Pine Island Eagle by BreezeNewspapers

WEEk of octobEr 11, 2023 FLIER INSIDE

Voting begins! Cast your ballot in the annual Best of Pine Island contest — INSIDE pINEISlaND-EaglE.com

VolumE 47, NumbEr 23

County officials discuss roundabout and other issues at GPICA meeting By PAULETTE LeBLANC

pleblanc@breezenewspapers.com

Lee County Board Commissioner Kevin Ruane, along with other county officials, attended the Greater Pine Island Civic Association meeting Tuesday, Oct. 3, to answer questions from islanders. According to Ruane, the question posed most regarding Pine Island is the possibility of a roundabout at the four-way stop where Pine Island Road meets Stringfellow Road. The project is not being taken into

consideration at this time, he said, largely due to requests from islanders. That notwithstanding, additional space and money would be necessary to make the roundabout possible. “I can assure you, there’s not a commissioner that has $2.6 million extra to do a project that you all don’t want,” Ruane said. Department of Transportation Deputy Director Rob Price told GPICA members that there was an analysis done on the intersection of Stringfellow and Pine Island

Road, at the request of island residents, due to traffic congestion in this area. “That analysis looked at all alternatives — signal, continuing the four-way stop, a roundabout and some quadrant roads, which is a whole other animal,” he said. “What it told us is a roundabout or a traffic signal would basically function the same and the signal was much cheaper than the roundabout. So one of the things we See COUNTY OFFICIALS, page 19

Better Together serving Pine Island By PAULETTE LeBLANC

pleblanc@breezenewspapers.com

Better Together CEO Megan Rose is adamant about the non-profit organization’s mission statement, which is to provide preventative services that empower the whole family through work, caring and loving relationships. After Hurricane Ian, Rose said Better Together spent a great deal of time on Pine Island in an effort to meet the needs of children and families. “We’ve got some areas on Pine Island that the Department of Children and Families let us know needed help within their communities. They asked if we could focus some time and energy building relationships with those families and meeting the needs that they have. We knocked on doors and started building some relationships and getting them some of the essential things that they needed,” Rose said. Families they helped received items such as, play-pens, mattresses, diapers, baby wipes, food and bug spray, she said, adding that they tried to focus on the children. Assuring parents had what they needed to care for and keep their children safe, such as proper car seats, was of major importance.

Samaritan Health and Wellness’ Hook serving Pine Island at the Beacon By PAULETTE LeBLANC

pleblanc@breezenewspapers.com

According to Dr. Susan Hook, Samaritan Health and Wellness in Cape Coral is coming up on its ninth year in practice. She started out 40 years ago as a certified nursing assistant and has been a nurse practioner for 21 years. Hook worked for Lee Physician group until October 2014, and then began the new chapter of Samaritan Health and Wellness that November, she said. “We started out with 40 patients and 2 employees — me and an office manager, and now we’re seeing about 150 patients a week and we have 12 employees,” Hook said of her Cape office. The center in Cape Coral has flourished over the last decade, as it now offers three mental health coun-

See BETTER TOGETHER, page 23

selors as well as four nurse practioners. Hook wanted to bring that same spirit of medical support and generosity to the people of Pine Island and so began work in her satellite office, housed by the Beacon of Hope, in St. James City in April 2023. Currently her hours at the Beacon are every other Wednesday from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m., although she said she would like to extend the hours to include the whole day. The fee is approximately $50 per visit, with financial assistance availSee HOOK, page 23 Dr. Susan Hook of Samaritan Health and Wellness in Cape Coral at the Beacon of Hope. PAULETTE LEBLANC

PHOTO PROVIDED

A representative of Better Together, right, chats with a resident on the recent visit to the island.

Athlete of the Week.........28 Island Mahjongg...............9 Local Tides......................29 insidetoday Cat of the Week...............12 Letters to the Editor..........4 On the Water....................22 Classifieds & Obituaries

Week of October 11, 2023 n Page 2 pineisland-eagle.com Pine Island Eagle

M/PIFCD utilizes ALS to save a life in Bokeelia By PAULETTE LeBLANC

pleblanc@breezenewspapers.com

Matlacha/Pine Island Fire Control District EMS Assistant Deputy Cody Allen responded to a medical emergency in Bokeelia Tuesday, Oct. 3. The patient was treated by responding firefighters and then transported to the hospital, he said. “Our crews were able to take the necessary steps to provide both basic and Advanced Life Support and what could have turned into a very serious outcome was avoided, thanks to the quick action of the providers at that station,” Allen said. Initially, an assessment was taken to determine that basic life support was needed, he explained. As the situation continued to develop, it was determined that Advanced Life Support was necessary. With the assistance of Lee County EMS and the local helicopter, the patient was able to be moved to definitive care at the hospital. Fire Chief Ben Mickuleit said that ALS was always available to residents through Station 1, in the ambulance. What made a difference in this case, he said, was a faster intervention.

PHOTO OF PROVIDED BY MPIFCD

The helicopter used to transport the islander to the hospital. “The ambulance responded in a timely manner and and collaborated with Lee County EMS and the flight also provided Advanced Life Support as well, but crew,” Allen said. because of the placement of our stations, we initiated

Bernier will not run for elected superintendent post By MEGHAN BRADBURY

news@breezenewspapers.com

While two candidates have filed paperwork to run for the newly created elected superintendent seat, the current Lee Schools Superintendent, Dr. Christopher Bernier, announced Thursday he will not seek the post to be decided in 2024. As of press time, Denise Carlin and Morgan Wright, both Republicans, both educators, have filed, according to the Lee County Elections Office website. Lee County voters approved the change from appointive to elected office via a referendum in November of 2022.

The measure, which was placed on the ballot by the State Legislature and was opposed by the School Board of Lee County, passed with 62.15 percent of the voters in favor, making the superintendent’s post another elected constitutional office in Lee County as of the 2024 General Election. The existing system of having the superintendent appointed by the School Board had been approved by Lee voters in 1974. The elected superintendent will serve a four-year term. “After extensive contemplation and reflec-

tion, I have chosen not to pursue the upcoming elected position of Superintendent of Schools,” Bernier wrote in an email sent to the Lee County schools community Thursday. “I want to assure you that this decision was not made lightly; it demanded careful consideration. I want to underscore that my decision is founded on a profound respect for our School Board and the dedicated students, families, teachers, and staff who collectively contribute to our thriving educationDr. Christopher Bernier

See BERNIER, page 24

Page 3 ■ Week of October 11, 2023 breezenewspapers.com

Pine Island Eagle

Week of October 11, 2023 ■ Page 4

OPINIONS

Pip, pip hurray 10700 Stringfellow Road, Ste. 60 Bokeelia, FL 33922 Phone: (239) 283-2022 Fax: (239) 283-0232 Web: pineisland-eagle.com Publisher Raymond M. Eckenrode reckenrode@breezenewspapers.com Executive Editor Valarie Harring vharring@breezenewspapers.com

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Editor Paulette LeBlanc pleblanc@breezenewspapers.com Advertising Director Laurie Ragle lragle@.breezenewspapers.com Advertising Sales Charlene Russ cruss@breezenewspapers.com Design & Layout Chris Strine cstrine@breezenewspapers.com Obituaries Debbie Carletti obits@breezenewspapers.com Subscriptions 1 Year $52 To Pay For Your Subscription P.O. Box 151306 Cape Coral, FL 33915 Circulation (239) 574-1936 Classified Advertising (239) 574-5644

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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 for the first incorrect insertion of the ad itself. We are not responsible for any credit or reimbursement after 30 days from publication. Postal Information: Bulk rate postage paid at Fort Myers, FL Postmaster. Send address changes to the Pine Island Eagle. Permit # 521.

Web Poll Previous Web Poll Question: Are you concerned about development in Cape Coral along Pine Island Road and Burnt Store Road? ■ Yes, especially encroachment and increased traffic. 39% ■ No, it’s out of our hands. 2% ■ Why worry, local development is inevitable. 57% ■ Other. 2%

Current Web Poll Question: What improvement should be made to the Pine Island Road/Stringfellow intersection? ■ A stoplight. ■ A roundabout. ■ Nothing. ■ Other. Share your opinion at pineisland-eagle.com

The Southwest Florida Eagle Cam’s 12th season took flight on a wing and a prayer Sunday: It looks like international star M15 has found a new mate and fans everywhere are hoping a new brood of eaglets can erase some of the sadness of matriarch Harriet’s apparent demise last season. Since its launch on the Pritchett property in September of 2012, the 24/7 raptor reality show has recorded more than 210 million views from more than 190 countries worldwide. It has a near cult following and no, we can’t explain why any more than we would even attempt to expound on the popularity of The Kardashians. What we do know is that for many of us

Eagle Editorial here in Southwest Florida, the eagle cam is more than a guilty pleasure — it’s a seasonal tradition with a huge fan base of social media pages filled with photos of the family happenings from nest refurbishment and the laying of the latest clutch, to the first pip breaking through the shell and the raising of the hatchling through their first flights. There’s happiness to be found at the host site, https://dickpritchettrealestate.com/. And there’s drama as well because, as anyone who’s ever watched “The Lion King” knows, natural selection is not always pretty.

But through the harshness of eaglet deaths, great horned owl attacks, and even the passing of the original nesting pair Ozzie and Harriet, we continue to watch, we continue to learn, and we continue to hope for the successful raising of those eaglets that grow from raggedy fuzz balls to young adults on the hunt in a matter of mere months. To M15 and the young miss with whom he is apparently engaging in a bit of nest building. We’ll be among those tuning in, once again.

Letters to the Editor Entitlement?

him now. Never relax!

To the editor: Recently, returning home from my morning bicycle ride, I noticed a car in front of my house with its back hatch up. Upon further investigation, I see an old man with a shovel and a bucket digging up flowers in my front yard. The yard is clearly posted "No Trespassing" not more than 15 feet away from the old man, my first comment was, "What the hell do you think you're doing old boy?", and to my astonishment he says, "I'm borrowing flowers," to which I reply, "Oh hell, no you're not, get off the property!", to which he replies, "Can I buy them," and again I reply, "Get the #$@% off the property now, what part of no trespassing don't you understand?", to which he replies, "The property looks abandoned"... to which I reply, "It's not, it's one of the few properties in St. James totally put back together, now gtf out of here and never return!" Where does this entitlement of people come from, the property is clearly marked no trespassing, the grass is mowed and the house is completely put back together after Ian. When I was brought up I was told you don't trespass for nothing -- that board laying in the neighbor's driveway for 3 weeks is not your board to go take, likewise the flowers I planted in front of the house are not yours to just willy nilly come take. Twenty-six years on Pine Island and this is the first time someone has been this brazen and boneheaded ... Are these the new people moving in?, people with total disregard for other people, let alone long-time residents. I had never seen this guy before in my life but I sure will remember

John W. Snyder Jr. St. James City

If it takes a shutdown to curb debt, so be it To the editor: It’s only money!! We are now facing a government shutdown, temporarily averted but kicked down the road again until Nov. 17. Many don’t seem to be too excited about our debt and don’t want a shutdown but… The annual interest payment is approaching one trillion dollars. In 10 years, that will be $10 trillion if we don’t increase the debt anymore. $20-30 trillion at the present rate! What has the debt bought us? Enormous inflation. Our dollar is now worth about 80 cents compared to a few years ago. Gasoline is almost double and many items in the hardware and grocery stores are 50% more. Then of course we have to pay much more interest forever now. How much will we suffer if the government were to shut down, a highly exaggerated term. The big expenditures will be undeterred. The military, Social Security and Medicare will continue and interestingly those employees in our government that are furloughed will be reimbursed for not working when this is over. Paid vacations to all. Hardly any of us will be inconvenienced unless we go to a federal park. So why aren’t our political congressmen and president handling this continuing problem. Simple. The Democratic Party is a special interest party and they gain power by rewarding their special interest constituen-

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

cies. Further, they can make hay for the next election by blaming the Republicans for shutting down the government. On the other side, the Republicans were responsible for zeroing debt with Clinton in 1996. Perfect combination. The Democrats raise taxes and the Republicans reduce spending. Incredibly the conservative President Trump allowed an increase of $8 trillion of debt during his tenure. His big tax bill which was intended to boost the economy when it did not need a boost was a terrible bill. Unfortunately, Biden was elected president and his actions were contrary to what Trump would have done negating the benefits of the tax bill that might have compensated for much of the debt. Then Biden went crazy giving away money partly due to the pandemic but mostly due to paying off special interests resulting in inflation. He brags about the economy which in part he bought with debt and in part was due to recovery from the pandemic. Many other consumer cost is out of control such as gross pricing and entrapment by the pharmaceutical industries. The second largest lobby is enormously effective with Congress, the White House, doctors and consumers. Pharmaceutical advertisements are hilarious spouting the magical work of a new drug while warning that the side effects include about every possible harm including death. And unbelievably they are effective. Of course, the money spent on the pandemic was largely a waste. Two examples: Would you believe Bill Gates, George Soros and Buffet were also sent a check? How stupid does one have to be to send $900 to someone making millions or even hundreds of thousands. Then we learn that there was as much as $400 billion of fraud when the criteria for compensating companies was so ill conceived. Most of that fraud was from thieves outside of our country. Our government doesn’t even know how to give money away. Do we need a shutdown. I say yes. It’s only money but my money and I don’t want 20% of my taxes going to interest. I don’t want the shutdown to end until our politicians start protecting the taxpayer from debt. John A. Benedict Cape Coral

Page 5 ■ Week of October 11, 2023 breezenewspapers.com

Pine Island Eagle

Week of October 11, 2023 ■ Page 6

CLT work/fun party Saturday at Wigert/Barron Preserve The Calusa Land Trust's first monthly work/fun party of the season will be held this Saturday, Oct. 14, at the Wigert/Barron Preserve beginning at 9 a.m. This preserve is located in Bokeelia at the east end of Barrancas Avenue at its intersection with Aura Lane. The work will be concentrated on invasive plant and continued hurricane debris removal. The 32-acre preserve boasts three distinctive habitats: a rare coastal scrub environment, transitional uplands and a mangrove forest abutting Jug Creek. The former contains a thriving gopher tortoise colony. The upland portion has undergone a major invasive plants removal project. An informational kiosk, butterfly garden, interpretative signs and trail markers have been added, which allow hikers to follow the “Nancy Rogers Nature Trail” and loop through the various habitats and view Rubye's Pond

and the Sara Schwandt bench along the way. The Calusa Land Trust is an all-volunteer land conservancy and relies upon motivated Pine Islanders to assist in the stewardship of its 2,400+ acres of preserved lands. Participants should include work gloves/clothing and pruning tools and for their efforts will be rewarded with cold beverages, a pizza lunch, shared warm friendships and a sense of accomplishment. For more information bout the CLT or the work/fun party, contact Les Smith at 978-618-7447 or lesmanatee3355@gmail.com The sign at the Wigert/Barron Preserve in Bokeelia. FILE PHOTO

pineisland-eagle.com

Lee Health Bloodmobile coming to the Moose Oct. 14 The Lee Health Bloodmobile will be visiting The Pine Island Moose Lodge at 8903 Stringfellow Road in St. James City Saturday, Oct. 14, from 8 a.m. - noon. All the blood collected remains in Lee Health, which includes the Golisano Children's Hospital of SW 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 improves your overall cardiovascular health. Regularly donating blood helps men in particular to reduce the amount of iron in the blood. This can reduce the chance of heart attack by 88%. 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! Please help us make our goal of 20 units of blood.

Church of God of Prophecy chicken dinner this Saturday

The Lee Health Bloodmobile will be accepting donations this Saturday at the island Moose Lodge.

Pine Island Eagle

FILE PHOTO

Best of Pine Island voting underway Voting is underway for the Best of Pine Island and ballots are included in this week’s edition of the Pine Island Eagle starting on page 13.

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

Voting utilizing the ballots printed in The Eagle or online at pineisland-eagle.com continues until Friday, Oct. 27

The Church of God of Prophecy will hold a Chicken Dinner this Saturday, Oct. 14. Dinner will be takeout only, no dine in. The price is $10 per dinner —fried chicken, mashed potatoes and gravy, corn or green beans, dinner roll, and dessert. Chicken is fried in peanut oil. Gluten free and baked chicken available upon request. Call your order in to 239-283-2128 as soon as possible, quantities limited. Meal pick-up is from 12:30-3 p.m. The church is at 15146 Stringfellow Road, Bokeelia.

By CHUCK BALLARO

news@breezenewspapers.com

PHOTO COURTESY OF SOUTHWEST FLORIDA EAGLECAM/ WWW.SWFLEAGLECAM.COM

Work continues on permanent repairs to Pine Island Road As part of the Emergency Restoration of the Pine Island Road Causeway and Bridge, crews will be working in the project boundaries along CR 78 Pine Island Road from west of Little Pine Island Bridge (Bridge No. 120111) to West of Shoreview Drive. ■ Crews have mobilized to the north side of the Pine Island Causeway to begin driving sheet piling. The contractor is completing the concrete cap on the south side. ■ Motorists can expect occasional lane closures and traffic shifts with flagging operations for delivery/removal of materials, transfer of equipment to the north side of the causeway.

Octoberfest coming to American Legion Post 136 American Legion Post 136 on the island will celebrate Octoberfest on Saturday, Oct. 14, with great food, games, a silent auction and music. Lunch will be served from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., with dinner from 4-7. Proceeds to benefit the Pine Island scholarship for next year‘s graduating students attending college or trade school. All are welcome to attend! American Legion Post 136 is at 4106 Stringfellow Road, St. James City. Call 239-283-4434 for additional information.

Pine Island Eagle

M15 with potential new mate working on the nest in North Fort Myers. Pritchett-McSpadden said she doesn’t M15 was when he showed up in 2015 know exactly how old the female is but, in after Harriet’s original cam mate Ozzie looking at her plumage, this could be her went missing. Ozzie was found, treated first mate. That would make her between for injuries and CROW on Sanibel and four and seven years old, the same age released. He returned to the nest but was critically injured again, perhaps as he attempted to retake his territory, and died. The new female has not yet been named, and, assuming M15 does accept her as his mate, it’s not yet known if any new brood will pick up the E-number sequence or whether their numbered designations will start anew. ■ Pedestrians and bicyclists are not McSpadden said giving the eaglets forpermitted within the construction zone. mal names risks viewers becoming too ■ Noise from construction equipment attached as was seen early in the cam in the area is to be expected. years. ■ Drivers are urged to please use cau“When Mother Nature isn’t pretty and tion and watch for workers and construction vehicles entering and exiting the roadway. ■ Drivers are asked to please be patient and plan for additional travel time as it may be slower than usual in the area. For additional information, visit the FDOT project web page at https://www.swflroads.com/project/451937-2 or email at PineIslandinfo@qcausa.com.

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The Southwest Florida Eagle Cam went live for its 12th season Sunday and this year’s nesting period promises to be one of the most interesting yet. With the apparent demise of matriarch Harriet last year in the midst of raising a brood of two with mate M15, the question this year is whether the returning male will find a new mate. The answer looks to be yes. Virginia Pritchett-McSpadden, one of the founders of the Southwest Florida Eagle Cam, said M15 was seeking one toward the end of last season after eaglets E21 and E22 fledged. “There were some potential new females in the area showing signs of meeting a mate. He was away from the nest area for a couple weeks and returned with one of those females,” PritchettMcSpadden said. “They showed signs of courtship and this week entered a potential bond. Signs are that M15 found a new mate.”

something goes wrong, people get upset so we use those scientific names to keep a boundary there,” Pritchett-McSpadden said. This year’s eagle cam will have new features and bring back old ones, continuing with the increase in technology the SWFL Eagle Cam has presented since starting up in 2011. There will be two ultra-high definition 4k cameras placed strategically in the nest tree. Cam 1 will again have the functionality to pan and zoom on action happening in and above the nest, giving viewers an up-close view into an eagle’s ecosphere. Cam 2, the “Nest Cam” will feature eyelevel up close footage of nest activity. The 360-video camera returns after sustaining damage last season during Hurricane Ian. This camera will also allow viewers to jump into the driver seat and experience real time 360-degree views of M15 and any future eagles in the nest. Soon, they should have a fourth camera called the “pond cam” that will give a look south at the pasture. “The second nest camera gives a different view of the nest. After the hurricane last year we wanted to do something different,” Pritchett-McSpadden said. “The detail we’ll be able to bring will be unprecedented. I believe we are the only eagle cam to have 4K capability.” Viewers of all ages can watch and track the action on the SWFL Eagle Cam website, dickpritchettrealestate.com, the official Facebook page, Instagram account and YouTube channel.

Page 7 ■ Week of October 11, 2023

SWFL Eagle Cam’s 12th season takes wing

Week of October 11, 2023 ■ Page 8 pineisland-eagle.com Pine Island Eagle

LARC breaks ground on new group home By CHUCK BALLARO

news@breezenewspapers.com

A little over a year ago, Hurricane Ian wiped out the North Fort Myers riverfront house that adults with developmental disabilities have called home for more than 25 years. Five adults were displaced and are now living in temporary housing. Come April, those adults with special needs will again have a place they can call home. On Thursday, LARC — Lee Association for Remarkable Citizens — held the groundbreaking on a new group home in Cape Coral which will replace the home that was destroyed. Angela Katz, LARC executive director, said this “dream home” will house six residents and will serve as a sanctuary for some of Lee County’s most vulnerable people who have physical and/or intellectual disabilities. “It will be a haven to the residents we serve. Some of the residents have been with us for more than 20 years and many of those who live with us do so their entire lives,” Katz said. “They have a range of ages and a range of abilities. The more they age, the more assistance they

need.” Austin Clinton, president of LARC’s board of directors, said the road leading to this was bumpy and shattered the sense of security the residents had. “Today marks the beginning of a new chapter, a testament to our commitment to those we serve. A significant step forward in rebuilding our home and independence to our residents,” Clinton said. The house will have six bedrooms, four baths and 4,800 square feet of living space. It will be ADA compliant and will create the highest level of independence and provide its residents with a sanctuary. “We want to go home at night and feel comfortable and safe with our family. It’s no different than any other home,” Katz said. The cost of the house is around $1 million, with much of it coming from insurance, money saved for renovation on the old house, and the sale of the property. They are still trying to raise around $200,000 to fund the remainder, Katz said. The site was given to LARC years ago and they considered building a home there in 2021. However, the timing was-

CHUCK BALLARO

From left, Contractor Stephen R. Bowen, State Rep. Jenna PersonsMulicka, LARC Executive Director Angela Katz, designer Dwayne Bergmann, client Theresa Mount, LARC employee Vickie Chapman and LARC President Austin Clinton break ground on the new LARC group home Thursday. n’t right. Katz said the hurricane made said this is a big day. “We’ve partnered with LARC for the decision an easy one. Currently, those who lived in the old about a decade and they lost one of their house, who lost everything including group homes in the storm. This gives mementos, are with their families or are them a home from the ground up and has bunking with LARC’s other residents in all the features they have needed,” Fort Myers. They will move to a transi- Bowen said. “The fact so many people showed up today shows the great way tional home next week. “This will return them to some kind of LARC will be able to continue their misnormalcy while they wait for this home to sion.” LARC provides 24-hour supervision be completed. The loss of the other house was terribly traumatic. All they had was in a person-centered, home-like environtheir overnight bags they had taken to a ment where residents are provided with shelter,” Katz said. “They wanted to go life-skills training. Since 1954, LARC back home and they couldn’t understand has been dedicated to meeting the needs until we drove past the home so they of individuals with intellectual and develcould understand there was no going opmental disabilities and their families in Southwest Florida. back.” LARC serves more than 300 individuThe new home is being built with the help of Stephen R. Bowen Construction als annually, and participants range from and Dwayne Bergmann Interiors. Bowen, 14 to 80. who has worked with LARC for a while,

VFW, Post 4353 and Auxiliary accepting entries for essay contests The Veterans of Foreign War, VFW Post 4353 and VFW Post 4353 Auxiliary are sponsoring a scholarship program which is the Voice of Democracy essay contest and the Patriot Pen Essay Contest. Voice of Democracy is a written and spoken essay on “America - “What are the greatest attributes of our Democracy?” This essay contest is open to students in 9th through 12th grades. The finished material must be received no later than Oct. 31, at VFW Post 4353, 8150 Stringfellow Road, St James City, FL 33956

Patriot Pen is a written essay contest which asks, “How are you inspired by America?” for students 6th through 8th grades. The finished essay must be received at VFW Post 4353 no later than Oct. 31. Essay applications and eligibility requirements can be found at VFW.org, then under Community, look for Youth & Education, scholarship. If you have any questions you can contact VFW Auxiliary Post 4353's Joyce Lake at 616-283-7121. Please leave a message and she will get back to you.

By MEGHAN BRADBURY

news@breezenewspapers.com

A Halloween Festival for children up to age 12 hosted by the Pine Island Food Pantry will be held Saturday, Oct. 21, from noon to 3 p.m., at Our Lady of Miraculous Medal Church at 12175 Stringfellow Road, Bokeelia. There will be a deejay, a costume contest, games, hot dogs, face painting and more. Entry is a donation of one nonperishable food item per person . Sponsors for the Halloween Festival include American Legion, Beacon of Hope, Honc Industries, Kiwanis, Matlacha Hookers, 0LMM Church, Pelletier Rickert, Project Hope, Sun Shrimp and many individuals. For additional information, contact the Food Pantry at 760-529-7238 or visit its website at http://pineislandfoodpantry.org.

Island Mahjongg Mahjongg is played year round, every Thursday from 1-4 p.m. On Oct. 5, the top scorers were Kathy Richardson with 75 points, Clem Moors with 100 and Carolyn Crosby with 135. Come and join a great group and learn a new skill! Call Carolyn at 239-233-7682 for more information. We look forward to meeting you.

Pine Island Eagle

Pine Island Food Pantry hosting children's Halloween Festival on Oct. 21

Exceptional Student Education enrollment was also broken down: ■ Aug. 10, 2022 – 15,493 students ■ June 6, 2023 – 15,835 students ■ Sept. 1, 2023 – 14,769 students Student Enrollment Exceptional Student Education Coordinator Kristin Sinclair said they have seen an increase of 462 students since the first day of school. The enrollment numbers are further broken down into pre-K students with disabilities. “They cannot do it online,” Sinclair said of enrollment. Staff will meet with families. We had 190 pre-K students at the start of the 2022-2023 school year with an increase of 163 students during the school year,” she said. On Sept. 1, 2023 there were 497 students enrolled.

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The School District of Lee County continues to make strides in providing better customer service for those who are enrolling their child in the district for the first time, or re-enrolling with new technology and online options. Student Enrollment Executive Director Soretta Ralph said in late June, early July they launched the QLESS system, which is an online appointment scheduling service. Families can make an appointment to join the line, get information of when the appointment is, enabling them to leave and come back if time allows. Parents can either use their cell phone to text an appointment or use the kiosk at the district office. “QLESS provides updates to the cell phone every 15 minutes through a text to tell them how much time until the next appointment,” Ralph said. The system also provides the district with metrics to see how many families are using the program by showing customer appointments, customers that left the line, no shows and customers actually served by staff. Ralph broke down data from Aug. 28 during the Tuesday afternoon school board meeting. There were 997 customers who used the app on that day alone to make an appointment or join the line. Of those, 347 were no shows. “They held the spot, but after 5 minutes they did not arrive to the staff member,” Ralph said, which could be for a number of reasons, such as parents not being able to wait that long. The data further showed that 145 were in the virtual line but put their status to wanting to leave the line. “Five hundred and five customers were summoned and received customer care,” Ralph said. On average, an enrollment specialist spends 22 minutes assisting a family. Parents now have the opportunity to also register their child or re-enroll their child through FOCUS. Ralph said her staff receives notification when submitted, they validate and review the information and follow-up through FOCUS. The presentation also went over enrollment numbers. ■ Aug. 10, 2022 – 82,956 students ■ June 6, 2023 – 88,269 students ■ Sept. 1, 2023 – 90,276 students. “We are still enrolling students every day,” Ralph

said. Numbers were also broken down for those enrolled in Lee Virtual School, both full-time and part-time. Full-time: ■ Aug. 10, 2022 – 826 students ■ June 6, 2023 – 772 students ■ Sept. 1, 2023 – 826 students Part-time: ■ June 6, 2023 – 66 students ■ Sept. 1, 2023 – 904 students. Ralph said students who are part-time are enrolled at a brick-and-mortar school while taking classes through Lee Virtual School. There are a variety of reasons students take advantage of the part-time option — courses not offered at brick-and-mortar school, work ahead for early graduation, or eighth grade students taking courses to get it out of the way before high school.

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A black lab mix given a forever home Bean spent nearly 10 years at ARC before her companion gave her a foster home By MEGHAN BRADBURY news@breezenewspapers.com

The devotion of one man over a threeweek period captivated a black lab mix’s trust and companionship, forever changing both of their lives. Larry Denmark took Bean home recently after the dog spent 9 years, 10 months and 11 days at the Animal Refuge Center in North Fort Myers. “We are immensely happy for Bean. She is a large dog and is going on 12. I hope and pray every day she is one of those large breed dogs that makes it to 14, or 15. I absolutely know she knows how loved she is at the shelter; (the volunteers) treat her like she is their own. She finally gets homegrown again and to someone that is clearly committed to her is fantastic,” ARC Board President Wayne Leinen said. Denmark said he lost his black lab a little more than two months ago. It his fourth. “I adopted my first one 26 years ago from the Humane Society,” he said, learning that black dogs — specifically big black dogs — are the hardest dogs to find homes for. That bit of information began a tradition. After going through the grieving period for his latest lab, he began thinking about welcoming a new companion into his life. “I just started looking. I thought about ARC, so I looked, and they had a picture of Bean. I filled out their online application, and they called me and said 'Do you want to come meet her,'” Denmark said, adding that was about three weeks ago. Kurt Donovan, an ARC staff member, took Denmark back to see Bean for the first time. “She charged the fence, and she would have eaten me if she could have gotten through,” Denmark said. That did not scare him away but had the opposite reaction. He continued to visit her and Bean continued to bark at Denmark, which only resulted in him reiterating to Bean “You don’t scare me.” “We talked a lot,” he said laughing. “She had been better. She had gotten to where she didn’t bark as much. I still had not gone into her yard. I would sit outside of the fence and sit in a little camping chair that they gave me. I sit out there and talk to her and give her treats.” Bean began sitting by the fence, but with her back to Denmark. “That’s when she began to trust. She still wasn’t ready. Last Friday she came up and was rubbing against the fence, so she wanted to be pet,” he said. The next day he went into her yard and leashed her to take Bean for their first walk. On Sunday, he returned. This time he followed Bean into her air-conditioned house and sat on her bed, while Bean was on the floor. “She got up, came right over and laid down next to me and was kissing me,” Denmark said. The daily visits paid off and created a bond. From then, when Bean heard Denmark talking to the other dogs along the way to see her, she would crawl out from under her house where she dug a

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Bean, a nearly 12-year-old black lab mix, who has spent nearly 10 years at the Animal Refuge Center, was given an opportunity to live out the rest of her life with her new foster parent, Larry Denmark, Friday, Sept. 22 hole. “She knows that dad is coming,” Denmark said smiling. The first task the new pair had after leaving ARC Friday afternoon was to take a bath and then help he get settled into her new home. “I have already set back up the dog dishes, the table that I have for her and got three beds – one in my office. She has places to go. I felt today would be a great day to bring her home because I will be home all weekend. She will have a little bit of stress in a new house. She has been here (ARC) and it’s all she knows. Whatever happened before she got here affected her. It has taken time for everybody to make friends with her. But this is all she knows. Now she’s going into a strange place, I will be here this weekend, so everything that might be a little stressor for her, I will be there to settle her down,” Denmark said. About four years ago, he built a pool with a beach entry with six inches of water, which he said Bean will love, as well as the shaded areas in the backyard. “I can’t wait to do this. It is going to be so much fun,” Denmark said. “She is so loving. There are people here that describe her as a Velcro dog. She comes up to me and starts rubbing against me.” He said he personally does not believe there are any bad dogs. Denmark said it just takes time – people need to just give a little more time to connect with their dog. Leinen said Bean was surrendered by her owner in April 2012 with the explanation that they had too many animals. She was adopted shortly after she was surrendered, but was found running loose by the county and ARC was called upon again. See BEAN, page 12

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Bean From page 10 “I went and picked her up. We never got any sort of reply from the people that were supposed to give her a home,” Leinen said. The tall lanky girl is standoffish, and a little touchy, if she does not know someone. “But when she gets to know you, (and you’ve) taken the time to get to know her, she is the most affectionate dog we have had out there,” he said. “She’s very sweet.” Bean is 11 years, 8 months old and has some orthopedic problems, as her hips are starting to give her problems. This is why Denmark is doing a foster arrangement, Leinen said. The medicine costs, and potential of orthopedic surgery someday, could be cost prohibitive to someone who wants to adopt Bean. “It’s better to go out to foster,” Leinen said, as ARC provides free medical care through the shelter, medication, food and surgery. “All the foster has to do is love her and keep her safe.” Animal Refuge Center ARC being a no kill shelter and all of their animals have a safety net for life. Leinen thought Bean would be one of those dogs who would live out her life at ARC because of her age and her quirky nature. “Because of Larry she is actually going to go to a home. She will come back to us for check-ups, and meds,” he said, adding that it will give ARC staff and volunteers an opportunity to visit with her during her appointments. “This dog has been with us for nearly 10 years and is finally getting a home because someone is willing to spend time with her and learn to trust. She is going to reap the rewards.” ARC has about 300 animals – mostly cats, and about 75 dogs – with them currently. Leinen said it is much easier to house cats together with roughly 40 cats per building. There are 11 cat buildings right now. As far as dogs, there are 39 dog lodges. If dogs can be paired together, they are, but most have their own space. “No animal will ever be let go to make

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Larry Denmark became Bean’s foster parent after the lab mix lived at the Animal Refuge Center for nearly 10 years. space for others. You have a home for life. If you don’t happen to like other members of your species, you get a lodge to yourself,” Leinen said. There are currently four to seven surrender requests a day in the last three to four months. The reasons run the gamut from moving and cannot take the animal with them, to "I adopted an animal during COVID and I'm now going back to work." With that said, adoptions have been pretty steady recently as well. ARC began in 1988 and has been at the current location for 20 something years. It originally began at Page Field in one of the hangers, as more of a spay and neuter operation, which evolved into 22-1/2 acres in North Fort Myers, at 18011 Old Bayshore Rd. “We expand as we are able and the funding is available,” Leinen said. For more information about ARC, or to make a donation, visit http://animalrefugecenter.com/.

Cat of the Week Arthur This handsome boy is hoping to be the center of your world. Arthur was very scared when he first came to us, but time and kindness have turned him into a lap cat. He enjoys following the volunteers around, but the moment a lap is available, he’s in it. Arthur prefers to be petted on his head, which makes us curious about his history and if someone hurt him. He’s approximately 2 years old and is hoping to be your best friend. For more information, call Helping Paws Animal Sanctuary at 239283-9100. If you’d rather just donate, our address is 10060 Mallory Parkway, E., Unit D, St. James City, FL, 33956, or there’s always our website www.helping pawsanimalsanctuary.com

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October is National Cooperative Month

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Lee County Commissioner Kevin Ruane at the recent GPICA meeting. anticipated. He stressed that the budget for his district would not cover costs caused by this disaster, and Lee County needs the help of the federal government. “This is a storm that no one dreamed of — to have a Category 5 and 15-foot storm surges. This is unimaginable, but it happened. We’re trying to allow people the opportunity to re-invest in their community and make sure they don’t have to go through this again,” Ruane said. A nomination for a Community Action Advisory Committee went to GPICA member Sue Dahod, which passed. She will participate in planning, performing and evaluations in the guidance on programs implemented in

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October is a special month for cooperatives and their members because it is National Cooperative Month! During this month, cooperatives are recognized and celebrated for the qualities that make their business model unique, trusted and proven. Electric cooperatives share a common set of principles and values which benefit the cooperative and members alike. The Seven Cooperative Principles for electric cooperatives include: Voluntary and Open Membership, Democratic Member Control, Members’ Economic Participation, Autonomy and Independence, Education, Training, and Information, Cooperation among Cooperatives, and Concern for Community. National Cooperative Month also celebrates the fact that electric cooperatives: ■ Power 56 percent of the nation ■ Serve 42 million people ■ Energize 21.5 million businesses, homes, schools and farms in 48 states Unlike investor-owned utilities, cooperatives are not-for-profit businesses which are owned by the members they serve. Members vote to elect the board of trustees that represent the communities where they live. Since forming in 1940 with just 15 miles of distribution line and 158 members, LCEC now serves nearly 243,000 members in six counties. For more information, visit https://www.lcec.net/

the lives of low income and low risk residents in Lee County. While final authority rests with the Board of County Commissioners, GPICA president Deb SwisherHicks explained, the community action agency provides valuable input to the community block service grant program and HUD consolidation plan funding. A resident raised the question of Pine Island incorporation, which was answered by GPICA board member Nadine Slimak by reporting that although the incorporation of Pine Island has been brought before the board previously, it has been set aside for now, in light of longterm recovery from Hurricane Ian. Discussion on the subject will be re-visited by the board, she said. To see a livestream of this meeting in its entirety, visit the GPICA Facebook page For information on the GPICA, visit GPICA.org

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were planning to do before the hurricane was to come out and talk to the public and get your opinions on what you want. We’ve gotten people who don’t want any change, we’ve gotten some people who want a traffic signal, we’ve got some people who want a roundabout, we’ve got a lot of people who don’t want a roundabout. So we really are open to what the public wants — what the community wants for the intersection.” The 120-day deadline for unmet needs submission on the $1.1 billion Community Development Block Grant awarded to Lee County by HUD was Sept. 20, Ruane said. The package submitted had a little under $9 billion, he said, explaining a clear discrepancy between what was estimated and what is needed. HUD has 60 days to review Lee County’s submission for plans and correspond. Ruane anticipates something in writing around the Thanksgiving Holiday, he said. “We don’t anticipate to actually come to some type of solution until the end of the year to the early part of the year,” Ruane said. Comments from residents indicate a demand that things move along at a faster rate, as many Pine Islanders remain unable to repair or, in some cases, to even access their homes. When all is said and done, Ruane estimates Hurricane Ian costing more than any storm on record, explaining that the magnitude of this disaster has caused a great deal more time necessary in dealing with it than anyone had

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Anglers report a slow bite over the week Many anglers expericaught along with a few enced a slow bite much of keeper-size gag grouper. the week. Yhere were Small live pilchards and cut exceptions, but overall, thread herring worked for truthful anglers found the snapper and live pinfish fishing a bit slow. for grouper. A little deeper, One exception was a few boats report good fishing around the gulf numbers of out of season passes where redfish and red grouper plus snapper. snook were caught over With the change in the morning falling tides. weather, baitfish are Drifting pinfish, pigfish, migrating through our area pilchards and thread herfrom the north. Fishing ring around structure with inshore or offshore, watch Capt. Bill Russell the current often resulted for surface commotion and in hook-ups with big redbird activity. Anytime a bait fish and snook. pod is located, there is a Another exception, if good chance larger predayou just wanted action, tors are close. schools of ladyfish were Fishing rules and regulawilling to play. Numerous birds work- tions change often and often with little ing an area helped locate feeding fish. notice. Last week gag grouper season Spanish mackerel, bluefish, small gag for recreational anglers that was schedgrouper and seatrout were often mixed uled to be open through Nov. 10, now with the ladyfish. A few areas noted closes on Oct. 19, in state and federal included north Matlacha Pass near waters. marker 76, Charlotte Harbor west of Do yourself a favor and do not take Bokeelia near the channel, and to the what myself or someone tells you as the south, inside Redfish Pass. Silver law as the changes are often quick and spoons, small jerk baits, small mylar confusing. Your best option is to visit jigs, live Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission pilchards and at www.myfwc.com for current and shrimp were top updated regulations. baits. Also, upload the Fish Rules app on Offshore, in your phone. It has current regulations depths from 30- and pictures to help identify fish. 60 feet, manIf you have a fishing report or for grove and lane charter information, contact Gulf Coast snapper were Guide Service at 239-410-8576 (call

On the Water

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Gag grouper season is coming to a close very soon. This nice keeper-size gag grouper took a live pinfish in 45 feet of water west of Redfish Pass fishing with Capt. Jason Ramer out of Tarpon Lodge. or text); on the web at www.fishpine island.com; or via email at gcl2fish@ live.com. Have a safe week and good fishin’. As a lifetime resident of Matlacha

and Pine Island, Capt. Bill Russell has spent his life fishing and learning the waters around Pine Island and Southwest Flori-da, and as a professional fishing guide for the past 23 years.

“All editing is not created equal,” said veteran editor and book coach Claudia Volkman. She’ll cover the power and the art of editing when she discusses “Why Every Author Needs an Editor: A Look at Different Types of Editing” at this month’s get-together of Gulf Coast Writers Association, Southwest Florida’s 28-yearold meeting ground for writers, editors and their associates The meeting, open to the public, will be held at the Word of Life Church, 6111 South Pointe Blvd., Fort Myers, Saturday, Oct. 21, from 10 a.m. to noon. “I’ll give an overview of the importance of hiring a good editor, and I’ll describe the different types of editing,” says Volkman. “There will be time for Q&A at the end.” Not just newspaper reporters and magazine writers need editors, notes Volkman. “Many writers undervalue the importance of an editor — or have had negative experiences working with one. So it’s important to determine the type of editing YOU need.”

Volkman should know about editing: She’s had more than 35 years of experience in acquisitions, product development, line editing and typesetting. She has worked full-time for several trade publishing houses. Now, as the owner of Creative Editorial Solutions in North Fort Myers, she assists publishers, authors, entrepreneur, and speakers with their editorial needs. Services include book coaching, developmental editing, book doctoring, copyediting, proofreading and creating book interiors. General admission for the meeting is free for first-time visitors; $5 for subsequent visits, payable via PayPal; and free for members. About GCWA Founded in 1995, the Gulf Coast Writers Association, Inc. (GCWA) provides a forum for fellowship, education, and information for writers, editors and associates. GCWA’s well-regarded annual writing contest draws a

wide range of authors. Its recent book launch at the Alliance for the Arts for its new anthology Storm Stories-Hurricane Ian--available on Amazon and at local outlets-was a sell-out event. Based in Fort Myers, GCWA attracts members from throughout Southwest Florida. At monthly meetings, speakers and workshops offer expert advice on such topics as writing techniques, publishing, and marketing. Participants at GCWA meetings also have the opportunity to read their works. The literary genres run the gamut from poetry, adult fiction and nonfiction to children’s and young adult, historical fiction, romance, mystery/thriller, memoir, essay and screenplay. Members include full-time writers as well as corporate professionals, teachers, and business owners, working or retired. GCWA’s website is https://gulfwriters.org/ .Follow GCWA on X (Twitter): @GCWA_SWFL .

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Better Together From page 1 in and offered some crises support, but we have really been committed to the long-term recovery of these families. Even though we’ve just approached the one year anniversary, we’re still going to be a source of support—still checking in and committed to these families for the long haul—whatever they need, as far as keeping their families together and their children safe. We’re not going to abandon them and we know that recovery after a storm takes a long time. It’s a journey, it’s not an event and it looks different at every stage, but we’re in it, we’re not going away, ” Rose said.

Hook From page 1 As she looks back at her 40-plus years in healthcare, beginning as a health occupations education teacher, and ending up with two offices where she can help patients, Hook said she feels as though this was the path God paved for her. “I look back and I think, wow, 40 years of healthcare — all different sorts of healthcare and education and the things I get to do — I’m privileged and honored to get to take care of people,” Hook said. Hook is especially touched to have known families who have been her patients for up to four generations, saying it’s been a remarkable way to get to know them. “That’s how healthcare should be — people should expect that kind of care. When someone comes to see me, I’m working for them,” Hook said. Samaritan Health and Wellness satellite office at Beacon of Hope, 5090 Doug Taylor Circle, St. James City. Call 239-360-7520.

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able. Her work began in Pine Island, she said, when her husband, Steven Hook, former principal of Pine Island Elementary, retired in 2020. “We always felt like Pine Island was a lot like the small town we were from in Indiana — always felt that whole community vibe with the school being the hub of the community, so I was out here with him for different events at the school and then after Hurricane Ian, I met some of the board members from the Beacon out at Tarpon Lodge,” Hook said. After a conversation with Beacon board members about healthcare for the uninsured and underinsured on Pine Island, Hook concluded that this was where she needed to be, describing it as an opportunity to help more folks. “There was a board meeting, they all voted and thought it sounded like a good idea, and that’s how it was born,” Hook said.

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“We delivered mattresses for a lot of families—there are families we started connecting with and their kids were sleeping on the floor or the couch, so we were able to deliver mattresses and sheets—those basic essentials that they really needed,” Rose said. Rose emphasized that these families could count on the Better Together organization to help them as they continue to recover, saying that they are committed to these island families with whom they’ve connected. “After Hurricane Ian, there were a lot of groups that came

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Oasis’ Persechino voted Breeze Athlete of the Month The votes are in for the Cape Coral Breeze’s September Athlete of the Month, and the winner is Oasis High School's Skye Persechino. The freshman broke a school record at the Pirate Invitational in Port Charlotte. Persechino set a new mark to beat for the Sharks and finished first in the pool, swimming a 56.55 in the girls 100-meter freestyle, a record that

has stood since 2010. “When I broke the record I felt really good about it and very proud of myself,” she said during her nomination week. “I love my teammates and everyone has been cheering and supporting me as well as each other on the team. I also want to thank my parents for the support.”

Therapy dogs needed for PAWS for Reading Program 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 nonjudgmental 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. PIE is looking for additional therapy dogs to

join the program. Dogs and their owners who attend this program are members of the Alliance of Therapy Dogs, which charges a nominal fee. To learn more about this organization, access their website at https://www.therapydogs. com/join-therapy-dogs/. Dogs need to have special training that includes health requirements, registration and observation sessions to join. Also, dogs need to be at least one year old. Each volunteer will need to complete a School District of Lee County volunteer application. If you are interested in becoming a member of this unique program, please contact PIE at 239-2830505 and ask for Melinda Nelson.

Bernier From page 2 al community.” He went on to write that although he supports the community’s decision, which was based on the referendum vote, “becoming an elected superintendent was never my aspiration. Ultimately, this realization led me to determine that running for election was not a reasonable course of action for my educational journey.” Bernier will remain the superintendent throughout his existing contract term. According to Bernier’s contract “should the outcome of the November 2022 Lee County election result in the approval of the ballot initiative

to create an elected superintendent of schools position, the terms of this agreement will officially end upon the swearing in of the elected superintendent in November of 2024.” “We must remain steadfast in our commitment to addressing the challenges that impact the future of the children we serve. Our communities’ commitment to our students and educational mission continues to inspire us. I have the utmost confidence that together, we can continue to lead our School District toward our stated vision of being a World-Class School System,” Bernier said.

Voting for October's Athlete of the Month will open toward the end of the month. Stay up to date on the Athlete of the Month, Athlete of the Week and more on capecoralbreeze.com.

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Cape Coral

Breeze

Athletes of theWeek

(Selected by the Breeze Sports staff)

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This is a free family friendly festival for kids of all ages. Activities include bounce houses, a cake and pumpkin walk, tractor pictures, guess the candy jar count and goodie bags. One bag of individual wrapped candy per child is appreciated and may be dropped off at the community center before Oct. 24. Sponsored by the Boca Grande Women’s Club, The

Friends of Boca Grande and Lee County Parks & Recreation. For more information call 239-533-2923. ■ 6-9 p.m., Friday, Oct. 27, Trunk or Treat and Movie in the Park, Veterans Park, 55 Homestead Road South, Lehigh Acres. Everyone is invited to this family friendly event. Activities include a Trunk-or-Treat and a Movie in the Park, featuring “Coco”, rated PG. Movie starts at 8 p.m. Lehigh Acres Fire Control and Rescue District providing popcorn and water. Admission is free. For more information visit www.leeparks.org/veterans or call 239-369-1521. ■ 5-9 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 28, Spooktacular Night, Estero Park, 9200 Corkscrew Palms Blvd, Estero. Come out to the park for a night of family friendly and spooktacular fun. Activities include a trunk-or-treat and a Movie in the Park, featuring “Halloweentown” rated PG. Admission is free. For more information visit www.leeparks.org/estero or call 239-533-1470. For more information about Lee County Parks & Recreation locations, amenities, and other special events, visit www.leeparks.org, call 239-533-7275 or email leeparks@leegov.com.

Obituaries

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The Lee County Parks & Recreation Department plans Fall Festival events throughout October. Events include: ■ 6-9 p.m., Monday-Friday, and 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday-Sunday, starting Friday, Oct. 13, through Sunday, Oct. 31, Fall Festival, Lakes Park, 7330 Gladiolus Drive, Fort Myers. The Fall Festival will include a pumpkin patch, bounce houses, hayrides, Scarecrows in the Park, the very popular Halloween Express train and concessions. Parking for the Fall Festival event is $3 per vehicle. Prices vary per activity. For information visit www.leeparks.org/lakespark or call 239-533-7578. ■ 6-9 p.m., Friday, Oct. 20, Family Fall Festival, North Fort Myers Recreation Center, 2000 North Recreation Park Way, North Fort Myers. This is a free family event for all ages. Activities include a costume contest, candy, games, a photo booth, a live deejay, bounce house, prizes and more. Community businesses and organizations will have booths setup with information, samples of products and candy. Admission is free. For more information visit www.leeparks.org/nfm or call 239-533-7200. ■ 3-5:30 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 26, Fall Festival, Boca Grande Community Center, 131 1st St., Boca Grande.

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Week of October 11, 2023 ■ Page 32