to depend on you to be there, rain or shine ”

Redfish Pointe, which sits just east of Tarpon Point totaling 350 acres, has more than 4,500 linear feet of frontage along the Caloosahatchee River The “Redfish Pointe Mixed Use Preserve District,” Future Land Use text amendment, was submitted to the city

The 110.22 acres for development improvement plans features a 90 37-acre mixed use site to include 800 residential units, a resort hotel, restaurants, retail shops, office space, a parking garage and boat slips

Other features at Redfish Pointe would include a 20-foot-wide boardwalk and 120spot public parking area, 75-foot-wide landscaping/natural area buffer, conveyance of 54 02 acres of high-quality wetlands, and a 2 26 acre, 100-foot-wide access road connection from Rose Garden Road to the internal roadway, including bike and pedestrian paths and landscaped median

Members of the organized group say the wetlands provide critical protection from storms, such as Hurricane Ian, and would increase flooding, destroy critical wildlife habitat, disrupt the hydrology and ecology degrading the natural character and appeal of Rotary Park, increase traffic congestion, and

strain infrastructure

The group has been speaking at most city council meetings for several months and has held meetings at Rotary Park to answer any questions residents have about Redfish Pointe

Hague said there will be more actionable events in the coming months to get more people on their side She said she was happy with the turnout even with the rain, as she was expecting around 60 people

“Someone posted on our website that it was raining and the event was cancelled We would have had a lot more people, but I’m still impressed with the turnout. There are a lot of concerned citizens,” Hague said

Annette Barbaccia of Milo Aubuchon Realty Group said in a previous interview any development would preserve wetlands and have minimal impact on nearby parks and neighborhoods

“(A potential developer) will make sure all of the water is retained on the property,” Barbaccia said “In fact, (the expert said) it could probably be even better, especially if we do plantings Because right now, everything has been devastated The buildings and other barriers can help serve as that, as well Two hundred and forty acres are going to remain as they are

Dozens of protesters march along Southwest 6th Place Wednesday during the Protect our Wetlands Cape Coral march near Rotary Park to protest a proposed development at Redfish Pointe. Above, Elizabeth Rosenberg shows her inner Joni Mitchell with her sign./CHUCK BALLARO

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

Pendergrass: Proposed charter amendment intended to foster annexation cooperation

By NATHAN MAYBERG nmayberg@breezenewspapers com

Concerned about efforts that have popped up in Cape Coral and Fort Myers, Lee County Commissioner Cecil Pendergrass said a proposed charter amendment in front of the Lee County Charter Review Commission that would give the county more authority over annexations is meant to “help the county and the cities work together for better planning for the future ”

The commissioner said he is concerned about annexations in other parts of the county which allowed developments that overwhelmed the local infrastructure in places like Fort Myers where housing permits were approved off Daniels Parkway to areas where the county is unable to provide water, transportation or other utilities

Pendergrass also referred to the annexation proposals b y C a p e C o r a l i n v o l v i n g u n i n c o r p o r a t e d a r e a s o f Matlacha near Pine Island which have been opposed by residents there and which he said would negatively impact

funding for the Matlacha/Pine Island Fire District

“I’m not trying to stop it,” he said “I’m trying to see if there is something we can do collectively to have more dialogue and conversation ”

Pendergrass said “as a policymaker and as a citizen of this county, we should be able to plan for the future to make sure we have the infrastructure and utilities in place as we grow as a community I totally support the development of businesses and the residential but there is a right place for it and a right time So sometimes I think we should have a better venue. I am just trying to create some type of venue so we can sit down and discuss that when there is an issue ”

The cities of Cape Coral, Fort Myers, Sanibel and the Village of Estero councils have all opposed the amendment

“I want to create a venue, not to deny the annexation, but to provide for long-term planning,” Pendergrass said “We don’t have any communication with cities when this happen ”

The Oasis High School JROTC color guard, which will help greet veterans after the Honor Flight Saturday.

PHOTO PROVIDED

Oasis High JROTC to welcome local veterans home Saturday after Collier-Lee Honor Flight

By CJ HADDAD cjhaddad@breezenewspapers com

Members of the Oasis High JROTC program will welcome local veterans home this week as they return from a special journey

On Saturday at Southwest Florida Inter-national Airport (RSW), 50 Oasis JROTC cadets will greet veterans who took part in Mission #25 of the Collier-Lee Honor Flight

According to its mission statement, the Collier-Lee Honor Flight transports local veterans to Washington, D C , to visit those memorials dedicated to honor their service and sacrifice The program was brought to the Collier County area on Sept. 25, 2013, and a very successful inaugural flight took place on Nov 9, just six weeks after forming

“We want to bring this experience to the kids,” said city of Cape Coral Charter School Authority Board Member Cathy Stout. “We want to bring it to the students It's really important to engage them with what's happening today We are ready to give the veterans a very warm and happy welcome ”

Oasis JROTC cadets will gather at the high school Saturday evening before boarding a bus to the airport provided by Dolphin Transportation and Cape veteran Chris Cammarota

The JROTC will present the colors and get to meet some of the veterans returning from the trip They also will be welcomed at the high school by local dignitaries Food for the students has been provided by Gino's Pizza of Cape Coral

“We want to give a special thank you to the community and everybody from Oasis as well as Dolphin Transportation, Gino's Pizza and Chris Cammarota,” Stout added. “It's an amazing experience, especially with the veterans we still have here in Cape Coral ”

She also thanked the JROTC commander, Lt Terrell Morrow and Oasis Charter School Superintendent Jacquelin Collins

The public is welcome to attend the 7 p m sendingoff at Oasis High School or the welcome back at the airport.

Oasis High School is at 3519 Oasis Blvd

For more information on the honor flight, visit www collierhonorflight org

Sanibel Mayor Richard Johnson said the city council there opposes the charter amendment and expressed concern for the amendment infringing on the city’s home rule

“Property owners seeking voluntary annexation would be subject to an unnecessary expense related to county bureaucracy,” he said

Johnson referred to the state legislature’s efforts to restrict the power of local governments over zoning as relatable to the proposed county charter amendment

“Home rule is under attack at every single (state) legislative session,” Johnson said. “Not just for the municipalities but the county as well ”

Johnson said annexation decisions should be left to the local municipalities

“I totally respect the cities’ home rule,” Pendergrass said “Before a property is annexed into the city, it is the county’s home rule So there is two sides to every story there ”

The Lee County Charter Review Commission is scheduled to meet again Oct 10

Cape Police make arrest in commercial burglaries

By CJ HADDAD cjhaddad@breezenewspapers com

Cape Coral police have arrested an individual accused of a string of commercial burglaries in July of 2022

C C P D o f f i c i a l s r e p o r t e d o n

T u e s d a y t h e a r r e s t o f A a r o n

Michael Moench, 38, of Venice, who is being charged with five counts of throwing a deadly missile into a building, five counts of burglary of a structure, five counts of criminal mischief, and three counts of petit theft

P o l i c e s a y i n J u l y o f ‘ 2 2 , Property Crimes Unit detectives developed Moench as a suspect in a string of burglaries at commercial properties

Aaron Michael Moench

Police officials state they conducted an operation in an attempt to catch Moench in the act of another burglary

“ A s d e t e c t i v e s s u r v e i l l e d M o e n c h , M o e n c h w a s caught in the act of committing a burglary at a hardware store in Fort Myers,” CCPD officials said in a release “ ( F o r t M y e r s P o l i c e D e p a r t m e n t ) w a s n o t i f i e d a n d responded PCU Detectives assisted FMPD officers with capturing Moench

“CCPD Detectives were able to connect Moench to multiple smash and grab burglaries after he bonded out of jail Moench fled the area before detectives could locate him and charge him with the additional burglaries It was later determined that Moench was also a suspect in smash and grab burglaries within Sarasota County ”

The State Attorney's Office approved arrest warrants for Moench, which were adopted by the U.S. Marshall's Taskforce, that located Moench out-of-state He was transported to Lee County Jail on Aug 5 and failed to appear in court on Sept 5

Moench is in custody being held on a total bond of $196,500 (not including failure to appear)

Blessing of the Pets Sunday at Cape Coral Animal Shelter

By CJ HADDAD cjhaddad@breezenewspapers com

Cape Coral pet owners can bring their four-legged friends dogs, cats or any others welcomed to the local animal shelter to be blessed this Sunday

T h e C a p e C o r a l A n i m a l S h e l t e r ’ s f o u r t h a n n u a l Blessing of the Pets takes place at 2 p m Oct 1 in honor of the Feast Day of St Francis, the patron saint of animals

This outdoor event is open to people and pets of all faiths There will be a very special service celebrating the special bond we have with our pets and each pet will receive a special blessing from our special guests: Pastor Mark McAnlis from First Congregational Church and the Rev Denise Sawyer from Lee Health

“This is such a great event for us, as it brings together the community with their pets,” said CCAS Executive Director Liz McCauley “It’s always so great to see all the different pets that show up (including a hedgehog last year)

“It’s neat to see the human-animal connection, and celebrate that It’s a very important part of our lives ”

Each participant will receive a prayer card and St Francis medallion There will be a photo station for pictures with your pet, a bake sale and a CCAS swag boutique.

All proceeds from the day will go directly towards the benefit of the animals at the shelter, and shelter services McCauley said McAnlis and Sawyer are great benefits to the event

“We have a phenomenal pastor and reverend,” she said “They both bring a unique perspective to the service The event is interdenominational it’s for everyone ”

McCauley said this event especially is so positive to see the strong bond between animal and mankind As you can imagine, shelter employees often see the harsh realities that come with rescuing animals

“Pets are our family And we should treat them like that,” she said “We see so much neglect and discarding of animals in our world, and when you have an event like this where you have people who care enough to bring their animals to be blessed and to celebrate their life, it gives you hope that there are people out there who do treat their animals as part of their family, as it should be ”

The shelter has plans to break ground for its expansion early next year, McCauley said

Sponsors for this event are The City of Reading, Mullins Memorial Funeral Home & Cremation Service and Raso Realty Dogs must always be on a leash (no retractable leashes) Cats, critters and other pets must be in a carrier Donations are encouraged and all proceeds sup-

Clean water issues topic of LWV meeting Oct. 7

The League of Women Voters of Lee County invites League members and the public to Clean Water in Lee County: Issues, Solutions and Actions, led by our speakers Joseph Bonasia, chair of the Florida Rights of Nature N e t w o r k , a n d C o d t y P i e r c e , C a l u s a W a t e r k e e p e r

Saturday, Oct 7, from 9:30-11 a m

You can participate either by attending the meeting inperson at The Collaboratory, 2031 Jackson St , Fort Myers, or via a Zoom link which will be provided to registrants

There is no charge to attend

Registration options are:

■ Registration link at https://www eventbrite com/

e / c l e a n - w a t e r - i n - l e e - c o u n t y - i s s u e s - s o l u t i o n s - a n dactions-tickets-712167711797

■ Email reservations @lwvlee org

■ Call 239-278-1032

The League of Women Voters of Lee County Inc is a n o n p a r t i s a n p o l i t i c a l o r g a n i z a t i o n t h a t e n c o u r a g e s informed and active participation in government, works to increase understanding of major public policy issues and influences public policy through education and advocacy Information on the programs and issues of the League of Women Voters is available at www lwv org, www lwvfl org, and www lwvlee org Call 239-2781032 or e-mail lwvlee@ gmail com

port the lifesaving efforts of the Cape Coral Animal Shelter To date, the shelter has found loving, forever homes for over 3,750 animals

For more information, visit www capecoralanimalshelter com

CCAS is at 325 S W 2nd Ave

Northwest Regional Library sets October programs

O c t o b e r ’ s r o s t e r o f a c t i v i t i e s a t Northwest Regional Library offers topics for all ages The following activities are free to the public:

Adult Programs

Tech Tuesdays: One-on-One Help

2 p m , Tuesday, Oct 3

Need help with a laptop, tablet, e-reader or other device? Are you looking to gain b a s i c t e c h n o l o g y s k i l l s ? S t a f f a t t h e Northwest Regional Library can help with a 15-minute, one-on-one technology help session Registration is required

Knit and Stitch

10 a.m., Wednesday, Oct. 4

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

Florida's Top 10 Ghostly Legends

- Presented by Christopher Balzano

4:30 p.m., Tuesday, Oct. 10

Join author and folklorist Christopher Balzano, author and host of the podcast

" T r i p p i n g o n L e g e n d s , " a s h e s h a r e s s p o o k y s t o r i e s a n d g h o s t l y l e g e n d s o f Southwest Florida and beyond

Chess at the Library

5:30 p m , Tuesday, Oct 10

Enjoy chess in a casual environment

Chess boards will be provided, but you can also bring your own All ages and skill levels are invited

Books & Bagels

10:30 a.m., Wednesday, Oct. 11

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

Random Acts of Art for Adults

1 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 12

Learn a new art technique or discover an old favorite at this pop-up art class designed for adults The project will not be announced until you arrive and seating will be limited to supplies on hand Registration is required

Fandom Trivia

4:30 p.m., Wednesday, Oct. 18

Gather your family and friends for a fun night of trivia that will test your knowledge of all things fandom Prizes will be awarded to the winning team(s) and everyone will have a chance to win the door prize

History of Rock 'n' Roll from the 1960 to the 1980s

3 p m , Thursday, Oct 19

Dr Clay Motley of Florida Gulf Coast University will discuss some of rock ‘n' roll's most influential decades Motley is an expert on the history and culture of the U S South, particularly through the lens of its popular music

Artsy Adult Craft: Quilled Cards

1 p m , Saturday, Oct 21

Learn some basic card making techniques and get geared up to send out some handmade greeting cards Registration is required

Tea Time Talks

6 p.m., Tuesday, Oct. 31

Do you enjoy robust, engaging book

discussions? Join us and share your latest reading recommendations Tea and cookies will be served

Children’s Programs

Baby Rhyme Time

10:30 a m , Mondays, Oct 2, 23, 30

For babies up to 18 months Babies and caregivers wiggle and giggle in a supportive environment Space is limited Arrive early and visit the children's desk to check in First-come, first-served

Toddler Tales

10:45 a.m., Wednesdays, Oct. 4, 25

For ages 18-36 months and caregivers

Toddlers and caregivers move and groove during this interactive storytime Space is limited Arrive early and visit the children's

desk to check in First-come, first-served

Kids Read Down Fines

4:30 – 5:30 p.m., Wednesdays, Oct. 4, 11

11 a.m. – noon, Saturday, Oct. 21

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

Preschool Storytime

10:45 a.m., Thursdays, Oct. 5, 26

For ages 3-5 Children attend this prog r a m i n d e p e n d e n t l y w h i l e p a r e n t s a n d caregivers wait nearby Space is limited Arrive early and visit the children's desk to check in First-come, first-served

Birthday Club

2 p m , Saturday, Oct 7

Come celebrate your child's birthday month with us at our monthly birthday bash All supplies and light refreshments provided For ages 1-5 Registration for b i r t h d a y c h i l d r e q u i r e d R e g i s t r a t i o n begins Sept 9 and is guaranteed only until the start of the program

Chess at the Library

5:30 p.m., Tuesday, Oct. 10

Enjoy chess in a casual environment Chess boards will be provided, but you can also bring your own All ages and skill levels are invited

Paint Like Monet

4:30 p.m., Tuesday, Oct. 17

Learn about the famous artist and par-

See NORTHWEST LIBRARY, page 28

Cape Coral Art League to hold two shows in October

The Cape Coral Art League will be hosting two gallery shows in October

The People and Places show will be held from Oct 2 until Nov 2, with a Wine and Cheese Reception Thursday, Oct 5, form 5-6:30 p m

There will also be a member show -Hispanic Heritage Month and Leadership- Oct 2 through Oct 31 A Wine and Cheese Reception for that show will also be held Thursday, Oct 5, from 5-6:30 p m

League through the month of October on Wednesdays from 1-4 p m The program is open to the public

Student Sundays also continues through October from 1-4 p m on Sundays It's open to the public but pre-registration is

required.

The Cape Coral Art League is at 516 Cultural Park Blvd , Cape Coral Parking and entry is free at the Art League For

Northwest Library: Programs and activities for October planned

From page 23

ticipate in an art project in his style All s u p p l i e s p r o v i d e d F o r a g e s 6 - 1 1

Registration is required and is guaranteed only until the start of the program

Fandom Trivia

4:30 p m , Wednesday, Oct 18

Gather your family and friends for a fun night of trivia that will test your knowledge of all things fandom Prizes will be awarded to the winning team(s) and all attendees will have a chance to win the door prize

Fall Festival

11 a.m., Thursday, Oct. 19

Trees, leaves and pumpkins, oh my. Have a ball this fall with autumn themed activities, crafts and more Dress for mess

For children through age 5

Family Storytime

10 a.m., Saturday, Oct. 21

For children through age 5 and caregivers Families with young children enjoy a variety of stories, songs, rhymes and movement

Lego Club

2 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 28

Join us for a short story and Lego build-

ing activities

Enjoy chess in a casual environment

Books and Blankets

6:15 p.m., Tuesday, Oct. 31

Join us with your blankies and pajamas for this nighttime edition of storytime

Your whole family is invited to this enjoyable, all-ages storytime that encourages the development of pre-reading skills through songs, rhymes, fingerplays and stories.

Teen Programs

Let it Flow: Acrylic Pour Painting

Tuesday, Oct 3

2:30 p m – Grades 9-12

4:15 p.m. – Grades 6-8

Let your creativity flow and create a unique abstract masterpiece using the art of acrylic pour painting All supplies provided

Kids Read Down Fines

4:30 – 5:30 p.m., Wednesdays, Oct 4, 11

11 a m – noon, Saturday, Oct 21

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

Chess at the Library

5:30 p.m., Tuesday, Oct. 10

Chess boards will be provided, but you can also bring your own All ages and skill levels are invited

Tech Free Thursday

2 p.m., Thursdays, Oct. 12, 26

Let's play like it is 1985 and pretend there is no technology, at least for a day For teens ages 12-18.

Fandom Trivia

4:30 p m , Wednesday, Oct 18

Gather your family and friends for a fun night of trivia that will test your knowledge of all things fandom Prizes will be awarded to the winning team(s) and all attendees will have a chance to win the door prize

"Way Back" Wednesday Movie

2:30 p.m., Wednesday, Oct. 25

Travel back in time with movies from the '80s and '90s, or in teens' eyes, totally ancient classics that may as well be in black and white Light snacks will be provided For ages 12-18

Florida's Top 10 Ghostly Legends

- Presented by Christopher Balzano

4:30 p.m., Tuesday, Oct. 10

Join author and folklorist Christopher Balzano, author and host of the podcast

" T r i p p i n g o n L e g e n d s , " a s h e s h a r e s s p o o k y s t o r i e s a n d g h o s t l y l e g e n d s o f Southwest Florida and beyond

T h e N o r t h w e s t R e g i o n a l L i b r a r y i s located at 519 Chiquita Blvd , N , in Cape Coral For more information about a program or to register, please call the library at 239-533-4700 Check the Lee County Library System’s website at www leelibrary net to find out about programs at other locations Call the host library, or Telephone Reference at 239-479-INFO (4636), for more information about a specific program

To receive updates from Lee County Government, sign up for the newsletter here: www leegov com/resources/newsletters

In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, Lee County will not disc r i m i n a t e a g a i n s t q u a l i f i e d i n d i v i d u a l s with disabilities in its services, programs or activities To request an auxiliary aid or service for effective communication or a reasonable modification to participate, contact Joan LaGuardia, 239-533-2314, F l o r i d a R e l a y S e r v i c e 7 1 1 , o r j l ag u a r d i a @ l e e g o v c o m A c c o m m o d a t i o n w i l l b e p r o v i d e d a t n o c o s t t o t h e requestor Requests should be made at least five business days in advance

RSW announces August passenger count

D u r i n g A u g u s t , 6 0 1 , 5 4 2 p a s s e n g e r s t r a v e l e d through Southwest Florida International Airport (RSW) in Fort Myers This was a decrease of 3% compared to August 2022 Year-to-date, passenger traffic is down 13%

BUSINESS BRIEFS CareerSource Southwest Florida announces 2023 Annual Customer and Partnership Award Winners

The traffic leader in August was Delta with 143,430 passengers Rounding out the top five airlines were Southwest (107,725), American (100,693), United (78,417) and JetBlue (65,050).

Southwest Florida International Airport had 5,342 aircraft operations, a decrease of 4% compared to August 2022 Page Field saw 16,082 operations, which was a 0 3% decrease compared to August 2022

Southwest Florida International Airport served a record-breaking 10 3 million passengers in 2022 and is one of the top 50 U S airports for passenger traffic No ad valorem (property) taxes are used for airport operation or construction For more information, visit flylcpa com or facebook com/flyRSW

Greater For t Myers Chamber to meet

The Greater Fort Myers Chamber of Commerce will host its monthly luncheon from 11:30 a m to 1:15 p m , Tuesday, Oct 10, sharing insights on the use of interns and employee retention

During the luncheon, attendees will hear from Ashleigh Droz, director of internships & cooperative programs at Florida Gulf Coast University, speaking on how to keep employees engaged and how businesses can leverage internship opportunities

Droz has 15 years of experience working in career and student development in higher education and has taught more than 80 university courses on career development, student success, work-based learning and public speaking She is also a founding member of the FGCU PAGES Program and focuses on career exploration and preparation of humanities and social sciences majors

T h e O c t o b e r l u n c h e o n w i l l a l s o f e a t u r e t h e

A R C H w a y I n s t i t u t e a s t h e n o n p r o f i t s p o t l i g h t

ARCHway Institute serves the community by providing education to increase awareness and transform perspectives around substance use and co-occurring mental health disorders

The luncheon will take place at the Crowne Plaza Fort Myers Gulf Coast, at 9931 Interstate Commerce Drive in Fort Myers Admission is $35 for chamber members and $40 for future members and includes lunch

The event is sponsored by HBKS Wealth Advisors To learn more or to register, visit FortMyers org or call 239-332-2930 Registration closes Friday, Oct 6

Kelly joins Henderson Franklin’s Business Litigation team

Henderson, Franklin, Starnes & Holt, P A , has announced an addition to its Business Litigation department, Amantha “Amy” Kelly, who joins the firm as an associate

Kelly’s journey to Henderson Franklin began with a successful Summer Associate internship, where she demonstrated her dedication to the practice of law She has also gained valuable experience as a judicial intern for the Honorable Nicholas Mizell in the Middle District of Florida, Fort Myers Division

A proud “Triple Gator,” Kelly graduated from the University of Florida, where she earned her bachelor of arts, summa cum laude, and her master of arts in histor y S h e c o n t i n u e d h e r a c a d e m i c j o u r n e y a t t h e University of Florida Levin College of Law, graduating cum laude with a juris doctorate

Kelly can be reached at amantha kelly@henlaw com or by phone at 239-344-1251

Henderson Franklin has served the legal needs and c o m m u n i t i e s o f S o u t h w e s t F l o r i d a s i n c e 1 9 2 4 Henderson Franklin operates offices in Fort Myers, Bonita Springs and Naples For more information on Kelly or Henderson Franklin, please visit www henlaw com

CareerSource Southwest Florida has announced the outstanding individual Achievement Award recipients and partnership Champion Award recipients for 2023

Nominated by CareerSource SWFL staff, the award winners were recognized at the recent annual awards banquet for overcoming extreme personal and professional barriers - including homelessness and limited financial resources - to achieve success and capture the essence of the CareerSource Southwest Florida mission to reduce dependency, encourage personal growth and provide economic benefits to individuals, businesses, and communities of Southwest Florida

2023 Achievement Award winners

Courtney White - Port Charlotte Center

Barrier: homelessness, lack of funding to continue schooling

S

Charlotte to graduate from the Aviation Power Plant mechanic program at Charlotte Technical College in June Hired by GE Aerospace as a power plant technician earning $80,000 annually

Nominated by CareerSource SWFL Port Charlotte staff

Sherita Simmons – Fort Myers

Barrier: homelessness, unemployed, no child care, no transportation

Success: worked with CareerSource SWFL Fort Myers to enroll and graduate top of class in the LPN program at Cape Coral Technical College, asked to represent class as commencement speaker, received her multi-state license, pursuing her nursing degree

Nominated by CareerSource SWFL Fort Myers staff

Beegaelle Desir – Naples

Barrier: did not speak English upon arrival from Haiti, could only secure part-time job, needed financial assistance with educational funding to go after an associate degree in nursing

Success: worked with CareerSource SWFL – Naples to earn associates degree in nursing, passed her NCLEX l i c e n s e , h i r e d a s r e g i s t e r e d n u r s e a t L e e M e m o r i a l Hospital

Nominated by CareerSource SWFL Naples staff

Beessaelle Desir – Naples

Barrier: did not speak English upon arrival from Haiti, could only secure part-time job, difficulty securing finances to pay for associates degree in computer programming

Success: worked with CareerSource SWFL – Naples to secure funding to earn associates degree in computer programming, job offer from Lee County Clerk of Courts as an application architect

Nominated by CareerSource SWFL Naples staff

2023

Champion Award

Lee County Homeless Coalition

Contact: Michael Overway, executive director 1500 Colonial Blvd , Suite 201, Fort Myers, FL 33907 239-322-6600; executivedirector@ collierhomelesscoalition org

Nominated by CareerSource SWFL Business Services staff

Partnership: One of the first organizations to partner w i t h C a r e e r S o u r c e S W F L t h r o u g h t h e N a t i o n a l

Dislocated Workers Grant program after Hurricane Ian.

Following Ian, CareerSource SWFL was tasked with administering $6 4 million in national dislocated worker grant funding to help put Southwest Florida businesses back on the road to recovery and our displaced workers back to work - quickly developed a comprehensive action

From left are Lis Scot, CareerSource SWFL Business Services Account Executive/nominator; Mike Biskie, CareerSource SWFL Board Chair; and Michael Overway, executive director Lee County Homeless Coalition, one of the award-winners

plan to address these critical needs by creating partnerships with more than 76 non-profit organizations and government entities impacted by Ian.

By hosting displaced workers, both the needs of the organizations and those of the workers were addressed More than 130,428 hours of humanitarian and disaster recovery clean up-related jobs have been fulfilled to date

Clewiston Police Department Animal Services

Contact: Chief Tom Lewis

300 S Berner Road, Clewiston, FL 33440 863-983-1474; thomas lewis@clewiston-fl gov

Nominated by CareerSource SWFL Clewiston staff

P a r t n e r s h i p : O p e r a t e d b y t h e C l e w i s t o n P o l i c e Department, the animal services division is responsible for providing quality animal control services to the residents and pets in need within more than 500 square miles including the city of Clewiston and eastern Hendry county

Its mission to have an effective, caring, no-kill animal shelter that serves the community's animal population in the best manner possible is accomplished, like so many organizations today, with a small, dedicated staff

T h e y p a r t n e r e d w i t h C a r e e r S o u r c e S W F L Y o u t h Program, hiring several youth to take on daily responsibilities and assist staff with caring for animals

CareerSource Southwest Florida, a leader in workforce development, funds training and provides placement services for job seekers and businesses all at no cost to the participants With offices throughout Southwest Florida, trained staff is dedicated to connecting employers with qualified and skilled talent and job seekers with employm e n t a n d c a r e e r d e v e l o p m e n t o p p o r t u n i t i e s –www careersourceSWFL com

CareerSource is an equal opportunity employer/program Auxiliary aids and services are available upon request to individuals with disabilities All voice telephone numbers on this document may be reached by persons using TTY/TDD equipment via the Florida Relay Service at 711

CareerSource Southwest Florida is the direct service provider for various workforce programs which are fully supported by the U S Department of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Agriculture as part of awards totaling $15 3 million

PHOTO PROVIDED

Residents are still eligible for tax relief due to Ian

Hurricane Ian was the most financiall y d e v a s t a t i n g h u r r i c a n e t o e v e r h i t Florida and it has caused over $100 billion of damage to homes and businesses

One year later, Congress has yet to consider legislation to designate Hurricane Ian as a qualified disaster Congressman Gregory Steube did introduce a bill to Congress on March 1, 2023, (H R 1331), to treat Hurricane Ian as a qualified disaster loss for income tax purposes, which would have provided muchneeded tax relief to Southwest Florida residents, but the bill has yet to be disc u s s e d b y C o n g r e s s . H o w e v e r , e v e n w i t h o u t C o n g r e s s i o n a l a c t i o n , m a n y homeowners in Lee County are still eligible for potentially tens of thousands of dollars of tax refunds

With the Oct 15 extended deadline to file personal income tax returns quickly approaching, many taxpayers have filed their 2022 returns assuming that they will not be able to benefit from claiming a n o r d i n a r y c a s u a l t y l o s s a n d t h a t C o n g r e s s w i l l n o t c o n s i d e r f a v o r a b l e qualified disaster legislation before the filing deadline

Even if one has received insurance reimbursements, taxpayers do have the potential to receive significant income tax relief by claiming a non-qualified casualty loss on their amended 2021 or 2022 personal income tax returns

The rules involving deductions relating to unreimbursed property damage caused by a casualty loss hinge on what type of casualty is incurred The last major hurricane to impact our area was Hurricane Irma, which was given special

designation by Congress as a “ Q u a l i f i e d C a s u a l t y

Loss ” As a result, taxpayers adversely impacted by Hurricane Irma were able to maximize their loss deduct i o n s w i t h o u t c l a i m i n g other itemized deductions

C a s u a l t y l o s s e s a r e d e t e r m i n e d b a s e d o n t h e d a m a g e d p r o p e r t y ’ s f a i r v a l u e i m m e d i a t e l y b e f o r e and immediately after a disaster such as a hurricane

Hurricane Ian is the most serious storm to impact our area since Hurricane Irma and the most damaging in F l o r i d a h i s t o r y S i n c e Hurricane Ian has not been designated as a qualified disaster, taxpayers must deduct 10% of their adjusted gross income (“AGI”) plus an additional $100 from the amount calculated as their initial casualty loss This remaining casualty loss amount is combined with other itemized deductions such as mortgage interest, property taxes, charitable donations and medical expenses to arrive at the total itemized deduction amount If t h i s a m o u n t e x c e e d s t h e i n d i v i d u a l ’ s standard deduction, the more favorable i t e m i z e d d e d u c t i o n a m o u n t s w i l l b e claimed on the tax return, resulting in a reduction of income tax In the case where itemized deductions exceed AGI, a loss carryover is generated to be utilized for further tax benefits in the following tax year

Tax Time

reduction in residence fair m a r k e t v a l u e o f o v e r

$60,000 Depending on t h e t a x p a y e r s ’ a d j u s t e d gross income, this casualty deduction can result in a t a x s a v i n g s o f t h o u -

s a n d s , p o s s i b l y t e n s o f

t h o u s a n d s , o f d o l l a r s Please keep in mind that d e d u c t i o n s a r e a l s o r e d u c e d b y i n s u r a n c e reimbursements, but losses are not impacted by a c t u a l o u t - o f - p o c k e t repair estimates or payments

If Hurricane Ian had b e e n d e s i g n a t e d b y Congress as a qualified d i s a s t e r , t h e t a x p a y e r ’ s c a s u a l t y l o s s deduction would not be impacted by adjusted gross income and would result in even greater tax savings

The casualty loss rules are complicated and require that several steps be followed correctly prior to the deduction of losses caused by Hurricane Ian Damage to business property is also eligible for the deduction Taxpayers are eligible to file amended returns up to three years after the initial due date of the tax returns

This means that there is still plenty of time to consider filing an amended return to claim deductions for Hurricane Ian losses Millions of dollars of loss deductions are being left unclaimed by Cape Coral homeowners

gate the complicated Internal Revenue Service casualty loss rules. I also encourage all Lee County homeowners to contact their elected officials to encourage them to bring H R 1331 to a vote in Congress to designate Hurricane Ian a Qualified Disaster Below is the telephone contact information for our Florida senators and congresspeople Each of these officials has a form on their official websites through which constituents can send emails

■ Sen, Rick Scott: (202) 224-5274 or

■ Sen, Marco Rubio: (202) 224-3041

■ Congressman Byron Donalds: (202) 225-2536

Mary Feichthaler is a licensed CPA and has 26 years of experience assisting i n d i v i d u a l , c o r p o r a t e a n d n o n p r o f i t clients in all areas of taxation including income tax compliance and audits, sales tax, FIRPTA and offers in compromise She has lived in Cape Coral since 2002 She graduated magna cum laude from Georgetown University with a degree in accounting and graduated magna cum laude from Pace University with a master of science in taxation degree She is a Gulfshore Business 40 under 40 Award Winner and was a 2021 FICPA Women to Watch Award Nominee Mary Feichthaler can be reached at m a r y @ f e i c h t h a l e r t a x c o m o r a t ( 2 3 9 ) 898-8522

M y c l i e n t s h a v e s e e n a n a v e r a g e

The services of an experienced CPA should be sought to help correctly navi-

The information in this article is general in nature and not intended as tax advice to anyone Individuals should consult with a licensed CPA before making any tax or investment decisions.

Mary Feichthaler

9 ,

S e p t e m b e r

Pine Island Corridor Vision Plan discussed

“ T h e r e i s d e f i n i t e l y a d e s i r e t o a d d l a n e s , s i x l a n e s . T h e r e i s a d e s i r e t o a d d s i g n a l s i n d i f f e r e n t l o c a t i o n s . ”

Vi t o r S u g u r i , F l o r i d a D e p a r t m e n t o f Tr a n s p o r t a t i o n c o m m u n i t y p l a n n e r, S I S c o o r d i n a t o r, a d d i n g t h e r e a l s o i s a d e s i r e t o c o o r d i n a t e s i g n a l t i m i n g t o i m p r o v e t r a f f i c f l o w t o t o e n h a n c e b i c y c l e a n d p e d e s t r i a n s a f e t y

T h e p r e s e n t a t i o n d u r i n g W e d n e s d a y ’ s

m e e t i n g a l s o f o c u s e d o n t h e a n n u a l a v e ra g e d a i l y t r a f f i c , w h i c h f r o m D e l P r a d o

B o u l e v a r d t o P i n e I s l a n d R o a d w a s 5 6 , 0 0 0 “ T h a t i s w h e r e w e w a n t t o f o c u s o u r a t t e n t i o n T r y t o s o l v e t h a t p r o b l e m f i r s t a n d s t a r t m o v i n g o u t w a r d , ” S u g u r i s a i d

T h e r e w a s a l s o i n f o r m a t i o n c o l l e c t e d o n t h e c r a s h h i s t o r y f r o m 2 0 1 5 t o 2 0 1 9 , w h i c h s h o w e d a s i g n i f i c a n t n u m b e r o f

r e a r e n d c r a s h e s , d u e t o s p e e d , a n d a n g l e c r a s h e s , d u e t o t u r n m o v e m e n t s . H e s a i d t h e r e w a s a l s o a n e f f o r t f o c u s e d o n p u b l i c i n p u t , w h i c h h a d s e ve r a l k e y t a k e a w a y s , w i t h t h e N o 1 b e i n g v e h i c l e t r a f f i c “ T h e r e i s d e f i n i t e l y a d e s i r e t o a d d l a n e s , s i x l a n e s T h e r e i s a d e s i r e t o a d d s i g n a l s i n d i f f e r e n t l o c a t i o n s , ” S u g u r i s a i d , a d d i n g t h a t t h e r e i s a l s o a d e s i r e t o c o o r d i n a t e s i g n a l t i m i n g t o i m p r o v e t r a f -

f i c f l o w T h e r e w a s a l s o a f o c u s o n e n h a n c i n g b i c y c l e a n d p e d e s t r i a n s a f e t y “ W e d o n ’ t h a v e a c o n t i n u e d s i d e w a l k t h r o u g h P i n e I s l a n d R o a d , ” h e s a i d , a d d i n g t h a t c a n i n c l u d e p r o p e r f a c i l i t i e s , b e t t e r c r o s s i n g i n t e r s e c t i o n s a n d a b u f f e r b i k e l a n e T h e v i s i o n i n c l u d e s a p r o p o s e d d e s i r e s p e e d l i m i t o f 4 5 m i l e s p e r h o u r f o r t h e e n t i r e l e n g t h o f t h e c o r r i d o r , w i d e n e d l a n e s , h i g h v i s i b i l i t y c r o s s w a l k s a n d r e f u g e i s l a n d s , g a t e w a y l a n d s c a p i n g a n d i m p r o v e d b i k e l a n e s

T h e n e x t s t e p s i n c l u d e a r e s o l u t i o n a g r e e m e n t g o i n g b e f o r e t h e C o u n c i l i n O c t o b e r f o r t h e s u p p o r t o f t h e v i s i o n p l a n , s o t h e b a s i s c a n b e s e t f o r t h e P D & E

Cape Council outlines legislative priorities

By MEGHAN BRADBURY news@breezenewspapers com

Cape Coral City Council is building its legislative platform for the upcoming year, carrying over some of the same initiatives

Priorities they would like the Florida State Legislature to address include Home Rule; short term rentals; homeowner and flood insurance regulations; environmental sustainability; irrigation water regulation; notice of commencement/expediting building permits; emergency medical services regulation; workforce/affordable housing; infrastructure investment and planning; transportation investment and hurricane

r e c o v e r y a n d p r e p a r e d n e s s / r e l i e f r e i mbursement

In addition, the city's 2024 grant/approp r i a t i o n r e q u e s t s i n c l u d e t h e h i s t o r i c C a l o o s a h a t c h e e S h o r e l i n e P r e s e r v a t i o n Project/pier rebuild; northwest reservoir t r a n s m i s s i o n m a i n a n d p u m p s t a t i o n ; Emergency Operations Center Expansion; septic to sewer project; Jaycee Park redevelopment and Pine Island Road Widening

Last year the 2023 state legislative session marked $17 million for Cape Coral, greater than any other legislative session Those appropriations included the historic C a l o o s a h a t c h e e S h o r e l i n e P r e s e r v a t i o n Project; northeast reservoir transmission

m a i n a n d p u m p s t a t i o n ; E m e r g e n c y

O p e r a t i o n s C e n t e r / f i r e s t a t i o n 1 0 a n d

Emergency Operations Center Expansion

Mayor John Gunter said it was a team effort.

“That’s the main reason we saw the success that we saw in appropriations Hard working and working together We look forward to doing it again this year and years ahead,” he said

S e n i o r G o v e r n m e n t R e l a t i o n s Consultant Nick Matthews agreed that Cape Coral had a record number in appropriations It is important for Council to make the trip to Tallahassee, as it really shows they had skin in the game, which

makes a huge difference, he said

He provided an outline of important dates, including committee weeks starting in October The Lee County Delegation meeting, which is at the end of October, is one to which Council should submit its pressing issues, Matthews adding that this year will be another strong one for the appropriation process

“Water projects are still strong and still have a good chance Getting something through the process the previous year tells a story Going back to the well can be a g o o d t h i n g o n a p p r o p r i a t i o n i t e m s , ” Matthews said

Learning the tricks for redfishing

Many years ago not long after relocating to Florida in the fall of the year, I found myself in my new flats boat eager to sample some Southwest Florida flats redfish angling. As an expert reader about redfishing, I knew to look for schools of fish in thin water, making the water boil or appear “nervous” as the school moves along eating, or to look for groups of nearly stationary “tailing” fish also in eating mode It wasn’t long before I spotted a big school of Matlacha redfish and honestly couldn’t believe my luck My reading paid off! This was going to be easy!

I quietly drifted within casting range careful not to rock the boat I made the perfect fly cast right to the edge of the moving school right in front of the fish No take r s I q u i c k l y r e c a s t nothing In desperation, I switched to a top water p l u g I t r i e d r e d f i s h candy; a spoon Nothing, I was crushed I found another school of reds; same results

There were about six local anglers and a few guides in the bait store when the owner loudly informed me and for all to hear that schools of “nervous water” plankton-eating mullet aren’t partial to Zara Spooks or spoons which, of course, everyone got a real big kick out of

After that education and years spent on local waters, I did find out that casts around schooling mullet can be productive as game fish like reds or a gator trout will travel along with the mullet, eating bottom goodies stirred up by the passing school For now, from the 10,000 Islands all the way north to the Panhandle, inshore, pass, bay and beach anglers are enjoying their Gulf coast fall redfish invasion

Here on local waters redfishing can mean fly casting from the front of a quietly poled skiff to get within range of a Pine Island “tailer” or two down by Captiva Rocks or skip casting soft plastics under a favorite mangrove or dock stretch on higher tides Those that don’t enjoy casting, catch just as many or more soaking dead baits along edges or spread out around the boat on a promising flat

Over the years I’ve caught a few local flats redfish over 20 pounds and have seen even bigger fish, which

See REDFISHING, page 41

TIDES CHART

Cape Rowing Club to offer free ‘experience rowing’ event Oct. 14

The Cape Coral Rowing Club will be offering adults a free chance to try the sport of rowing with a brief lesson on the nomenclature of the sport and the technique of the stroke, followed by a chance to row a short distance Saturday, Oct 14, from 8-10 a m

No experience is necessary to attend and no registration is required

Rowing is a full-body, low impact workout that can be taken up late in life Rowers in the Cape club range in age from 13 to 80 Cape Coral, with its miles of waterways and year-round warm weather, has been recognized as one of the country's best places to row and retire

Those who enjoy the short introductory experience can register for the CCRC's Learn to Row class that begins the last weekend of October The six lessons run for two hours

Wednesday Volleyball

on Saturday and Sunday mornings for three weeks staring Oct 28

The Cape Coral Rowing Club is located on one of the “seven islands” off Old Burnt Store Road, N , near Embers Parkway If you set your GPS to 206 Old Burnt Store Road, N , you should be able to follow the signs to the club boatyard

Participants are urged to bring sunscreen, sunglasses, sox and water

The CCRC is a sweep rowing and sculling club, and is open to all residents of the community who are interested in rowing

Navigate to www rowccrc org for additional information or call Len Cardone at 831-239-7100 or email ltr@rowccrc org

PREP REPORT

Island Coast 5, Oasis 0: For the Sharks, Charles Broadley had a 115 game

Oasis 3, Ida Baker 0: The Sharks (6-9) cooled off the Bulldogs' recent hot streak with a 25-23, 25-16, 25-16 sweep of Baker (10-5) Natalie McKenna and Jordan Baksh had eight kills each for Oasis

Tuesday Volleyball

Bishop Verot 3, Evangelical Christian School 0: The Vikings (13-3) swept ECS 25-17, 25-19, 25-9, led by Kerrigan Habing, Ella Portu and Diana Akhmatova

North Fort Myers 3, Cape Coral 0: Brenna Kenney served up Savannah Hughes 9 kills and Anna Byrne 8, Brenna Kenney 11 aces, Hailey Painter 15 assists and Aliyah Santiago 10 assists

North Fort Myers 3, Cape Coral 0: Brenna Kenney served up 11 aces as the Red Knights (13-2) rolled to a 25-9, 25-7, 25-11 win against the Seahawks Also for North, Savannah Hughes had 9 kills and Anna Byrne added 8, while Hailey Painter made 15 assists and Aliyah Santiago contributed 10 assists

Boys Bowling

Mariner 3, Bishop Verot 2: Carter Davis’ 189 game led the Vikings Mariner (846): Brady Yount 183, Bo Laventure 170, Mike Testa 169, Andre Enslin 176 and Seth Schulte 148

Girls Bowling

Bishop Verot 5, Mariner 0 (forfeit): Sophia Smith rolled a 166 and Izzy Lentz had a 132 game for Verot Mariner was led by Malia Araujo with a 119, Lorelai Schippel 74, Alyssa Jenkins 86 and Delaney Tucker 106 Oasis 5, Island Coast 0: Katarina Hagler paced the Sharks, rolling a 211 with six strikes Lexi Lenius bowled a 170 game

Girls Golf

Estero d Cape Coral, forfeit: Isabella Lauzon carded a 44 for the Seahawks and Kvalyn Klein had a round of 57 Estero's Jensi Krampel fired a 3-under 33

P r i v a t e 8 C o n f e r e n c e T o u r n a m e n t : C o m m u n i t y

School of Naples edged Bishop Verot 311-313 for the team title First Baptist Academy carded a 6-under 66 to take medalist honors Morgan Franklin of Bishop Verot (74) and Amelia Loninger of the Vikings (75) finished second and third Samantha Loninger (80) was 10th for Bishop Verot Aubrey 121, Oasis 132 (6 holes): Oasis 132 -- Riley Fritz 28, Savannah Odjick 31, Adisen Lindsey 32, Kalanny Mendez 41

See PREP REPORT, page 41

PHOTO PROVIDED

Members of the Cape Coral Rowing Club enjoy some time on the water.

Capt George Tunison

From page 40

Lehigh vs. Mariner, no team scores: Jada Kohlmeier carded a 48 and Keren Farhart a 68 for the Tritons Lehigh's Kaydance Hytonen had a round of 66.

Boys Golf

Private 8 Conference Tournament: Community School of Naples pulled out a narrow victory, edging Bishop Verot by one stroke and Neumann by two shots CSN golfers Jack Maurer (67) and Spencer Ives (71) both came in under par Bishop Verot's Griffin Henry was third with a 74, a n d t e a m m a t e s E a s t o n G r e e n ( 7 6 ) , Matthew Matta (77) and Caden Kellum (78) were sixth, seventh and eighth respectively

Aubrey Rogers 162, Oasis 173: Oasis (173) -- Gabe Gair 40, Job Woodby 42, Maddox Dusel 45, Rhys Skillrud 46 Cape Coral 170, Estero (score not reported): At Palmetto Pine Golf Club, Cape Coral (170) -- Justin Czerniak 38, Don Kennedy 39, Brady Fanter 41, Zachary

PREP REPORT

Distel 52, Benjamin Westerhouse 59

Football

FHSAA rankings: The Florida High School Athletic Association released its first football rankings of the year on Tuesday, and it has unbeaten Bishop Verot as one of the top ranked teams in the state Bishop Verot, which has dominated against a solid schedule, is ranked as the 20th best high school football team in all of Florida -- and third in Class 2S

Mariner, ranked 109th across all classes in Florida, is holding down the 16th spot in the state Class 3S rankings Cape Coral is ranked 31st in 3S

These are only the first rankings of the year, with still half the regular season left to be played There is plenty of time for teams to improve on their initial ratings

Other West Zone schools and their class rankings: Island Coast, Class 3S, No 59; North Fort Myers, Class 3S, No 60; and Ida Baker, Class 4S, 66th

State class rankings are not the only factor in making the postseason Eight teams

in each region qualify Some high schools, such as Oasis, are not included in these rankings since they

do not participate in the FHSAA State Series The Sharks are members of the Sunshine State Athletic Conference, which conducts its own playoffs

Friday's Schedule

Island Coast at Mariner

Cape Coral at North Fort Myers

Lehigh at Ida Baker

Key West at Bishop Verot

Boys Golf

Sunshine State Athletic Conference

Championship

Cleveland Heights GC, Lakeland Oasis (5th place): Job Boodby 87, Gabe Gair 88, Rhys Skillrud 96, Maddox Dusel 98

Girls Golf

Sunshine State Athletic Conference

Championship

Cleveland Heights GC, Lakeland Oasis (5th place): R i l e y F r i t z 8 0 , Adisen Lindsey 116, Willow Cain 124, Kaylanny Mendez 137

Redfishing: Some tips on how to catch this top Florida game fish

From page 40

is unusual inshore with most local schoolers in the 3 to 10-pound class If I was tasked with catching the biggest local redfish I could find I would be fishing our passes where a bull red is more of a possibility than on our shallow flats

Aggressive lure presentations would include spoons, spinnerbaits and top-water plugs with paddle tail plastics and lightly w o r k e d t w i t c h b a i t s l i k e M i r r O d i n e ’ s

selected for subtle work A lightly weighted Clouser Minnow gets your fly rod offering down to bottom feeding level and realistic shrimp and crab fly patterns with weed guards are always hot very slowly worked around bottom cover

Probably the number one fall redfish bottom bait is shrimp with cut pinfish, crab c h u n k s , m u l l e t , l a d y f i s h , e t c , c l o s e behind Fill a plastic container with hot dog pieces and cover with GULP and refrigerate overnight Whatever your bait

Mealybugs: Garden plant pests

From page 17

6 Avoid using products that are not intended for use on plants Although some online do-it-yourself sites suggest dish soap and other such detergents as remedies, you are encouraged to steer away from their use as they will harm beneficial insects Additionally, “Dish soap products, designed to remove tough grease and oils, may be particularly damaging to a plant’s waxy cuticle because they contain synthetic detergents and other potentially phytotoxic chemicals ” (Borden & Dale, 2019, p 4)

7 Avoid the use of broad-spectrum insecticides as these will kill the good a l o n g w i t h t h e n o t - s o - g o o d b u g s Following label directions, consider less toxic measures, such as insecticidal soaps, to address the situation Soaps and other c o n t a c t r e m e d i e s a r e e f f e c t i v e a g a i n s t nymphs before they have had the chance to settle in for feeding You can also consider horticultural oils as a remedy for all stages of mealybug development (Buss & Turner, 2004)

8 If you see ants along with the mealybugs, consider placing ant traps in the vicinity, keeping in mind that the ants are there to work against you and for the pests. While the great majority of insects are

Garden Club of Cape Coral’s Fun with Flowers

Oct. 13 in For t Myers

The Garden Club of Cape Coral is h o l d i n g a n e v e n t c a l l e d F u n w i t h Flowers Friday, Oct, 13, at 10 a m , at the Fort Myers-Lee County Garden Council Inc. headquarters at The Berne Davis Botanical Garden, 2166 Virginia Ave , Fort Myers

The cost to participate is $25 Proceeds from the event benefit the C a p e G a r d e n C l u b C u p s o f C h e e r Program

Spaces are still available; please RSVP to Nancy Colgan at 651-3415409 if interested in attending

beneficial, the mealybug is one of the more bothersome ones However, they can be controlled with a little due diligence on our part and so all is not lost

Happy gardening!

Janetta Fox is a Lee County Master Gardener volunteer and member of the Garden Club of Cape Coral Our website is www Gardenclubofcapecoral Like us on our Facebook page.

MILITARY NOTE

Florida Branch of 2nd Infantr y Division to hold annual reunion Oct. 13-15 in Titusville

The Florida Branch of the 2nd Infantry Division Association will be holding its annual reunion in Titusville, Florida,

Friday through Sunday, Oct 13-15

A l l v e t e r a n s o f t h e 2 n d I n f a n t r y Division are invited to attend the annual event

For additional information, please call Mike Davino at 919-356-5692 or send an email to 2ida pao@charter net

choice, always use circle hooks as greedy reds wolf down their food and hooks

What a great time of year for local anglers From 1-foot deep redfish schooling shallows to hundred-foot depths offshore where tuna, various snapper and grouper species roam the reefs and wrecks, there’s a fish for everyone Red snapper is still open on weekends Lots of these same bottom fish will also be stationed on the various mid-depth structures as well so only gathering bait and keeping an eye on the weather should be your main offshore

concerns

Hungry snook are likely to be encountered just about anywhere as they move away from the coastline, while trout fishing only gets better as water temperatures slowly drop

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

(Selected by the Breeze Sports staff)

Fandom Fest activities kick off Oct. 5 in the Cape

By MEGHAN BRADBURY news@breezenewspapers com

October is jammed packed with programs and activities to entice young and old alike for a county wide Fandom Fest celebration within the Lee County Library System

“Our programming staff is always coming up with really cool programming ideas and hosting events for their community t h a t a r e f a n t a s t i c , ” P r o g r a m m i n g & C o m m u n i t y O u t r e a c h M a n a g e r a n d Fandom Fest Coordinator Melissa Baker said, adding that the Fandom Fest is one big collective way they are celebrating this year

The hope is for those who are discovering the library system for the first time through Fandom Fest, it will spark an interest and bring them back month after month

“It’s a good chance to tap into the community and into any of the Fandom we are highlighting and discover what the library c a n o f f e r t h e c o m i c c o l l e c t i o n i n Hoopla, graphic novels and books on the shelf,” Baker said, adding these are all amazing forms of literacy “We don’t care what book a kid picks up We are just happy we can be part of their literacy journey This is another big system-wide push that is thematic The goal is to always connect people with great books and resources that help enrich their lives It’s a fun, big party, but also has that undertone of life enrichment and how the library can change lives ”

The first Fandom Fest began in 2019, as a newly evolved program that was based off Comic Fest. Baker said the festival was similar, but Fandom Fest expanded to include all kinds of fandoms, rather than

One of the big programs to be held is the Fandom Fest Cosplay Contest, at North Fort Myers Public Library, from 2 to 4 p m , Saturday, Oct 7 The contest is for all ages with a child category up to 11 years old, teens ages 12 to 17 and adults 18 and older

just comic related

“They kind of change from year to year as trends can evolve,” Baker said “We want to tap into that It’s all about celebrating pop culture and traditional Comicon with superheroes. There are always new and exciting things we can explore ”

This year instead of Fandom Fest being celebrated on one day, it will be spread across Lee County Library System’s 13 libraries throughout the month of October There is something happening at every library, spreading fun throughout the entire month

“This year we are trying something new o f f e r i n g m o r e p r o g r a m s s p r e a d o u t throughout the library system,” Baker said “We are providing access to more people that can’t make it to a one-day event scheduling conflicts, transportation issues This is a way that we can tap into a big celebration in a new way and put it out to all the neighborhoods ”

One of the big programs to be held is the Fandom Fest Cosplay Contest, at North Fort Myers Public Library, from 2 to 4 p m , Saturday, Oct 7 Baker said the contest is for all ages with a child category up to 11 years old, teens ages 12 to 17 and adults 18 and older She advises those interested to see the official contest rules and entry form, as well as arrive early the day of the contest

N o r e a l i s t i c w e a p o n s o r p r o p s a r e

allowed, and the clothing must be somewhat modest, as it is a family-friendly contest The judges will include real cosplayers, providing more authenticity for the contest Prizes for the winners will include a fandom fest goodie bag with comics, graphic novels and swag

It will be a runway style competition, creating great bragging rights, she said Baker said although the majority of events are for youths, there are also adult programs as well

Y o u t h S e r v i c e s P r o g r a m m i n g Coordinator Marquelle LaRue said other f u n p r o g r a m s i n c l u d e s b u b b l e d a n c e F a n d o m t h e m e p a r t i e s , F a n d o m F e s t Swiftie Dance Party, games and a rolling video game truck, crafts and of course costumes.

Each branch will put its own creative spin on Fandom Fest

“We love finding ways to connect with our readers whether they are 4 years old or 104,” LaRue said “I love that we find a way to celebrate this and make an additional tie to graphic novels It is a part of the reading process and develops a love of reading ”

C a p e C o r a l - L e e C o u n t y P u b l i c Library, 921 S.W. 39th Terrace: ■ F a n d o m F e s t T e e n M o v i e : “Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves,” 3-5:30 p m Thursday, Oct 5

■ Riddle Me This – Fandom Trivia, 13 p m Saturday, Oct 7

■ Crafts at Cape: Fandom Disney P a p e r Q u i l l i n g , 1 1 a m t o 1 p m , Thursday, Oct 12

■ Fandom Fest Disney Celebration, 11-11:30 a m Monday, Oct 16

■ F a m i l y M o v i e N i g h t : “ H o c u s Pocus,” 4-6 p.m., Wednesday, Oct. 25

■ Teen Movie: “Venom: Let There Be Carnage,” 5-7 p m , Monday, Oct 30

North Fort Myers Public Library, 2001 N Tamiami Trail:

■ Fandom Fest Cosplay Contest, 2-4 p m Saturday, Oct 7

■ Fandom Fest Teen Time: Out of This World Escape Room, 6-7 p m Tuesday, Oct 24

■ Family Fandom Movie Day, 1-3 p m , Saturday, Oct 28

N o r t h w e s t R e g i o n a l L i b r a r y , 5 1 9 Chiquita Blvd , N:

■ Fandom Trivia, 4:30-5:30 p m , Wednesday, Oct 18

Pine Island Public Library, 10701 Russell Road:

■ Fandom Fest: Fan Art for Teens, 13 p m , Saturday, Oct 14

■ Fandom Fest Superhero Storytime, 10:30-11:30 a m Thursday, Oct 19

■ Hocus Pocus Potion Party, 1-3 p.m., Saturday, Oct 21

For a complete list of events across all libraries in the county, visit www leelibrary net/fandomfest

Ian Funds: Various organizations helped make recovery efforts possible

From page 1

goods, which in 2023 alone reached $25 million Those goods included flooring, bathtubs, furniture, mattresses, drywall and insulation Joy said they have been able to get out almost $18 million of that

“The dollars from Collaboratory – those initial dollars were so important,” Joy said, adding that allowed them to put gift cards in their partner agencies' hands to distribute “We knew people needed things right away ”

Those items included clothes and shoes, or sheets of plywood because their windows were blown out

“It offered those families a sense of control, dignity and hope to take those gift cards to purchase the right size in their style and replace things that were lost,” Joy said It gave them the “ability to get what they needed immediately ”

There was almost $1 million in just varying denomination gift cards alone ranging from Visa cards to cars for Publix, Walmart and Target

A United Way in Long Island sent $25,000 in Visa gift cards, as they had dealt with Super Storm Sandy Joy said they just finished their last home at the 10-year anniversary Another United Way in Louisiana did a telethon and raised $42,000, as they had gone through Hurricane Katrina

In addition, United Way was able to provide $1 8 million to partner agencies to help with such things as rent, utilities and repairs

The outpouring and generosity from all over the country, as well as the Southwest Florida community has been tremendous

Joy said to see the capacity of caring was amazing, as there were people who had their homes destroyed that were still helping everyone else

“That is the kind of thing you just dream

of,” she said “To understand after a few days this is going to be a lot of hard work The toughest work any organization, nonprofit, person has ever gone through We had that hope we could get there We are resilient and are a caring community We will get to where we need to be to be whole as a community ”

A year later, United Way still has some funds available to assist as they know rebuilding is big and people are fighting insurance, or do not have insurance To help with that assistance, they are utilizing dollars to help the volunteer groups that are coming to Southwest Florida to help rebuild their homes

In addition, the monetary assistance is also going to those who are experiencing the trickle-down effect Joy said maybe someone’s home was OK without any damage, but they worked at the hospital and their car was flooded Now they are left with purchasing a car and their car insurance increased

“That probably didn’t affect you immediately, but now you have to dip into savings,” she said of the extra $100 to $200

Another scenario, affecting many renters, is finding a new place to live because their lease is up and the landlord increased rent. Joy said they help by paying the landlord

“The family are able to move in and start to get stabilized,” she said

With the need still there, United Way continues to take donations In addition, they are raising funds to meet their $11 3 million regular community fund goal because the problems that touched Southwest Florida before Hurricane Ian still remain

“We still have a recovery, still have a lot of everyday problems,” she said “Trying to balance both and having people donate to both is our biggest challenge.”

Individuals can donate to the regular com-

munity fund, and/or the SWFL Relief Fund by visiting www unitedwaylee org

Joy wants to reassure members of the community that it is OK to ask for help, even if they did not need assistance before She said now is the time to ask, to call United Way 211 and reach out to the information referral hotline, so they can be pointed to the resources available

“Don’t be afraid to ask for help,” Joy said Another benefactor was FutureMakers Coalition, which Collaboratory is the backbone for the workforce initiative

LeSage said they have a navigator program, which provides individuals an opportunity to walk alongside adults to help them obtain their education

Immediately following Hurricane Ian, navigators deployed and worked with individuals who were suddenly out a of job, or lost their home and needed help to maintain, or get back into a career

LeSage said they collaborated with the Lee County Visitor & Convention Bureau, so hospitality workers had direct access to navigators for assistance in finding a new job She said many individuals that the navigators were helping were living out of their cars and shelters, which prompted the navigators to pick up donations, such as diapers and water, to give them to folks desperately in need

“We deployed our navigators in a new way to help them meet the needs of some of the individuals,” LeSage said

The navigators are still working with a lot of the folks in helping them finish job training

Before Hurricane Ian they had about 210 reconnectors, she said, and now have well over 1,200 individuals reaping the benefits from working alongside a navigator.

“We know a lot of people are really strug-

gling to get into well-paying jobs It’s much more difficult for our workforce to be able to fill in demand jobs,” LeSage said.

Navigators will work with any adult that has been out of school but needs to return to school to get into a well-paying job They help remove the barriers that typically prevent someone from finishing training for a job, often staying for a period of time after they have a job

“They help navigate the workforce system, nonprofit and social services in the community,” LeSage said, adding they will also help them overcome some of the challenges preventing them from changing their lives “There were a lot of resources in the community post Hurricane Ian A lot of people don’t know how to find them or access them The navigators are able to leverage relationships and (show) how to get through some of the barriers and be able to finish education and get into a career ”

LeSage said immediately after Hurricane Ian they accessed their Collaboratory building which, because of a sustainability design and ability to handle water onsite, was in fantastic shape They used it as an opportunity to partner with emergency responders, who slept there and ate there for a few weeks

“It was somewhat of an emergency shelter for folks serving the community,” LeSage said

They worked in partnership with the Collier and Charlotte Community Foundations as well, as it was an incredibly important and crucial role in emergency response Each foundation received $125,000 from the fund to assist in rebuilding Southwest Florida

Some of the funds also went to support

See IAN FUNDS, page 46

City of Cape Coral looks to limit its rising insurance costs

By MEGHAN BRADBURY news@breezenewspapers com

Cape Coral City Council decided to reduce city property-only coverage limits from $150 million to $50 million

Wednesday

“We are experiencing the same level of concern and level of premiums In that regard we have asked for some additional time to review the city’s coverage and the limits that we have before we bind into that coverage and move forward with a new fiscal year We have a presentation from the finance department with some solutions and also some additional forward thinking that we can continue to drive down rates and maybe shift some of that risk to the city understanding what those risks are,” City Manager Michael Ilczyszyn said Financial Services Director Mark Mason said it gave the city and the Florida Municipal Insurance Trust some time to back and get some alternatives in regard to the cost of insurance and the limits

The purpose of Wednesday’s special meeting was to approve the city’s renewal of its annual Property and Casualty Insurance Coverage with the Florida Municipal Insurance Trust, which is administered by the Florida League of Cities

“We have been with the Florida Municipal Insurance Trust, I believe, for the last five

years and we have a very good working relationship with them The amount of support that we received from them after Hurricane Ian really was top notch and frankly helped us get to where we are today in our recovery from Hurricane Ian,” Mason said

The city, in May and June, initiated the renewal process and in July was notified of a rate increase up to 200% with no detail of what rates and coverages were going to change

Mason said they used such things as the Drug Free workplace Credit Application, as well as others to get to the point where they would be at as far as rate increases go

On Sept 11, the city received its renewal quotes which were affected by the state of the global and state insurance markets both of which are dwindling, Mason said

Other issues affecting the property rate include inflation in labor and construction materials The city’s policy is on a replacement cost basis, so to replace items that were built 10, 15, 20, 30 years ago what they were built for then and replaced for today is completely different

“So the inflation in labor and construction materials that led to an increase in replacement values of insured properties played a big part in the cost of our insurance for fiscal year 2024,” Mason said

Clearly, Florida shows that there is a high-

er frequency and higher severity of storms and the state is also the highest risk zone in the world with carriers are raising their rates significantly, he said

As an example, on a per $100 for a total insured value, the rates have increased from 2 6 cents per $100 of value to 7 3 cents per a $100 value

“That by itself is a 178% increase,”

Mason said

The presentation highlighted the exposure changes from fiscal year 2023 to fiscal year 2024

■ Total Insured Value from $654,641,384 to $851,033,799, a 30% increase

■ Workers’ Comp Payroll from $119,951,784 to $121,056,661, a 1% increase

■ Workers’ Comp MOD Rate remained flat at 0 69

■ Auto Liability Claims from $9,408 to $178,850, a 1,800% increase

■ General Liability Claims from $304,752 to $1,090,364, a 258% increase

The asset survey was completed in September 2022, just prior to Hurricane Ian, Mason said, with the one prior done in 2017 He said the overall increase was 30% One of the things they asked Florida Municipal to do was go back and look at the potential of changing the city’s limits

“What we found; our current policy shows for a 5% insurance deductible. We are looking at changing the name storm deductible to 10%,” Mason said

When looking at the $150 million limit, the max limit, when changing it to a 10% named storm deductible it would save a little more than a $1 million If that number is brought down to a $50 million limit, with a 10% named storm deductible adds an additional $200,000 to that change, Mason said

“From an indicator standpoint that would tell us between 50 and $100 million that we are basically over insuring the limit that we don’t really need,” he said “So, $50 million would make more sense today from a limit standpoint ”

With a $50 million limit, at a 10% named storm deductible, Mason said they are looking at an overall premium of a little more than $5 million

“We need to buy coverage for fiscal year 2024 and we would start binding of that coverage for 2024 and then work with the Florida Municipal Insurance Trust and look through our own asset list to determine what assets could be taken out of the system and self-insure those assets,” Mason said

For the existing fiscal year 2023 insurance payments, the total insurance payments received was $5 million in recovery on a premium of $2 5 million

Ian funds: Collaboratory provides opportunity for donors to make a difference

From page 1

some other organizations doing work in direct response to the storm, such as Lee County Legal Aid, which received a grant to work on legal issues folks are facing in regards to insurance and housing issues as a result of the

storm

LeSage said they also used the funding to go to an arts and culture grant for organizations that had capital improvement needs that they were not able to fully fund By getting the arts and culture community back up and running they would help those in the tourism

community while supporting the community to get them back to a sense of normalcy

“The role of a community foundation is really to help the community leverage what exists in terms of assets whether its donations of funding, or organizations that are out there doing really important work and looking at

opportunities to get a community back on its feet,” she said “We are managing all of this based on relationships and hopefully trusts our organization has and maintains in the community ”

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