Pine Island Eagle

Page 1


VolumE 48, NumbEr 22

Tow Boat US goes pink for breast cancer awareness

Charlotte Harbor Tow Boat US owner Kyle Potts said he is actually a Pine Island resident who operates out of Jug Creek Marina, Burnt Store Marina and Pineland Marina as well as Fisherman’s Village in Punta Gorda

“We are part of the largest marine response network in the nation. We service recreational boaters for marine towing and on the water services like breakdowns and fuel and oil deliveries, groundings and battery jumps and things of that sort,” Potts said

In addition to covering all of Charlotte Harbor, Potts said they also cover a portion of the Myakka River, for

Post Ian transplant joins family business

WhenBill Johnson and his wife, artist

A s h l e y J o h n s o n , c a m e t o P i n e Island, to be near his parents after Hurricane Ian, they had no idea they would end up making the island their home

Bill’s parents, Shirley and James Driggers, have been Pine Islanders, he said, for 30 years Driggers owns a shrimp boat and business, the Miz Shirley, which got tossed up on the land on F o

M

According to Johnson, their home on Pine Island was also destroyed

“We contacted a friend of ours that had a motor home and within three weeks, we moved here,” Johnson said

Before news of Hurricane Ian brought them to Pine Island, Johnson was planning to retire from Sherwin Williams, where he’d driven a truck Now, he sells shrimp on Pine Island to

See FAMILY BUSINESS, page 14

anyone in need of assistance A few years ago, he said, an initiative was begun by corporate headquarters to bring awareness to Breast Cancer, which he said, currently affects 1 in 8 women

“We are actually one of five Tow Boat US companies in the nation who have done a pink boat campaign, so we’ve actually wrapped one of our response boats Tow Boat US Commander is the name of the boat we’ve wrapped it with Breast Cancer pink, with the ribbons and done a whole pink boat initiative for the month of October,” Potts said

page 7

The Miz Shirley, above, was tossed up on shore on Fort Myers Beach by Hurricane Ian but is now back on the water At l e f t a r e t h

behind Miz Shirley Inc , from left, James Driggers, Shirley Driggers and Bill Johnson

PHOTOS SUBMITTED BY

Centennial Bank teams up with Cape Coral Animal Shelter

Centennial Bank Pine Island Branch Manager Elsie Stearns thought raising money for a local animal shelter and taking donations for the needs of these life companions was something that really fell in line with the goals of Centennial Bank’s dedication and commitment to community outreach

“Community outreach is something Centennial Bank is always striving for,” Stearns said

Former Centennial Bank Fort Myers Branch Manager Jennifer Miller, who is an avid volunteer for the Cape Coral Animal Shelter, reached out to Stearns in particular because of her inclination toward community outreach projects Cape Coral Animal Shelter Executive Director Liz McCauly, a Pine Islander, friend and former neighbor of Stearns, could not have been happier to hear that Stearns would be collecting donations as well as items necessary at the shelter, right at her Pine Island bank branch Stearns, in turn, was overjoyed to lend a hand, with the idea that McCauly was a resident of Pine Island

“It’s just a good fit everyone loves animals, and we thought we could help our little four-pawed friends,” Stearns said

Stearns has a photo of pet adoption options at the branch and said each branch employee has taken a photo of a pet, which they have learned about and “virtually pre-adopted” in the interest of fun and support

On Friday, Oct 18, from 9-11 a m , Centennial Bank Pine Island branch is hosting a Pet Day, where some animals, who are ready to be adopted, will be brought into the branch

Among the items on the animal shelter's wish list are:

■ Canned kitten paste (poultry)

■ Clumping – dust Free litter

Charlotte Harbor Tow Boat’s pink boat. PROVIDED See GONE PINK,

Camera feeds now live for Little Pine Island Bridge

L e e C o u n

y

announced that two live camera feeds are available for residents, visitors and business owners to remotely view the traffic flow around the Little Pine Island Bridge

The county has worked out technological capabilities to be able to bring this

This is the same landing page from which islanders have been able to view the live

camera feed pilot project of the Matlacha Drawbridge

The new live feeds at the Little Pine I

B

Matlacha - are temporary and are set up to complement the Florida Department of Transportation’s project that is reconstructing the Little Pine Island Bridge,

Hurricane Ian

Bridge traffic is currently restricted to

Lee Health Bloodmobile at Moose Lodge Oct. 19

The Lee Health Bloodmobile will be visiting The Pine Island Moose Lodge at 8903 Stringfellow Road in St James City on Saturday, Oct 19, from 8 a m to noon All the blood collected remains in Lee

o Children's Hospital of Southwest Florida, the Regional Cancer Center and the only Trauma Center (which is located in the Lee Memorial Hospital) within a 5-county radius The blood also supports Cape Coral Hospital and Gulf Coast Medical Center.

One in three people will need blood in their lifetime You never know when you or someone you know or love will need blood So come out and Give the Gift of Life!

All donors will receive a free health checkup, cholesterol screening and gift

New studies show that donating blood

health. Regularly donating blood helps men in particular to reduce the amount of iron in the blood This can reduce the

Additionally, regular blood donation can lower the risk of severe cardiovascular events such as stroke by 33% You also burn 650 calories! It's a win-win!

of 20 units of blood

Requirements for donating blood:

■ Weigh at least 115 pounds

■ Be at least 16 years old (16 requires parental written consent)

■ Be relatively healthy

■ Provide photo ID

■ Have 56 days between donations

Eat a meal before donating blood and be sure to drink plenty of fluids before and after donation

Questions about donating? Call us at 343-2333

one lane with temporary signalized traffic control for Phase One of FDOT’s project

The new Little Pine Island Bridge traffic cameras will remain at the site while FDOT’s contractor is maintaining one-

potential travel time through Matlacha.

About the FDOT Little Pine Island Bridge project: More information about the project can be found at the state’s ded-

icated landing page

About the Matlacha Drawbridge cameras: Launched last year, the Matlacha Bridge live traffic cameras are a pilot program to evaluate the effectiveness, helpfulness and usefulness of implementing this type of technology in select areas of the county. The westbound and eastbound cameras provide a real time view of travel conditions on the Pine Island Road corridor

PROVIDED

Volunteer Marylea Llewelyn and her dog Adelle visit with first grade student Odin Jecmen

PAWS for Reading Program at PIE

Pine Island Elementary is fortunate to have the PAWS for Reading Program on the school campus This program allows trained therapy dogs and their owners the opportunity to visit PIE each week During the visit, students spend time reading to trained therapy dogs in the media center. Students feel comfortable reading to these special dogs in this

safe environment Dogs are non-judgmental and their calm demeanor helps students feel open to reading aloud to them This helps build their confidence in reading and they develop a special bond with these furry friends A big thank you to the volunteers and their canine companions that visit PIE each week!

PHOTO

OPINIONS

10700 Stringfellow Road, Ste 60 Bokeelia, FL 33922

Phone: (239) 283-2022

Fax: (239) 283-0232

Web: pineisland-eagle com

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Raymond M Eckenrode

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Advertising Sales

Charlene Russ

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Chris Strine

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Obituaries

Debbie Carletti

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P O Box 151306

Cape Coral FL 33915

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The Eagle is published every Wednesday

Customer service hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 a m to 5 p m , except major holidays

Letters to the editor must be typed or handprinted Your name and phone number must be affixed to the copy In the event of an advertising error we are responsible only

Web Poll

Previous Web Poll Question:

Does continuous off-island development along Pine Island Road concern you?

Current Web Poll Question: Should improvements be made to Pine Island Road to keep it from flooding during storms?

■ Yes

■ No

■ I don’t think there’s anything that can be done

Share your opinion at pineisland-eagle com

Farewell — and thank you

Southwest Florida has lost another landmark

The Shell Factory & Nature Park said this past weekend would be their last.

The attraction is permanently closing and plans are that the site will be sold, a decision owner Pam Cronin said is “The most difficult I have ever made in my life ”

Count us among those who will miss the attraction with all of its Old Florida kitsch

Where else in Lee County can you take a tot down a tropical garden path and encounter lifesize dinosaurs towering overhead?

Where else can you sit on a polar bear or giant ape for a photo op? Play a round of

Vote

To the editor:

Vote for Sheridan Chester for Lee County School Board District 7 at large

Sheridan’s top priorities include: Realistic living wage for our teachers, hire and retain qualified, dedicated educators for our students, maintain a safe environment for our students and teachers and practice responsible fiscal management

The Lee County School Board has been failing our children Comprised of mostly non-educators, the current board has failed to stem the drastic teacher shortage, has gone beyond state mandates to remove books from classrooms, and rejects a culture of tolerance and inclusion This in a district that has a 60% minority enrollment.

The current 10-year plan sees significant student growth which may require10 new schools However, Sheridan knows that the severe teacher shortage along with high expenses and low wages in the county are forcing people to leave As a school board member, Sheridan will ensure that the new 10-year plan clearly takes into account the actual circumstances

Sheridan Chester is a master educator, a dedicated public servant who has been teaching the children of Lee County for 23 years, as a middle school substitute teacher, the last two years teaching GED Chester was twice named “Teacher of the Year for Middle School ”

Lee County School Board needs at least one representative who has taught in our schools Sheridan knows what our students and families need and is superbly prepared to deliver

mini-golf, ride a zip line or a bumper boat? Visit hundreds of rescued animals and birds or shop at “the largest shell retail store in the world” for a souvenir or treasure

Where else can you meet Pam in her happy place and share a memory of “when the kids were little,” or visit Tommy’s to tip a brew in memory of Tom, who had a vision, who had a dream, of not only keeping the decades-old attraction he bought in 1997 alive but revitalizing the 18-acre “toutist trap” campus to make it a family destination

Letters to the Editor Eagle Editorial

No mas Senator Scott

To the editor:

Vote for Mucarsel-Powell A 53 years young legal immigrant She came to this country the right way; legally She’s an experienced Florida legislator, clear in her message that she is pro-middle class workers a n d f a m i l i e

laws, pro-sustainable energy development and solar manufacturing, pro-medicare/medicaid collaborative funding from the federal government

Finding supporters for Sen Rick Scott is challenging Amongst Republicans 24% and Democrats 74%, disapprove of his job as senator Women disapprove at 52% Voters under 35 disapprove at 57% When asked, what has he done for middle-class Floridians as U S Senator? Nothing is a common answer

During his tenure as governor and senator Florida housing and related prices have skyrocketed from among the most to the least affordable places to live in the country His positions on abortion blow with the wind H

who were warned not to type or speak any words related to the environment, global warming or climate change when he was governor He’s the prototypical pro-corporation, pro-wealthy, pro-guns at all costs, antichoice, anti-environment MAGA follower His proposed bill to sunset all federal legislation after five years could end Medicare and Social Security He re-wrote the bill AFTER considerable blowback from voters

Republicans take the U S Senate his focus will be to become speaker Thanks for the memories Florida

The views expressed on the Opinions pages are just that opinions These pages are intended to convey a range of viewpoints; opinions printed on this page do not necessarily reflect the views of this newspaper Opposing views are welcome. Letters to the Editor or guest columns may be mailed to: Pine Island Eagle, 10700 Stringfellow Road, Ste 60, Bokeelia, FL 33922; e-mailed to pineisland@ breezenewspapers com; posted to our Virtual Newsroom at www.breezenewspapers.com or faxed to 283-0232. All letters and guest columns must be signed and must contain a phone number for verification purposes. You also can comment on any letter or editorial opinion online at: pineisland-eagle com

for those of us who live here?

In that, Pam and Tom succeeded.

But times do change and events like pandemics and a pair of devastating hurricanes in just five years bring challenges, impacts and financial decisions that yes, are hard and sometimes heartbreaking

We thank the Cronins and all of their employees through the years for their hospitality

We thank them for the memories

They, too, will be missed

Ask yourself, which candidate is more concerned about everyday people versus their own ambitions

Peter Karastamatis Fort Myers

Please vote Trump

To the editor:

There have been some bad presidents in U S history but the Biden/Harris Democrat p a r t y d u o t a k e s t h e c a k e . T h i s n

w Democratic Party is not the party of JFK and does not give a damn about hard-working P

Biden/Harris pair inherited a smooth running country from Trump and immediately endeavored to gravely damage it Biden and Harris opened the border to an unlimited illegal alien invasion, began a huge government spending spree resulting in massive inflation and the cost of living going through the roof American families are really hurting financially. Border Czar Harris waived everyone into the U S and has never explained why Moreover, she has used billions of taxpayer dollars to power the migration by funding state department, NGO entities, and direct flights into the U S We all know why To bring in millions of

Democratic and thus allow Harris to stay in power Look at those poor Americans who

buildings

American voters are clueless to all the damage being done by Biden and Harris with the help of homeland security chief Alejandro Mayorcas This threesome along with the legacy media (MSNBC, NBC, CBS, ABC, CNN, PBS, etc ) tell Americans that the border is secure, inflation is only transitory and costs will be fixed with price controls OK Soviet communism And now Harris says we need to finish Trump‘s border wall (Cynicism Hall of Fame)

Biden/Harris left the Trump inflation rate of 1.4% and immediately drove it up to more than 9% and now the cumulative increase cost of everything we buy is over 25% after 3 5 years of continued monthly inflation increases

Letters to the Editor

From page 4

Hard-working Americans continue to suffer from that. You need 3.5 years of 25% deflation (monthly inflation 0%) to get prices back down to the 2020 Trump level again And it takes 0% m

steady where they are currently Outrageous, is the Biden/Harris and MSM propaganda that all this damage to A

Total nonsense and anyone that believes this Biden/Harris and MSM propaganda are uninformed The uninformed blindly v o t e D

knowing the dire consequences. Luckily Elon Musk bought Twitter and made it x com where free speech and the truth is found that cannot be censored And we also now have truthsocial com and rumb

O’Reilly com and others as well The uninformed can get informed through these other sources

Listening to Kamala Harris on TV will not inform anyone, and Harris avoids meaningful interviews with the press, she only takes non-meaningful softball question interviews with Democratic media that support her, where she spews lies and word salad In order to reverse all the damage Biden and Harris have done to Americans and our way of life we must vote Trump back as president

SJCCA to offer boaters safety class Oct. 23

A boaters safety class will be held at

Wednesday, Oct 23 at 9 a m This is an awesome opportunity for boaters to stay on the island to complete this safety course

upgrades to the Civic Center as well The center purchased a 110-inch projection screen, projector and audio system that are required to host the boaters safety class

It is homed that additional boaters safety classes will be held in the future The St James City Civic Center is at 3300 Fourth Ave , St James City Visit SJCCAPI.ORG for additional information

The latest results of the Calusa Waterkeeper testing efforts of area waters GRAPHIC

Sea turtle season winding down

While boating the waters of Pine Island Sound and Charlotte Harbor, I am still seeing a number of sea turtles popping up to breathe When they are active, sea turtles surface to breathe every few minutes When they are resting, they can remain underwater for as long as 2 hours without breathing

The majority of turtle nesting in Southwest Florida takes place between March and October For instance, Cayo Costa State Park averages over 300 sea turtle nests each year Turtles wait decades until they can reproduce and they return to the same beach where they were born to lay their eggs The females lay several nests on the beach but only every two to three years

Female sea turtles will lay eggs up to eight times during the s e a s o n E a c h n e s t a v e r a g e s about 110 eggs Of that number only about 80% will hatch and about half of those will survive Those that do survive can live to be 50-100 years old

Dolphin Tales

Most nests will hatch between 45-65 days after they are laid Once the female lays her eggs, she will return to the sea The hatchlings use their instincts to guide them to the sea once they emerge from the eggs

Three species of sea turtles nest routinely on Florida’s beaches The loggerhead turtle, the green turtle and the leatherback turtle. Green turtles eat algae, seagrasses and seaweed Leatherbacks eat jelly fish, tunicates and sea squirts Loggerheads eat cabs, conchs, whelks and horseshoe crabs

Adult loggerheads weigh about 250-350 pounds and have a shell length of about 3 feet Adult green sea turtles have a more streamlined body and average about 350 pounds and 3 feet in length Loggerheads can live 60+ years It takes about 30 years for loggerheads to be reproductively active

All six species of sea turtles in the U S are protected under the Endangered Species Act These are the green, hawksbill, Kemp's ridley, leatherback, loggerhead and olive ridley sea turtles

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

Beacon of schedule for October

The Beacon of Hope has scheduled the following activities for the month of October

■ Samaritan Health and Wellness is a primary care clinic open every other Wednesday from 8 a m to 4 p m at the Beacon This clinic provides care for the uninsured and underinsured The cost is $50 Help is available if needed People of all ages are welcome Mental health services are also available Call to make an appointment 239-360-7520

■ The Beacon’s Client Services are open Monday, Wednesday and Thursday from 9 a m to 5 p m Computer, fax and printers are available for use There is a notary.

■ Case Managers are available at the above times They help with all types of government programs and economic issues Call to make an appointment

■ Beacon Bites (our meals on wheels) are available Call if you or someone you know needs to sign up

■ Transportation to medical appointments and treatments are available Monday to Friday to anywhere in Lee County Please call and reserve 48 hours before your appointment

■ GED classes are held on Tuesday and Thursday from 9 a m to 2 p m

■ ESOL classes are held every Tuesday and Thursday at 6 p m

■ Blood pressure screening is available every Monday and Wednesday from 1-2 p m

■ The Veteran’s Support Group meets on the first Friday of every month from 9 a m to 12:30 p m Call 239-283-5123 to make an appointment

■ T h e F u n d r a i s i n g C o

Monday, Oct 21, at 10 a m to plan activities for the coming year If you are interested, please join the group

■ Strange Arrangement – Monday, 6-7:30 p m A

musical experience

Wednesday evening at 6 p m at the United Methodist Church Girls are now being included in the program

■ The Wellness Committee will meet Monday, Oct 14, at 11 a m Please join us We have a lot of planning to do.

■ The Attic (Thrift Store) is open Tuesday through Friday from 9 a m to 3 p m Saturday hours are 10 a m to 3 p m Donations are accepted until 2:30 p m unless they get overloaded Every Tuesday is 50% off clothing, shoes, and similar items On Thursday, Oct 3; Tuesday, Oct 15; and Thursday, Oct 31, it will be 50% off everything in the store Everything marked with green and red on Thursday Oct 10 will be 75% off

■ Keep an eye out for the Cutest Pet Contest coming this fall

■ Pine Island Cares, made up of representatives from the island’s non-profits, meets quarterly The next meeting will be on Monday, Oct 14, at 10 a m The Beacon of Hope is at 5090 Doug Taylor Circle, St James City Call 239-283-5123 for additional information

Sisters of the Island launches new women's empowerment group

The Eagle's Nest, Mermaid Tales and Pine Island Community Church are collaborating to create a safe and supportive space for women of all ages and backgrounds

The group's mission is to empower women through storytelling and community building

"We aim to foster a supportive community of Pine Island women who can inspire, heal and uplift one another," said Michelle Browne, one of the coordina-

tors Join the group the first Tuesday of every month at 6 p.m. at The Eagle's Nest. (The Eagle's Nest will be closed to the public to accommodate the group ) Enjoy complimentary food and connect with other inspiring women in your community All are welcome

For more information, please contact Browne at 2 3 9 - 2 8 3 - 9 9 4 4 o

yahoo com

Capt. Cathy Eagle

VFW Post’s Voice of Democracy and Patriot Pen Essay scholarship contests underway

The Veterans of Foreign War, VFW

P o s t 4 3 5 3 a n d V F W P o s t 4 3 5 3

Auxiliary at 8150 Stringfellow Road, St James City, are sponsoring scholarship

p r o g

Democracy essay contest and the Patriot Pen Essay Contest

Voice Of Democracy is a written and

spoken essay on “Is America Today our Forefathers Vision?”

This essay contest is open to students in 9th through 12th grades. The finished material must be received no later than Thursday, Oct 31, at VFW Post 4353

Patriot Pen is a written essay contest on “My Voice in America’s Democracy” for

Gone pink From page 1

They are a locally owned company who have been in the Charlotte Harbor area for over 30 years, he said, adding that Tow Boat services are offered 24/7/365 No matter when a breakdown or on the water issue occurs, they are ready to rescue clients with six response boats, Potts said

“My wife, Jessica, and I own the local company and we have a team of U S Coast Guard-licensed captains all over Southwest Florida who are ready to serve the marine community,” Potts said

He went on to explain that the pink boat campaign is especially meaningful to him since his own mother battled breast

c a n c e r f o r 1 5 years and won “ S h e ’ s a c t ually battled the disease and we

h a v e a f i s h i n g

t e a m m e m b e r her name is Lauren and she

is a good friend of ours she’s battling the disease now We are doing this, not only to support her but we’re really trying to generate donations through our own local campaign that we established that will help other women with this disease,” Potts said

He explained that all the donations are based on a QR code that goes directly to a National Breast Cancer Foundation with which Tow Boat US has partnered So far, h e s a i d t h e y h a v e h a d a v e r y g o o d response to the campaign, in which they have been able to solicit individual sponsorships to friends with local businesses

“We’ve had an awesome response We’ve had over 15 local businesses step up We’re really going to push to generate funds,” Potts said, explaining that customers who might like to donate can simply scan the QR code wrapped on the side of the boat while they are being serviced on the water

There is also a YETI bucket drive, he said, for which they are selling pink YETI

students 6th through 8th grades Those finished essays must be received at the VFW Post 4353 no later than Thursday, Oct. 31.

requirements can be found at VFW org,

“Youth & Education scholarship ”

If you have any questions, can contact VFW Post 4353 Commander Sarah J Yacko at 330-242-3260 or Auxiliary Post 4353 Joyce Lake at 616-283-7121. If there is no answer please leave a message and they will get back to you

buckets for $50 each with their campaign logo Donations from the YETI bucket drive also go to their National Cancer Foundation partners

The commemorative decal on the side of the Tow Boat US craft Below left is the QR Code to help the cause.

“We’ve been able to raise north of $6,000 already, in the first two weeks of the campaign locally We’re very pleased with how it’s going,” Potts said

Elks’ Oktoberfest Saturday at VFW

The Greater Pine Island Elks #2781 is hosting an Oktoberfest Saturday, Oct 5, at the VFW Post 4353 THE Oktoberfest celebration will be held at the VFW Biergarten from 5-7 p m with a pork schnitzel dinner with

braised red cabbage and potato or German bratwurst with sauerkraut

Reservations are requested and can be made by calling 570-335-8887 or at V F W P o s t 4 3 5 3 , 8 1 5 0 S t r i n

o w Road, St James City

There’s hungry fish out there for inshore anglers

With many snook heading east away from the beaches and now working the bushes, points, docks and oyster bars, plus good numbers of fall redfish competing f o r t h e s a m e c o v e r , f o l k s t h a t e n j o y inshore lure and fly casting cover have lots of hungry targets to try and fool

There are several things that make a Southwest Florida inshore angler successful, like a good understanding of the tides and how weather affects them and the fish, seasonal fish location and appropriate lure selections, quiet boat management skills and accurate casting Mastering freshwater bass techniques, like pitching and, to a lesser extent, flipping, to the most important one of all, skipping, which automatically puts you light years ahead of the don’t-want-to-get-hung-up “edge angler ”

Novice anglers don’t realize that huge fish hunt, hug and rest right on the very edge of the shore often belly to the bottom, way back and under the lure-snagging stuff Ever cast a great looking shoreline spot with no luck and then get hung up? You motor in with the electric and as soon as you touch the bushes or the sand,

a jumbo snook or fat red suddenly rockets out past the boat These are the fish

M

gets a shot at but Mr Skip Master definitely will Learning to pitch a lure or bait to the edge of cover or to accurately pick apart open cover like the whole length of a blown down tree, pitching is a fine technique Learning to make a quiet near splash-less entry ups your game even further, but if the fish are 10-

and there’s only 6-8 inches of open space below the branches, then skipping is the only way to see if they want to play Skipping or skip casting not only gets you in fishy territory but it can also provoke reaction strikes from neutral or negative fish

The angler can skip lures with a bassstyle bait-casting reel, spinning reel or fly rods Once again, let’s look at the basic

Centennial Bank

■ Dog treats – Pup–Peroni

■ Dog treats – Milk Bone Soft and Chewy

■ Distilled water

■ Pick up bags pet waste bags

■ Paper towels

■ Toilet paper

■ T r a s h b a g

kitchen

■ Ziploc bags – court, gallon, snack

■ Dawn dishwashing liquid

■ Bleach (only used for laundry)

■ Liquid laundry detergent

■ Glass cleaner

■ G i f t c a r d s – A m a z o n , W a l m a r t , Home Depot, Publix, Sam’s Club, True Value Hardware and Costco

The shelter also accepts gently used linens, towels and blankets

Tax ID 81–3632884

From page 1

Centennial Bank is at 5551 Sunset Lane, St James City

The Cape Coral Animal Shelter & Veterinary Clinic is at 325 S W 2nd Ave , Cape Coral For more information, visit Capecoralanimalshelter com

Stearns wants to remind everyone to check in with the Greater Pine Island E m e r g e n c y T a s k F o r c e a t t h e Beaconofhopepineisland com

Some of the animals adopted from the Cape Coral Animal Shelter PHOTO PROVIDED

t e c h n i q u e , w h i c h i s , o f course, based on skipping a flat stone low across the water’s surface

Open the bail of your spinning reel and pin the line to the spool with your index finger Hold the rod tip down to the surface at your side, and with the rod slightly behind you, bring it sharply forward keeping the tip inches from the water’s s u r f a c e t h e w h o l e c a s t Release the line on the end of the forward movement, and if you’re timing is right the lure should jet forward and skip low across the surface If you smash the lure into the water two feet in front of you and it sinks, that simply means your timing is wrong. Stand on the dock, the shoreline, boat or home pool and practice

Now that you got that, let's take it up another notch This time instead of a flat forward sidearm cast, try holding the rod down again to your side and pointed at the

water Then in one motion lift the rod a couple of feet or so and quickly make a clockwise circle with the lure hanging from the leader before bringing the rod forward and letting go of the line, causing the lure to shoot forward What the extra step does is to load the rod giving the lure extra speed and better skipping performance

Good skippers can skip forward and back handed with both hands A perfect “skip” won’t really hop and skip but rather glide over the water’s surface creating a mini-rooster tail along its surface path as it jets along 20 feet back under that dock

Fortunately, if this is as clear as mud, simply turn on YouTube and learn from the many pro bass anglers putting lures far back under tight structure usually with bait-casting reels and educated thumbs

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

Capt. George Tunison

Eagle stars return home, nesting season underway

Southwest Florida’s most popular eagle family has returned home from summer vacation a little early to get ready for its next clutch of eaglets

M15 and F23 are entering their first full year as mates and their second season on the Southwest Florida Eagle Cam, and they have been busy working on the nest, bonding, and eventually more offspring

Season 13 of the Southwest Florida Eagle Cam, which will have the theme “New Season, New Opportunities” originally scheduled for Oct 1, has started a little early w i t h t h e e a g l e s ’ e a r l y w o r k , a c c o r d i n g t o G i n n i e

Pritchett-McSpadden, founder of the eagle cam

“We turned the cameras on early We’ve seen so much activity in the nest with the eagles bringing in sticks that we turned them on early,” Pritchett-McSpadden said “We’re already seeing some amazing work ”

F23 was spotted from time to time over the summer, while M15 returned home on Aug 24 and has gone to work fortifying their nest on the Pritchett Farm along Bayshore Road in North Fort Myers.

Currently, the two are usually seen in the early morning in the nest, as well as before sunset The rest of the day they find cooler places to hang around They will spend more time in the nest as fall progresses

Pritchett-McSpadden said the pair has fully bonded and been together for a year The result has been a more efficient unit, though there are times when they disagree

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE SOUTHWEST FLORIDA EAGLE CAM

M15 and F23 are entering their first full year as mates and their second season on the Southwest Florida Eagle Cam, and they have been busy working on the nest, bonding, and eventually more offspring. To watch 24/7, visit dickpritchettrealestate.com.

“The conversations they have when they bring in the stick is so funny to watch They each have a way they want to do things,” Pritchett-McSpadden said

First Baptist Church of Pine Island's Teamkid and J.A.M. Youth Groups kickoff

First Baptist Church of Pine Island's new Teamkid and J A M Youth Group are set to begin today, Oct 2 The youth groups are for ages kindergarten through 12th grade from 6:30- 7:45 p m A light dinner is provided for the students along with games and a devotion to follow This great opportunity for students is FREE of cost All

today

students are welcome to come have a blast at the church each Wednesday night throughout the school year

First Baptist Church of Pine Island is located at 5363 Ave D , Bokeelia, across from Pine Island Elementary School in The Center If you have any questions, please contact the church office at 239-283-1737

Blessing of the Animals Saturday at St. John's Episcopal Church

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

n Lutheran Church, Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal Catholic Church, Pine Island United Methodist Church,

and C R O W Animal Rescue

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

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

With the early work on the nest and the fact M15 and F23 are a new couple, it may be possible that their eggs may be laid early This usually happens in mid to late November, which means hatching occurs around the holidays

“This is some new territory for us because this will be the first full season they’re together as a pair,” Pritchett-McSpadden said “There m i g h t b e a d i f f e r e n t t i m e l i n e We’re all watching and waiting to see.”

The 13th season of the eagle cam will feature a camera with a new angle of the nest They tried it last year, only to have the eagles cover it up a few weeks in

“This year we raised it a couple feet so now we have two cool views of the nest The second camera is a side angle to see better images of hatching and the e a g l e t s , ” P

said.

Last season, one of the eggs hatched prematurely and the eaglet didn’t make it The cause of the hatching is not known The other eaglet successfully fledged Pritchett-McSpadden said this is nature at its best and worst

“We’ve had seasons where one egg hasn’t hatched Unfortunately, it’s the truth of nature, but we’ll see what the season brings,” Pritchett-McSpadden said

To watch the Southwest Florida Eagle Cam, visit dickpritchettrealestate com

Huntington

Kittens, kittens everywhere Although we have many kittens in all different colors and sizes, we decided to feature Huntingt o n t h i s w e e k H e h a s b e e n passed over for weeks, along w i t h s e v e r a l o t h e r b l

k k i ttens. No one ever wants the black kitties. We realize many people aren't in a position to adopt because of storm damage, but if you have room in your heart and home for a new fur baby, we have all different models to choose from! Call Helping Paws Animal Sanctuary at 239283-9100 for more information If y o u ’ d r a t h e r j u s

n a t e , o u r address is 10060 Mallory Parkw a y, E , U n i t D , S t J a m e s City or there’s always our website at www.helpingpawsanimalsanctuary.com

PHOTO PROVIDED

Pine Island Elementar y thanks

Bobby Holloway Jr. Memorial Foundation

Pine Island Elementary would like to thank the Bobby Holloway Jr. Memorial Foundation for donating school spirit shirts to students this year This is a wonderful way to get students excited about school and show their pride! Students wear spirit shirts every Friday and these will be enjoyed by all Thanks so much for this kind and caring gesture! Above are Steve Hook, Bobby Holloway Jr Memorial Foundation board member, and Dr Mike Galbreath, PIE principal

SJCCA Schedule

St James City Civic Association has a n n o u n c e d t h e f o l l o w i n g u p c o m i n g events and activities for the month of October:

Thursday, Oct 3

■ Ping Pong, 9-11 a m

This is a fun way to meet the neighbors and play ping pong.

■ Mahjongg, 1-4 p m

This is a great place to learn to play mahjongg!

Tuesday, Oct 8

■ Ping Pong, 9-11 a m

Thursday, Oct 10

Paint with Kellie, 5:309:30 p m Enjoy a great local artist and paint with friends - RSVP

■ Mahjongg, 1–4 p m

Friday, Oct 11

■ Bingo, doors open, 5 p m , games begin at 5:30 p m – Progressive Jackpot is $275

Wednesday, Oct 23

■ Boater’s Safety Class, 8-9 p m The entire day is dedicated to boater’s safety - RSVP

Additional details, contacts and ticket sales are

S J CCAPI ORG website

All of the activities are held at the St James City

PICC seeks public support to help islanders in need

reaching out to the community for assistance in continuing its vital services to island residents The church has been blessed to be a part of this community for over 17 years, providing essential support to those in need

Each month, PICC's food pantry distributes food to over 1,000 islanders Additionally, in the past few months, the church has allocated more than $10,000 to help residents with unexpected expenses, such as car repairs, veterinary bills and utility costs On Wednesdays, volunteers from the church lend a helping hand to island residents by assisting with deliveries, yard work, housekeeping and junk removal

committed to being a positive force in the

island community The congregation and staff are grateful for the support They've received, but they need help to continue serving their neighbors

To raise funds and increase awareness, PICC will be hosting meat raffles on the first and third Saturdays of each month from 2-4 p m at The Eagle's Nest in Bokeelia The inaugural raffle will take place Sept 28, featuring fresh cuts of meat and locally-sourced seafood The event is open to the public

For more information about Pine Island C

please visit www pineislandcommunitychurch.com or contact Pastor Michelle Pine Island Community Church is at 5320 Doug Taylor Circle, St James City

Civic Association at 3300 Fourth Ave , at the corner of Lemon Street, in St James City
PHOTO PROVIDED

c

Tarpon Lodge, which he said was his first client after taking the job with Miz Shirley Inc

“The people of Pine Island are a really big blessing,” Johnson said

Having three familial generations of shrimpers on the island is something in which Johnson takes a great deal of pride. There are three family operated shrimp carts currently on Pine Island -- Johnson, h

, Greyson Johnson Although Pine Island has always been home to Johnson, as he and the family were here pretty often

“This has always been home I was raised 45 minutes away in Arcadia, but even after I got married, we were always o

, Thanksgiving, even after we moved to Georgia, this was a vacation destination This was like a second home Once you h

always have it,” Johnson said.

Williams to become part of the fishing community and that he has seen some of the struggles endured by local fishermen and truth be told, he has a heart for them, he said They have to be tough, because

it’s a tough business to be in In the future, he said there has been talk of possibly purchasing crab boats

“We just want to keep the family business going as long as we can It’s a strug-

gle that is worth it because this is a legacy Everybody needs to get behind the fishermen and save the fishermen we work hard to bring a great product,” Johnson said

PHOTOS PROVIDED
Somewhat obscured by other boats on top of it, the Miz Shirley, lower left, was among a number of boats damaged and tossed on shore on Fort Myers Beach by Hurricane Ian.
Bill Johnson and Grey Johnson with their stone crab cart.

Cape Coral Breeze Athletes Week of

(Selected by the Breeze

Sports staff)

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Stucco-LandscapeCurbing SprayCrete-Keystone âNoJobToo Smallã

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LaborersWanted 239-543-3700 Cell239-849-5375

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