Cape Coral post-Milton: All hands on deck
By MEGHAN BRADBURY news@breezenewspapers com
b
Although the city of Cape Coral fared
Milton, many residents remained without power Friday morning
M
Wednesday at Siesta Key in Sarasota
Tornadoes.
“We are still evaluating. We are in recovery mode and getting the city back up to operating as close to normal as we can ”
Tom Hayden
The significant number of tornados as the first band of Hurricane Milton came through was something the city never
Councilmember Tom Hayden said Friday morning
By NATHAN MAYBERG nmayberg@breezenewspapers
com
Approximately 145,000 homes and businesses were without electricity Friday, two days after Hurricane Milton downed power lines, flooded roads and scattered debris while leaving its worst damage for counties to the north
More than 200,000 homes and businesses lost power during the hurricane Lee County officials were urging residents on Friday to stay off the roads if possible to allow crews to make repairs Residents were also asked to avoid local beaches for the next couple days while the cleanup continues The Lee Department of
Health also issued health warnings to avoid going into the water due to health risks
In Matlacha, a tornado touched down ahead of Hurricane Milton on a day when the National
See LEE COUNTY, page 2
Restoration vehicles and crews leave the staging area at the Lee County Civic Center early Friday “Power restoration remains a high priority and the service providers, LCEC and FPL, have substantial resources deployed in Lee County,” county officials said VALARIE HARRING
“They were Midwest-type of tornados,” he added, saying they added to the stress
The city is still in assessment mode
“The city fared OK,” Hayden said “There is still a lot of businesses closed today reassessing and recovering Most of the city is without power ”
As of 8:13 a m Friday, there were about 80,258 accounts without power in
Lee Schools assessing damage
Parents can expect continued communications, updates
By MEGHAN BRADBURY news@breezenewspapers com
It is still too early to determine what kind of damage, if any, was caused by Hurricane Milton to school campuses, officials said Friday
“School administrators, the district’s maintenance team and professional contractors are out today for a thorough assessment of all of our school campuses,” School District of Lee County spokesperson Rob Spicker said Friday morning “With the assessments fully underway today, it is premature to report any damage ”
District leadership is in constant communication and will use the information from Friday’s assessments and the sheltering plans of the Lee County Emergency Operations Center to make a decision about the return to school, he said,
“Families and staff will be updated Friday, Saturday and Sunday by 5 p m with the latest information so they can be prepared and plan ahead as much as possible,” Spicker said
As of 10:25 a m Friday, three schools are still serving as shelters Island Coast High School and Dunbar High School are public shelters, and another school serves as the spe-
Councilmember
Lee County: Crews continue assess Milton damages and impacts
From page 1
Weather Service reported a record number of tornadoes for Florida
Half of the county’s traffic signals in the county were not working at intersections a day after Hurricane Milton blew across Florida and crews were still working to repair the lights and restore power There were also gas shortages related to the loss of power and internet
In Lee County, Captiva and Boca Grande were hit hardest The approach to Blind Pass Bridge in Captiva was damaged County crews were working to restore access to Boca Grande after sections of Gasparilla Road were washed out, Lee County Public Safety Director Ben Abes said Other roads were damaged and the county is also assessing all of its bridges, Abes said
“The longer you can stay off the roads, it is really important for you to do so,” Lee County Commissioner Kevin Ruane said “We need your cooperation a little bit longer,” Ruane said in a plea to the public “Stay indoors Let us restore power,” he said
Abes said debris pickup would begin on Monday
The good news was there were no deaths reported in the county attributed to Hurricane Milton a scenario far differ-
ent than two years ago when Hurricane Ian killed dozens in a Category 4 hurricane Forecasts had been warning of a catastrophic hurricane that could bring damage as bad as Ian though the worst part of the storm was felt in Sarasota County where Ian made landfall as a Category 3 hurricane
Lee County Sheriff Carmine Marceno urged residents on Thursday to stay off local roads if possible “If you don’t have to be outside, don’t come out just yet Let us do our assessments,” he said
Marceno said the Lee County Sheriff’s Office responded to more than 600 storm-related calls
He said low-lying areas of the barrier islands in the county saw “significant surge ”
The worst storm surge was seen in the county’s barrier islands, where surge levels approached six feet The National Weather Service recorded the second-highest storm surge for Lee County, exceeding Hurricane Helene
“This is when strangers help strangers,” Marceno said
More than 9,000 people sought safety in county shelters overnight Wednesday By Friday, the county was only using one shelter at the Estero Recreation Center
U S Sen Rick Scott joined county officials for a briefing on Thursday at the Lee County Emergency Operations Center Scott said he was thankful there were no reported
deaths in Lee County but said residents had to be extra cautious not to get hurt while recovering from Milton and repairing damage
“Don’t use a chainsaw if you don’t know how to use it,” Scott said “We all have to be careful Take your time ”
Scott said there was bad storm surge throughout the barriers islands of Lee County and other parts of the state
Unexpected tornadoes throughout the state led to deaths including several in St Lucie County, Scott said
“We had some horrible tornadoes ”
The Associated Press reported at least 16 deaths statewide from Hurricane Milton
Scott said he spoke with President Joe Biden Thursday morning.
“He agrees that Congress needs to come back and make sure federal agencies are fully funded,” Scott said Scott said he has spoken with Biden about getting block grants to farmers and ranchers and getting FEMA centers open as close to impacted residents as possible
Scott called on the public to contact his office if they have any problems with FEMA
Abes said the county was sending community mobilization teams heading to Boca Grande, Pine Island, Matlacha, Captiva, Sanibel, Cabbage Key and Fort Myers Beach to work on local needs
County crews were addressing sand that had overrun Fort Myers Beach and Sanibel roads Fort Myers Beach had recently completed beach renourishment and sand hauling projects
“Let’s be really grateful for what has occurred,” Ruane said “We could have really been hit a lot harder ”
Ruane urged residents to “be patient” as the county works to recover
Fort Myers Beach Vice Mayor Jim Atterholt said that Milton was “worse than Helene but not as bad as Ian ”
Atterholt said there was some “exhaustion” among residents having to go through another hurricane but said islanders were showing “resilience ”
The town issued mandatory evacuation orders but was welcoming back residents Thursday morning There was one report of a collapsed structure that was undergoing construction
In some areas of the county, life was already starting to return to normal
District 4 Commissioner
Brian Hamman said he saw some residents eating out at restaurants
The Pink Shell Beach Resort and Marina in Fort Myers Beach, which saw its pool deck overrun with surging tides from Hurricane Milton, was expecting to get back online shortly, General Manager Bill Waichulis said Workers were shoveling out piles of sand from the parking lot that Milton had carried from the beach
Abes urged residents using power generator to do so safely and recommended users follow tips online and on Lee County Government’s website at www leegov com Abes also announced that the Southwest Florida International Airport resumed operations and flights Friday morning
Debris pickup will begin Monday at sunrise Abes said residents should keep separate piles for yard debris, appliances, electronics, construction and demolition debris Do not put out debris in plastic bags (FEMA restriction)
“There are a lot of neighbors helping neighbors,” Lee County Board of County Commissioners Chairman Mike Greenwell said “That’s what makes Lee County strong Please help your neighbors ”
Fort Myers Beach residents return to island without power, boil water notice
By NATHAN MAYBERG nmayberg@breezenewspapers com
The Town of Fort Myers Beach began welcoming residents back to Fort Myers Beach on mud-filled streets Thursday, the morning after the much-feared Hurricane Milton brought a deluge of flooding though sparing the town of the dire consequences that residents saw further north in Sarasota County where Milton made a direct hit
As of Thursday night, there was no power on the island and the town was under a 48-hour boil water notice
The town was allowing only residents with a hurricane re-entry pass to return to the island on Thursday and, by Friday, were also allowing contractors, landscapers and those working on debris removal by to return with hurricane re-entry passes
Fort Myers Beach Vice Mayor Jim Atterholt said conditions on the island were considered worse than Hurricane Helene which flooded the island two weeks ago though not as bad as the historic Hurricane Ian two years earlier
“It was worse than Helene but certainly not as bad as Ian That doesn't make it easy for people,” Atterholt said “I think people were happy to get back on the island and check on their homes ”
Those returning were finding extensive damage from flooding, with storm surge estimated to have reached approximately six feet on the island
A home burned down Thursday night on Avenida Pescadora while the homeowner was grilling The homeowner told fire officials that he had turned on the grill and was working on prepping food when he saw flames out of control, Fort Myers Beach Fire Chief Scott Wirth said
When the fire department arrived at approximately 6:50 p m , the blaze was fully involved Firefighters had the fire under control after 15 minutes though it lingered for about four hours due to the windy conditions Wirth said the windy conditions led to the fire spreading and c o n s u m i n g t h e h o m e q u i c k l y W i r t h believed the house was a total loss
Atterholt said town officials were hope-
Fort
ful that power could begin returning to the island Friday He said that Florida Power and Light had conducted a analysis of their systems on Fort Myers Beach Thursday and that damage to power lines was “not extensive ”
Atterholt said that those who had just begun making repairs to damage incurred from Hurricane Helene would be feeling the pain of Hurricane Milton even more
“Some people had just begun to make those repairs after Helene Some people bought new appliances and furniture,” Atterholt said “If you did a lot of work, you have even more of a setback ”
The damage from Hurricane Milton occurred at a time when many of the town's residents particular snowbirds who traditionally spend part of their season on Fort Myers Beach and the rest up north and in the Midwest, have still not been able to return to town since Hurricane Ian Many condo buildings have not reopened with many still fighting insurance companies for payment and unable to install elevators due to a backlog in parts
Fort Myers Beach Mayor Dan Allers said crews were working Friday to remove sand.
“We are also working closely with FPL
to get powered restored as quickly as possible,” Allers said “As of now we do not have any specifics on timing but expect an update with those later today. Currently FPL is working on the substation that feeds our island so that power can get to us ”
Atterholt, a former state insurance commissioner in Indiana, was urging residents to be proactive about processing insurance claims early
“If they had a bad experience with their insurance company (during Hurricane Ian), I strongly advise them to use an adjuster We can’t wait for the insurance companies to demonstrate goodwill The experience from Hurricane Ian was so negative with many of the insurance companies. People need to take action immediately so they aren’t abused by their insurance company,” Atterholt said
Atterholt also urged any residents with difficulties filing claims to contact the office of Florida Chief Financial Officer
J i m m y P a t r o n i s a n d t h e F l o r i d a Department of Insurance
Atterholt said most of the island had evacuated by Tuesday, leaving the island like a “ghost town ”
“I think the ability to come back on the island quickly was in part due to the coop-
eration we saw from our residents by evacuating the island It made the search-andrescue and the cleaning up of the streets go a lot quicker which allowed people to get back on the island from the storm as efficiently as possible,” Atterholt said “I know people are thankful for that I know we are ”
Messages left for Town of Fort Myers Beach Manager Andy Hyatt were not immediately returned
In a message sent out to residents and the media Thursday morning announcing the island would be reopened at noon to residents only at the Matanzas Pass
B r i d g e , T o w n o f F o r t M y e r s B e a c h spokesperson Nicole Berzin said “Debris removal contractors will be out continuing to clear roads Please use caution and drive at your own risk”
Lee County officials spent Thursday urging county residents to stay off the roads due to debris, downed power lines and road conditions
More than half of the traffic signals in the county were not working Thursday afternoon
The Lee County Department of Health was urging the public to avoid beaches and pools due to water contamination and health risks
Hurricane Milton landed at approximately 8:30 p m on Siesta Key outside of the city of Sarasota on Wednesday evening as a Category 3 storm with 125 mile per hour winds
The storm’s effects were still felt in Lee County, where more than 200,000 customers lost power
In addition to the storm surge, a tornado earlier in the day damaged business and homes in Matlacha, knocking out power lines The tornado also traveled through Fort Myers Beach, Lee County Sheriff Carmine Marceno said
“There is a level of exhaustion among some residents having to go through this drill again,” Atterholt said By the same token, he said residents were showing “resilience” in light of the adversity
The Pink Shell Beach Resort and Marina's pool deck was under water after Hurricane Milton sent storm surge onto the resort’s property Thursday night. (Pink Shell Beach Resort); Times Square took on the brunt of the storm surge, breaking apart some of its pavers. (Lee County Sheriff's Office); A home ring camera catches flood waters rising underneath the stairs leading to the home. (Provided
PHOTO BY SCOTT WIRTH
Myers Beach suffered one collapsed structure during Hurricane Milton , a home that was under construction on Voorhis Street.
CAPE CORAL BREE ZE
RAYMOND M. ECKENRODE Publisher
VALARIE HARRING, Executive Editor
CHRIS STRINE, Editor
2510 Del Prado Blvd • Cape Coral, FL, 33904
• Phone 239-574-1110 – Fax 239-574-5693
Member Florida Press Association
Another hit
Hurricane Milton may not have been as bad as feared, but the storm, hard on the heels of Helene, while our communities continue to recover from Ian, was bad enough
Making landfall at Siesta Key in Sarasota County as a Category 3 hurricane, Milton brought record-breaking rain what meteorologists are calling a 1,000-year deluge
Southwest Florida saw dozens of tornadoes with the National Weather Service documenting at least 126 as Milton made its way across the state
As of Friday morning, the storm-related death toll was at 16 as rescue and recovery efforts continued
AccuWeather puts the preliminary estimate for damage and economic between $160 billion and $180 billion.
Again, we begin to recover
Again, we begin to rebuild
Again, we stress our resiliency
For we Floridians, it’s SOP
For our leaders at the state level, it may be more than hyperbole and promises this go around
The 1000 Friends reports that “legislative leaders are already talking about prioritizing resilience as our communities rebuild We welcome this objective, which has long been a priority of 1000 Friends ”
It’s long been a priority for many of us who have, literally, weathered the storm and we, too, wait with interest to see how preparing for the next one and the next for our vulnerable piece of paradise plays out
As we did two weeks ago, we add continuing federal recovery funds and insurance reform at both the state and federal level
As a state and as a nation we must address how casualty claims are processed and paid as well as how risk pools affect premiums, already unaffordable for many
This includes an overhaul of national flood insurance policies, a program under the auspices of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, which also is needed to bring in more low-risk policy holders with low-cost polices that will make premiums more affordable for everyone who wants one.
Recovery will happen
We have no doubt
Reform and resiliency for the future
Those are the hard tasks that lay ahead
This week’s poll question: Who won the Vice Presidential debate?
∫ J D Vance
am vopting yes - 52%
∫ Opposed I am voting no - 47 5%
∫Still undecided 5%
∫ Not planneing to vote 2 votes Vote at capecoralbreeze com
* Total votes at press time: 1,338 votes Percentages are “round-
ed ”Poll results are not scientific and represent only the opinions of Internet users who have chosen to participate
No beds, food, or diapers the storm has just begun for Florida’s children
In the days since Hurricane Helene made landfall, volunteers from churches and local service groups like Better Together have been helping families pick up the pieces
We are knocking on doors (if homes still have one), delivering meals and supplies, and triaging the most urgent needs of children and families It’s hard to fully express the depths of the devastation and despair we’re seeing on the ground
I recently traveled from Fort Myers to connect with our team in Perry, where I met a father who was sitting outside of his apartment and cradling his young son, Mazieon He explained it wasn’t safe inside of the apartment because the storm had punched a hole in the ceiling.
together outside while their parents searched for anything that could be salvaged Mattresses, toys, clothes, furniture, and family photos were all piled high, waiting for the dump The entire complex looked as if it had been evicted
This might seem like rock bottom, but for these families it can get worse Many parents lost their jobs in the storm and have no money coming in the door for home repairs and essentials for their children They were barely making ends meet before Hurricane Helene, and the storm is pushing them over the edge putting their children at risk
When Mazieon’s mother showed us the rest of the apartment, we realized the ceiling was just the beginning They had no food or water The power was out Every room had taken a hit, and days of wet clothes and water damage made the air feel heavy They were not sure where Mazieon would sleep that night
Other children from the neighborhood were sitting
A hurricane is an unplanned crisis, especially for families who are already isolated and living in poverty First responders and welfare agents are doing a hero’s work in the recovery efforts, but they don’t have the capacity to provide the depth of services that families like Mazieon’s will need to stay intact
As families along Florida’s Gulf Coast including many who are still reeling from the impacts of Helene are facing the threat of Hurricane Milton, Better Together stands
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Dismantle NOAA, NHC, the National Weather Ser vice?
To the editor:
I live in Florida As I write this, we await news about the pathway Hurricane Milton will travel and whose lives and homes are most threatened My updates come every six hours from the NHC, the National Hurricane Center, which provides weather and climate forecasts and warnings
As I get all the current details of the storm in the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, NHC (National Hurricane Center) site Project 2025 authors candidate Trump supporters all are outlining how to cripple it, which documents the plan his transition team intends to use to broadly dismantle government agencies should he win
P
“should be broken up and downsized ”
But we need these protective service across the country
The League of Conservation Voters has said that Project 2025, which describes the NOAA as “a primary component of the climate change alarm industry,” would dismantle the National Weather Service and NOAA
Those actions would undermine the agency’s independence from the executive branch and eliminate internal departments, hence life-saving information about hurricanes, heat waves and extreme weather events would be reduced
Project 2025 says the agency “should focus on data gathering services and should commercialize its forecasting.” This is a considerable limit on the work and services they provide the intent seems to be render the agencies in effective
I do not support their proposal
Vote for Kamala Harris and Tim Walz
Vote by mail
Check your voter registration
Kathleen Callard, RNBS North Fort Myers
Financial stability and security are the issues that matter
To the editor:
Emotional voting If I read the political news right, Kamala would be far behind except for two issues abortion and hatred for Trump How much impact do those two
emotional issues have on America’s economy and security?
The primary reason for abortion being legal according to pro-abortionists is rape and incest Estimates are that pregnancies due to rape is 1% and incest 5% Most Republicans accept abortion for rape and incest but do not want to see 1 million unborn lives ended each year. The selfish motive seems to be that the pro-abortion crowd has voted for abortion in most states but don’t want pro-life people to have any say even in their own states How democratic is that?
Kamala is using the threat that Trump will pass a law preventing any abortion That is literally impossible When would he get a 2/3 Republican majority in the Senate and a majority in the House of Representatives? That just doesn’t happen
H a t r e d f o r T r u m p i s m o s t l y m a n u f a c t u r e d T h e Democrats have attacked him even before his inauguration. So-called crimes that he has been indicted for are ignored when done by Democrats Take his accusation of his cheating on his wife That was wrong but now has been in court and we hear it constantly from Democrats Why hasn’t Kamala’s affair at the age of 29 with the most prominent Democrat in California, 60-year-old Willie Brown, who was still married, become headlines? She received a jump-start on politics But that is not mentioned by Democrats or the news media
Issues that have a great impact on America now and in the future are: food prices, fuel and everything else went up under Kamala/Biden so there is nothing left for rent for those who are struggling; 15 to 20 million immigrants came across the border illegally under Biden/Harris with drugs galore costing hundreds of billions of dollars and 73,000 deaths every year just on the smuggled fentanyl Trump had gained control of the border in spite of the resistance by the Democrats but Biden/Kamala cancelled his programs; debt went up another $10 trillion under Biden/Harris after $10 trillion under Obama; America was proven to be weak by the Afghan debacle and since then, Ukraine has been invaded, Hamas has gone across the border on one of the worst raids of innocents in recent history, Iran may go to war and China is threatening Taiwan Under Trump there were no wars and he even stopped one Democrats need to evaluate America’s problems and accomplishments in deciding how to vote In 2020 America was in the best shape for decades That was
See LETTERS, page 5
Megan Rose Guest Commentary
Breeze editorial
A g e i s m r e f e r s t o t h e s t e r e o
o r u n a b l e t o u t i l i z e t o d a y ’ s t e c h n o l o g y , w h i l e y o u n g e r a d u l t s a r e s t e r e o t y p e d a s l a z y a n d i m m a t u r e A s w e
e
o b s e r v e d A g e i s m A w a r e n e s s D a y t h i s w e e k i t i s c r u c i a l t o r e c o g n i z e a g e i s m a s a w i d e s p r e a d f o r m o f d i s c r i m in a t i o n A g e i s m i m p a c t s f a m i l i e s , b u s i n e s s e s , a n d t h e b r o a de r e c o n o m y A d d r e s s i n g i t c a n l e a d t o b e t t e r h e a l t h o u t -
c o m e s , l o w e r h e a l t h c a r e c o s t s , a n d h e l p u s t a p i n t o t h e
s t r e n g t h s o f a m u l t i g e n e r a t i o n a l w o r k f o r c e
C h a l l e n g i n g t h e s e s t e r e o t y p e s w i l l r e s u l t i n g r e a t e r
o p p o r t u n i t i e s f o r e v e r y o n e
A g e i s m l i m i t s o p p o r t u n i t i e s f o r m a n y i n d i v i d u a l s i n e v e r y f a c e t o f l i f e T h e F
l a i n t s o f
a g e i s m b y e n f o r c i n g F l o r i d a ’ s c i v i l r i g h t s l a w s a n d p r o v i d i n g a p r o c e s s f o r f i l i n g
c o m p l a i n t s o f a g e - r e l a t e d d i s c r i m i n a t i o n A n y o n e w h o b e l i e v e s t h e y a r e f a c i n g d i sc r i m i n a t i o n c a n f i l e a c o m p l a i
r r i e r s o f a g e i s m a n d c r e a t e a c u l t u r e w h e r e i n d i v i d u a l s o f a l l a g e s a r e r e s p e c te d , v a
Together, we are building a brighter future
T h e b e g i n n i n g o f t h e s c h o o l y e a r i s a l w a y s s u c h a n e x c i t i n g t i m e . I t ’ s w h e n
s c h o o l s t a f f c o m e b a c k t o g e t h e r a f t e r
t h e s u m m e r , r e a d y t o i n s p i r e a n d s u p -
p o r t o u r s t u d e n t s , a n d w h e n s t u d e n t s r e t u r n e a g e r t o r e c o n n e c t w i t h t h e i r
c l a s s m a t e s O u r c a m p u s e s a r e f i l l e d
w i t h e n e r g y , a n d t h a n k s t o e n g a g i n g
c l a s s r o o m a c t i v i t i e s a n d v i b r a n t a f t e r -
s c h o o l p r o g r a m s , t h e r e i s s o m u c h t o
l o o k f o r w a r d t o i n t h e m o n t h s a h e a d
H o w e v e r , a s w e b e g i n t o r e f l e c t o n t h e f i r s t q u a r t e r o f t h e s c h o o l y e a r , i t i s i m p o r t a n t t o a c k n o w l e d g e t h e c h a l -
l e n g e s o u r c o m m u n i t y h a s f a c e d
H u r r i c a n e H e l e n e h a s i m p a c t e d m a n y a r e a s o f F l o r i d a , a n d I h o p e t h a t y o u a n d y o u r l o v e d o n e s a r e s a f e T i m e s l i k e
t h e s e r e m i n d u s o f t h e s t r e n g t h o f o u r
c o m m u n i t y , a n d I w a n t t o e x p r e s s m y
h e a r t f e l t g r a t i t u d e t o e v e r y o n e w h o h a s
s t e p p e d u p t o h e l p t h e i r n e i g h b o r s a n d
l e n d a h a n d W h e t h e r y o u v o l u n t e e r e d
y o u r t i m e , p r o v i d e d r e s o u r c e s , o r s i m -
p l y o f f e r e d a k i n d w o r d , y o u r s u p p o r t i s w h a t m a k e s o u r c o m m un i t y t r u l y r e m a r k a b l e . A s w e n e a r t h e e n d o f t h e f i r s t q u a r t e r , w e ’ v e a l r e a d y s e e n m a n y i m p r e s s i v e a c h i e v e m e n t s F i v e o f o u r h i g h s c h o o l s e n i o r s h a v e b e e n n a m e d N a t i o n a l M e r i t P r o g r a m s e m i f i n a l i s t s , p l a c i n g t h e m a m o n g t h e t o p 1 %
o f t h e C l a s s o f 2 0 2 5 T h i s s p r i n g , t h e y ’ l l f i n d o u t i f t h e y ’ r e s e l e c t e d t o r e c e i v e $ 2 , 5 0 0 s c h o l a rs h i p s A d d i t i o n a l l y , 1 4 8 s t u d e n t s e a r n e d p r e s t ig i o u s C o l l e g e B o a r d r e c o g n i t i o n s , w h i c h p r o v i d e a c a d e m i c h o n o r s t h a t w i l l e n h a n c e t h e i r c o l l e g e
Debbie Jordan Guest
Commentary
a n d s c h o l a r s h i p a p p l i c a t i o n s W e a l s o
c e l e b r a t e t h e 2 7 s t u d e n t s w h o e a r n e d
A P C a p s t o n e D i p l o m a s , 1 6 7 w h o
e a r n e d I n t e r n a t i o n a l B a c c a l a u r e a t e
D i p l o m a s , a n d 3 6 8 w h o e a r n e d A I C E
From page 5
before the pandemic when Donald Trump did the impossible before Biden took office making a vaccine available in months instead of years Biden perhaps did as much damage with his rules as COVID did with the disease
I ask Democrats to please select a president based upon sound financial plans and a foreign policy that protects America and other people falling under the claws of ambitious dictators If you don’t and America goes bankrupt, becomes a socialistic country and the world breaks out in more wars, I am going to become very emotional John Benedict Cape Coral
Florida law requires lifesaving medical care to a mother without delay
To the editor:
o f
H e a l t h“ N o t i c e t o H e a l t h C a r e P r o v i d e r s R e g a r d i n g
M i s i n f o r m a t i o n A b o u t A b o r t i o n s i n F l o r i d a
“ T h i s P r o v i d e r A l e r t i s b e i n g i s s u e d t o a d d r e s s m i s -
C a m b r i d g e D i p l o m a s t h i s y e a r . T h e s e c h a l l e n g i n g p r o g r a m s h e l p s t u d e n t s e a r n c o l l e g e c r e d i t a n d s e t t h e m u p f o r f u t u r e s u c c e s s O u r s c h o o l s t h r i v e
b e c a u s e o f t h e c o n t i n u e d i n v o l v e m e n t o f f a m i l i e s a n d t h e b r o a d e r c o m m u n i t y W h e t h e r y o u v o l u n t e e r a s a m e n t o r , a s s i s t s t u d e n t s w i t h m a t h o r r e a d i n g , a t t e n d a f o o t b a l l g a m e o r v o l l e y b a l l m a t c h , o r c o m e t o o n e o f o u r f a l l p l a y s o r w i n t e r c o nc e r t s , y o u r e n g a g e m e n t m a k e s a d i f f e r e n c e W h e n w e w o r k t o g e t h e r , w e c r e a t e
o p p o r t u n i t i e s f o r e v e r y s t u d e n t t o s u c -
c e e d , a n d t h a t ’ s s o m e t h i n g w e c a n a l l b e p r o u d o f
L o o k i n g a h e a d , w e a r e p r e p a r i n g f o r
a s i g n i f i c a n t e l e c t i o n n e x t m o n t h , w h i c h
w i l l b r i n g t w o n e w b o a r d m e m b e r s a n d ,
f o r t h e f i r s t t i m e i n m a n y y e a r s , a n
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
i n f o r m a t i o n c u r r e n t l y b e i n g s p r e a d c o n c e r n i n g F l o r i d a ’ s a b o r t i o n l a w s T h e l a w i s c l e a r : a b o r t i o n i s p e r m i s s i b l e a t a n y s t a g e o f p r e g n a n c y i n F l o r i d a t o s a v e t h e l i f e a n d h e a l t h o f t h e m o t h e r A b o r t i o n i s a l s o a v a i la b l e w h e n t h e p r e g n a n c y r e s u l t s f r o m r a p e , i n c e s t , o r h u m a n t r a f f i c k i n g , o r h a s a f a t a l f e t a l a b n o r m a l i t y
“ S e c t i o n 3 9 0 0 1 1 1 ( 1 ) , F l o r i d a S t a t u t e s , c u r r e n t l y l i s t s e x p r e s s e x c e p t i o n s t h a t a l l o w f o r a n a b o r t i o n a t a n y p o i n t i n p r e g n a n c y t o s a v e t h e p r e g n a n t w o m a n ’ s l i f e o r a v e r t a s e r i o u s r i s k o f s u b s t a n t i a l a n d i r r e v e r s i b l e p h y s i c a l i m p a i r m e n t o f a m a j o r b o d i l y f u n c t i o n . T h e s e e x c e p t i o n s a l l o w t r e a t m e n t , i n c l u d i n g a b o r t i o n s , f o r w o m e n w h o e x p e r i e n c e p r em a t u r e r u p t u r e o f m e m b r a n e s ( P R O M ) , e c t o p i c , o r m o l a r p r e g n a n c i e s , a n d a s s u c h , p h y s i c i a n s i n F l o r i d a a r e e x p e c t e d t o f o l l o w s t a n d a r d s o f c a r e r e g a r d i n g t h e m o s t a p p r o p r i a t e c o u r s e o f a c t i o n i n t h e s e s i t u a t i o n s E x c e p t i o n s a l s o e x i s t u p t o 1 5 w e e k s f o r p r e g n a n c i e s r e s u l t i n g f r o m r a p e , i n c e s t , o r h u m a n t r a f f i c k i n g “ H e a l t h c a r e f a c i l i t i e s a n d p r o v i d e r s m u s t b e a w a r e t h a t a p h y s i c i a n p r o v i d i n g l i f e - s a v i n g t r e a t m e n t f o r p r e g n a n t w o m e n d o e s n o t v i o l a t e F l o r i d a l a w a n d t h a t f a i l u r e t o d o s o m a y c o n s t i t u t e m a l p r a c t i c e A d d i t i o n a l l y , a m i s c a r r i a g e i s n o t a n a b o r t i o n S e c t i o n 3 9 0 0 1 1 ( 1 ) , F l o r i d a S t a t u t e s , d e f i n e s “ a b o rt i o n ” t o m e a n t h e
Agree? Disagree? Weigh in! Letters, guest opinions, comments welcome
e l e c t e d s u p e r i n t e n d e n t W h i l e l e a d e r -
s h i p m a y c h a n g e , o u r f o c u s o n s t u d e n t o u t c o m e s w i l l r e m a i n c o n s t a n t I w a n t t o t a k e t h i s o p p o r t u n i t y t o t h a n k m y c o ll e a g u e s w h o w i l l n o t b e r e t u r n i n g f o r t h e i r d e d i c a t e d s e r v i c e a n d t h e v a l u a b l e c o n t r i b u t i o n s t h e y m a d e d u r i n
Progress with the positive
To the editor:
In the life of a teacher, as we live our day-to-day lives, it is easy to focus on the negative things Lately I have been trying to step into the positive The solutions that I have come up with are simple, yet they work
1 Keep your expectations realistic
2 Plan ahead
3. Idle time is not helpful
4 Expect the unexpected
5 Clearly state your expectations
6 Offer reasonable choices
7 Catch your children doing good
8 Stay calm
9 Use phrases like first and then
10 Model for success
If we put positive into practice, we should be instrumental in making our little piece of the world a happier place
Pamela Martin preschool curriculum coordinator Cape Coral
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 e-mailed to vharring@breezenewspapers.com. All letters and guest opinions must be signed and must include a phone number for verification purposes Readers are
breeze.com.
Guest Commentary:
From page 4
ready with support for those in the storm’s path Our team is canvassing communities before the storm to help families find shelter and resources After the storm, we will continue working in the hardest-hit communities throughout Florida, walking alongside families now and in the days, months and years to come
This is why local volunteer service groups like Better Together exist: to stand in the gap and catch families before they fall
Our volunteers sprang into action within hours of Hurricane Ian in 2022, knocking on thousands of doors, serving hot meals, tarping roofs, helping people find new jobs, and opening up their homes and hearts to children displaced by the storm And our work didn’t stop there our volunteers still keep in touch with the families we served during Hurricane Ian, offering them a community of friendship and support for life
We are doing it again with Hurricane Helene, and now with Hurricane Milton, and there is a role for everyone If you are able to canvas neighborhoods and assess the needs of families, host a child displaced by the storm, drive supply trucks, distribute meals and resources, or connect people with jobs to get back on their feet, join us
We are also collecting supplies to meet the basic health and safety needs of children during this time, such as bug spray, bedding, portable cribs, diapers, wipes, formula, com-
fort toys like stuffed animals, as well as fans and generators
After Hurricane Ian, I’ll never forget the children covered in mosquito bites because their doors and windows had washed away in the storm, leaving them exposed to the elements I’ll never forget the newborns suffering in the heat without generators or fans
But I will also never forget the relief on the faces of their exhausted parents who couldn’t believe we kept our promises and came back the next day with solutions
In the coming days and weeks, we will continue to help families impacted by Helene and Milton Mazieon’s parents are now part of our community We’re connecting them with a volunteer who will walk alongside them with resources and encouragement as they get back on their feet Together, we will build strong families and communities
Local volunteer support groups are uniquely positioned to give hope to these families and to keep them together If we can, we must Visit BetterTogetherUS.org/Hurricane-Relief to get involved
Megan Rose is CEO of Better Together, a nonprofit organization that helps parents and families To help families in your community, get help or donate, visit BetterTogetherUS org or call 239-4702733
Schools:
From page 1
cial needs shelter
“We have staff embedded with the Lee County EOC and work with them on sheltering needs,” Spicker said “As soon as the schools are no longer needed, we will begin the cleanup necessary to prepare the school for students to return.”
The well-being of families and staff is the district’s top priority Spicker said they are here to support them however they can
“We shared a resource list with all of them and it is posted on our Facebook page for anyone in need of assistance,” he said, https://www face-
trictofleecounty
That list includes financial assistance, mental health, shelters, electricity, internet, food, and employment
Cape Coral: City crews continue to assess damages and impacts
Cape Coral
From page 1
“We hope people remain patient as LCEC gets power up. A lot of crews are coming in from other places,” Hayden said
According to a Facebook post from LCEC around 12:30 p m Friday, “more
t h a n 6 8 , 0 0 0
restored, less than 24 hours after damage assessments were complete ”
T h e p o s t r e p o r t e d
v i l y impacted areas due to tornadoes or severe storm regions include Burnt Store Road, southwest Cape Coral and Agualinda areas and North Fort Myers, Sanibel and Pine Island substations were currently being worked on to restorepower
The Friday post stated that “full operational status of the substations expected by the end of today ”
Anyone still without power who is using a generator is urged to keep the machines 20 feet away from their structure, as the city has seen four structure fires due to generator safety issues
In addition, residents should also make sure generators are off and cool at least 2 0 m i n u
heavy-duty, outdoor rated extension cords or plug appliances directly into the generator and do not run generators in enclosed spaces or operate in wet conditions
Each of the Cape Coral fire stations will have limited number of free carbon monoxide detectors beginning at 3 p m Friday, Oct 11
M a y o r J o h n G
LCEC to help get power back as soon as
At a Glance
■ City Hall will remain closed through Monday due to Columbus Day City Hall will reopen during normal business hours Tuesday
■ Waste Pro will resume household trash pickup on Monday, Oct 14
Recycling, bulk waste and horticulture will not be collected next week
Hurricane vegetation debris will be picked up curbside beginning the week of Oct 21 by a debris contractor
Residential drop-off sites are anticipated to open early next week Dates and locations will be provided once they become available
■ Parks and recreation centers and locations remain closed while staff continues to assess damage.
possible
He said many residents are on well water and, when they lose power, their pumps do not work
“To assist those residents, we are opening a comfort station to provide showers, toilets, freshwater distribution, and laundry facilities,” he said
noon Friday at Jim Jeffers Park for residents in need of water Residents are asked to bring their own containers This service will be available from 7 a m to 7 p m daily until further notice
Hayden said the water station opening is to help residents, as there is damage with power poles and surge in the northwest
“We are still evaluating We are in recovery mode and getting the city back up to operating as close to normal as we can,” he said
“Staff is working really hard to get out and assess the damage,” he added Hayden encourages individuals to be patient and continue to help their neighbors
“We will continue to offer reports,” he said.
As of Friday morning, the city had 83 lift stations without power; 16 lift stations were operating on generator power and about 80% of traffic signals were operational
Where lights are not operational, intersection must be treated as a four-way stop
It takes time to get light cycles to match traffic patterns, so motorists are asked to be patient
As of Oct 10, 6,458 impact surveys were completed of properties in specific zones of the city. Out of those 167 properties were impacted, 10 with minor dama
Friday, Oct 11, 35 teams were conducting assessments
The EOC was to remain activated until 7 p m Friday, Hayden said as of press time
Those who do not have cell service can visit their nearest fire station to get city information, and updates, Hayden said
Meanwhile, city staff is working diligently
According to a Facebook live update provided by Gunter on Thursday:
■ City Hall will remain closed through Monday due to Columbus Day City Hall will reopen during normal business hours Tuesday
■ Waste Pro will resume household trash pickup on Monday, Oct 14
Recycling, bulk waste and horticulture will not be collected next week Hurricane vegetation debris will be picked up curbside beginning the week of Oct 21 by a debris contractor
Residential drop-off sites are anticipated to open early next week Dates and l
become available
■ Parks and recreation centers and locations remain closed while staff continues to assess damage
A press release sent out by the city
including submitting real-time post disas-
Business Resources
We e k ly B R E E Z E R e c ap
Evacuations ordered, county officials stress: ‘Do not wait’
By NATHAN MAYBERG nmayberg@breezenewspapers com
Lee County Public Safety Director Ben Abes announced Monday afternoon that the county is ordering a mandatory evacuation for zones A and B by Tuesday evening
Zones A and B include the county’s barrier islands of Fort Myers Beach, Matlacha, Pine Island and Sanibel The z o n e s a l s o i n c l u d e p o r t i o n s o f C a p e Coral, Bonita Springs, San Carlos Park and North Fort Myers
For a detailed map of what areas constitute zones A and B, visit the Lee County government website at www leegov com
Abes also announced that Hurricane Milton is now a dangerous Category 5 hurricane The hurricane could make landfall as a Category 4 storm with a storm surge of up to 12 feet, according to the National Hurricane Center Hurricane winds could begin to be felt in Lee County by Tuesday evening or early Wednesday, Abes said
Abes announced that storm shelters would be open by 3:30 p m Monday at Island Coast High School in north Cape Coral, Dunbar High School at Edison A v e n u e i n F o r t M y e r s a n d E s t e r o Recreation Center at 9200 Corkscrew Palms Boulevard in Estero. The shelters will accept pets on a leash
More shelters will open on Tuesday, Abes said
LeeTran has suspended fares and all routes are free LeeTran buses will transport residents to shelters for free For emergency transportation, contact 211
Effective immediately, tolls on all Lee County bridges have been suspended Lee County offices will be closed through Thursday as are all county schools
“We’ve never seen a storm like this,” Lee County Board of County Commissioners Chairman Mike Greenwell said “It could be catastrophic.”
Abes said crews are still working to
before Hurricane Milton hits Household
Tuesday through Thursday
“You do not want to drown in storm s u
4
Commissioner Brian Hamman said “Get out of those flood zones ”
Hamman said emergency responders were unable to respond to those who called 911 for help and who ultimately died during Hurricane Ian because the conditions were so bad
“We can always replace stuff, we can’t replace you,” Hamman said “If you are in an area that flooded in Helene and Ian, you will get water,” Hamman said “You have a responsibility to prepare ” “ Y o u d o n o t w a n t t o w a i t , ” L e e
County Sheriff Carmine Marceno said “This storm is deadly ” Marceno said a potential 12-feet of storm surge is life-threatening. “ W e k n o w t h e s t o r m s u r g e t a k e s lives,” Marceno said “Get out of harm’s
City officials urge residents to secure homes; leave if home has experienced previous flooding
By MEGHAN BRADBURY news@breezenewspapers com
I
, Cape Coral officials encourage residents to execute their hurricane plans, secure their homes and leave if their residence is prone to flooding.
“ O u r C i t y E m e r g e n c y O p e r a t i o n C e n t e r h a s b e e
g Hurricane Milton We anticipate the county will make evacuation determinations later today,” Mayor John Gunter said at a press conference late Monday morning “If you are in an evacuation zone, I urge you to prepare to leave early Evacuation doesn’t mean you have to leave the state Just find someone out of the flood zone – a family member, or friend and go to their residence Shelters should be the last resort They can be crowded and uncomfortable and may lose power If possible, find other accommodations with family and friends for a more comfortable experience for waiting out the storm ”
Lee County issued and emergency alert labeled "extreme" at 12:30 calling for evacuations for Lee countians in flood zones Zone A and Zone B The alerts calls for evacuations by Tuesday evening
The only shelter in Cape Coral is Island Coast High School The shelter was opened, according to Lee County’s noon press conference
Gunter encourages residents to make sure their home is secure by putting
“Residents in those low-lying areas, please take the warning and make sure you are prepared. If you are in those areas, I would recommend that you move outside of those areas, especially if you are in a flood zone to make sure you are your family are safe ”
Mayor John Gunter
winds of more than 45 miles per hour, emergency responders will not be able to make rescues “We can’t bring back lives,” he said
Four die in 3-car crash
By NATHAN MAYBERG nmayberg@breezenewspapers com
Four people were killed, including three Cape Coral residents, after a threecar crash in Lehigh Acres Sunday morning
storm shutters up and making sure all the loose debris around the house, as well as patio furniture, is secured
E m e r g e n c y M a n a g e m e n t a n d
Resiliency Director Ryan Lamb said now is the time to execute that hurricane plan He encourages residents to visit the city’s website, www capecoral gov for the Cape Coral Hurricane Guide due to its many resources He said it might fill in some of the gaps of someone’s plan
“It is important to know your zone when and if evacuations are called for You don’t have to wait for an evacuation order If your home flooded during Hurricane Ian, or Hurricane Helene, there is a strong likelihood on the current forecast that your home will flood again,” Lamb said, adding that if that is a concern, make that plan to exit
Gunter said with Milton on track to become a major category 4 storm, residents in those low-lying areas take the warning and make sure you are prepared
“Residents in those low-lying areas, please take the warning and make sure you are prepared If you are in those
areas, I would recommend that you move outside of those areas, especially if you are in a flood zone to make sure you are your family are safe,” Gunter said Lamb also addressed the use of sandbags
“Research shows that sandbags are not very effective against storm surge,” he said “Most homes require over 300 sandbags to have them properly secured So, we recommend you look at other resources to do that We encourage you to look at other barriers that are more effective than those sandbags ”
Lamb said sandbags can block exits and become hazardous material because they absorb the toxins in the flood water
The city has sent crews out to the west, south and east side of Cape Coral to ensure storm drains are clear and ready to handle the storm coming
Lamb said they have lowered weirs, but do not have the ability to block out canals as they are directly connected to the Gulf of Mexico
I f c o m m u n i c a t i o n a n d p o
down, he said City Hall and fire stations will be open as information stations
A 22-year-old woman, 23-year-old man and 24-year-old man from Cape Coral were killed, as was a 25-year-old man from Palm Springs
The four fatalities occurred when the sedan in which they were riding failed to negotiate a right curve while heading west on Lee Boulevard and traveled over a raised median into oncoming traffic heading eastbound The vehicle collided with another sedan that was traveling east The four who died included the driver One passenger in the westbound vehicle a 20-year-old woman survived and was taken to Gulf Coast Medical Center with critical injuries
Two Lehigh Acres residents who were in the other sedan that collided with the vehicle in the deadly crash, were transported to Gulf Coast Medical Center with serious injuries
That vehicle also collided with a third vehicle driven by a 24-year-old man who was also heading eastbound on Lee Boulevard The driver of that sedan was taken to Lehigh Regional Medical Center with minor injuries
The crash took place at approximately 11:40 a.m., according to Florida Highway Patrol
The names of the deceased were not immediately released by the FHP
The crash remains under investigation
NOAA GRAPHIC
The projected path of Hurricane Milton from earlier this week
Prior to the arrival of Hurricane Milton Wednesday, a large storm feeder band swept across Southwest Florida, with weather conditions volatile enough to create a record number of tornadoes One of the torn a d o e s s e v e r e l y d a m a g e d h o m e s i n t h e L a k e Fairways and Pine Lakes communities along U S 41 in North Fort Myers Debris from the damaged homes was later tossed about by Milton’s strong winds, causing a wide-spread area of twisted aluminum, roof pieces, splintered wood, insulation and much more.
Tor nado damage in Nor
PHOTOS BY CHRIS AND VICKY STRINE
UEstion
With a number of expansive park plans in the queue, how should the city fund these projects?
Primary ElEction - District 2
❑ laurie lehmaNN
The city is notorious for starting a new project/park prior to completing a project, thus creating a queue Yacht Club has not been rebuilt, yet the city wants to start on Jaycee Park Finish what you start before going on Yacht Club plans are beyond what is needed It should have just been renovated Leaving Jaycee Park alone is a savings of $18 million There is also a surplus of $17 million in the budget giving the city a starting point of $35 million for the Yacht Club Stopping the stipend would create $312,000/year of additional funding for park projects If the city started and finished projects per the original budgets and contracts, there would not be the cost overruns or contingencies that we are now experiencing.
DerriCk DoNNell Der rickDonnell.com
In November of 2018, the residents of Cape Coral voted to approve the $60 million General Obligation (GO) Bond for the purpose of improving and expanding our parks in accordance with the city’s parks master plan Our first priority should be to carry out the will of the people by utilizing the funds residents already approved to improve the parks as presented in the GO Bond projects list Secondly, we should not expand any parks over and above the funds that have already been voted on by the people We must have a citizen’s park committee that works in tandem with the city staff and city council for the purpose of identifying any additional park expansion plans and how they would be funded
Each week through the General Election, The Breeze will ask the candidates for Cape Coral City Council an issue-related question In the interest of fairness, each candidate is limited to the same amount of space, about 100 words, for their response
The city should finance parks over the life of the park
Municipal finances are different from personal finances When we finance public parks, everyone who benefits shares the cost, making it cheaper for each person Our city has a great credit score, so borrowing money is cheap Plus, these parks can be built without raising taxes Some residents confuse the negative aspects of personal loans with city loans, but for public projects like parks, financing is a smart choice because both current and future residents help cover the costs
Primary ElEction - District 3
❑ Deborah lee mCCormiCk mcCor mickforCapeCouncil.com
The city’s main stream of revenue comes from ad valorem taxation, however, the city is able to take out bonds in order to pay for projects If included in the general budget, I would prefer these plans to be paid for without taking a bond Financial responsibility is important with expansion and renovation projects such as these. I would like to note, however, that I think an important part of the process is collecting citizen input prior to any vote on a park renovation, as we want to avoid any future turmoil with residents considering what was seen during the Jaycee Park renovation project In doing so, we can utilize this input to make potential cuts in the amount of money that the city spends, promoting smart growth and financial responsibility with the use of citizen input
Primary ElEction - District 4
riCharD Carr (iNCumbeNt) VoterichCar r.com
Parks and public green spaces are vital to our city’s future, offering residents places to relax and enjoy recreational activities Most ongoing projects have secured funding, but diversifying funding sources for park projects should always be considered Each project should be evaluated comprehensively to maximize benefits for city residents while minimizing the financial impact Potential funding sources include impact fees, state and federal grants, and partnerships with public and private entities The goal is to maximize the value and benefit to residents while keeping costs low
Important dates
∫ General Election: Tuesday, Nov 5
∫ Deadline to register to vote or change party affiliation: Oct 7.
∫ Mail ballots: First vote-by-mail ballots will be sent out on Tuesday, Oct. 1; new requests will be sent within 48 hours of being received.
∫ Early Voting: Monday, Oct 21, through Saturday, Nov 2, from 10 a m to 6 p m daily Visit lee vote/Early-VotingInformation/Early-Voting-Dates-and-Locations for locations
The city should re-prioritize the parks that were in the initial Go Bond The focus should be finishing the parks that were in the plan The old golf course purchase was in the newly approved budget The improvement plan for that should be created and funding sources identified after the park plan created by the Go Bond Once those parks are re-prioritized and completed, then we can focus on new parks
Resources
The Lee County Supervisor of Elections posts all city-election related documents, including campaign reports at lee.vote.
Lee.vote also offers a wealth of elections-related information concerning registration, voting, dates and candidate lists and documents
Information on the Constitutional amendments appearing on the ballot may be found at lee.vote/Election-Information/ProposedBallot-Measures
∫ The League of Women Voters, Lee County offers electionrelated information on its website, my.lwv.org/florida/lee-county.
With a number of expansive park plans in the queue, how should the city fund these projects?
primAry eleCtion - distriCt 5
❑ Joseph KilRaine Kilr aineforcape com
The GoBond is seriously overbudget (i e $40 million over after removal of the Yacht-Club & Tropicana) The Yacht-Club proposed scope alone will exceed $100 million The mayor indicated $28 million of the GoBond overspending will be redirected from the general fund & arguably, other higher priority needs Obviously, grant opportunities are a first funding source However, a “full-required-fund” forecast must be first completed with full transparency on scope The citizens must be the decision makers on this “complete-funding-package ” Residents must decide how expansive the park plan should be & extent of incremental tax-burden they are willing to accept Akin to the original GoBond referendum, new funding should follow a like path but with full transparency on each project’s projected scope/cost with options to fund the yacht club separately.
The city should first look to see if there are any available funds through the state If that is not an option, then they should look at tax exempt bonds The city can also look for ways to cut items in the budget that may not be a priority at this time and use that money to complete the projects Once all the projects are completed, upkeep of the parks will need to be part of the yearly budget
Each week through the General Election, The Breeze will ask the candidates for Cape Coral City Council an issue-related question. In the interest of fairness, each candidate is limited to the same amount of space, about 100 words, for their response
❑ chaRlie pease votecharliepease com
We have important expansive parks projects ahead, including redeveloping the old golf course into a 175-acre “central park” in SE Cape and rebuilding the Cape Coral Yacht Club It’s vital to explore public-private partnerships that offer clear benefits and cost savings for taxpayers Balancing general funds, debt service, and potential future bonds will be key for the public financing components However, the planned overhaul of Jaycee Park is misaligned with our current needs, especially given the anticipated $16 to $18 million in debt service While likely too late given the recent approval, those funds should be redirected toward projects that will provide broader benefits as community parks
Rachel KaduK R achelK
Parks & Recreation funding is through the General Fund
We can look at exploring a plethora of income-generating sources Items such as grants, private sponsored donations, bonds and levies, and fees and charges We don’t want to be taxed to death If there is a park offering a service that is special interest to you, and there is a small nominal fee for it, that’s another income-generating source rather than raising our taxes to fund these items If our parks department intends to get it, they somehow can afford it Jaycee Park is a great example
About CApe CorAl Cit y CounCil
Cape Coral has a city manager/council form of government A Council-appointed, contract city manager runs the day-to-day operations of the city Cape Coral City Council is an elected eight-member board comprised of a mayor and seven council members who set policy and are accountable to the voters The mayor may live in any district Council members are elected “at large” meaning while candidates must live in the district they seek to represent, the seats are filled via non-partisan, citywide elections Every registered Cape voter, no matter their party affiliation or city address, may cast a ballot in every race in both primary and general elections
Each week first through the primary and then through the General Election, The Breeze will ask the candidates for Cape Coral City Council an issue-related question In the interest of fairness, each candidate is limited to the same amount of space, about 100 or so words, for their response.
■ Week 1, published July 5:
Why are you running? What are your top three issues?
■ Week 2: published July 12:
Should the stipend approved by Cape Coral City Council in addition to member salaries be retained, rescinded or modified?
■ Week 3, published July 19:
How will you weigh projects with a potential citywide benefit but also a perceived neighborhood impact?
■ Week 4, published July 26:
How would you define your position on public-private partnerships?
■ Week 5, published Aug. 2:
How would you build consensus to accomplish your objectives?
■ Week 6, published Aug. 9:
What is your first impression of the city's working budget for the next fiscal year?
■ Week 7, published Aug 16:
What are your views on “accessory dwelling units?
■ Week 8, published Aug. 30:
What should be done with the old golf course acreage?
■ Week 9 published Sept. 6:
Where do you see the city in terms of overall employee compensation, i e wages and benefits? What, if any, changes
should Council consider?
■ Week 10, published Sept 13
What, if anything, should be done to address transparency?
■ Week 11, published, Sept 20
Should members of Council comment on issues outside of scheduled meetings? Should Council appoint a single spokesperson for media and other inquiries?
■ Week 12, published Sept. 27
What role, if any, should the city play regarding affordable and/or “workforce” housing?
■ Week 13, published Oct. 4
With mail ballots on their way, please answer the question you’ve been waiting to be asked
■ Week 14, published Oct 11
With a number of expansive park plans in the queue, how should the city fund these projects?
❑ Michael david haRpeR
City moves to dismiss request for injunction
By MEGHAN BRADBURY news@breezenewspapers.com
The city of Cape Coral has filed a motion to dismiss a request for an injunction filed against City Council by a resident regarding Jaycee Park last month
“The city respectfully moves this honorable court for an order dismissing plaintiff’s motion for injunction for failure to state a cause of action upon which relief may be granted, or in the alternative, for failure to comply with the Florida Rules of Civil Procedure, and to grant to the city any such other and further relief as the court deems just and proper,” City Attorney Aleksander Boksner wrote in the Oct 4 request for dismissal
T
month by Peter Wiggin
“
against Cape Coral City Council, or the mayor’s office stopping any action to be taken at Jaycee Park This is to allow all federal and state agencies to respond to my request for independent impact studies on t
land, sea, and air,” Wiggin wrote in his submission
“
courts to approve this injunction until responses are obtained from the certified mailed requests for intervention of the affected agencies or true impact studies can be performed ” Wiggin’s filing states
B
s p o n s e include “instead of a short and plain statement of the ultimate facts showing the pleader is entitled to relief, plaintiff’s motion for injunction more closely resembles a discursive collection of scurrilous, conspiratorial, speculative, and conclusory statements and opinions, which wholly
fails to state a cause of action and is framed in complete disregard of the dictates of the Florida Rules of Civil Procedure ”
Background facts submitted by the city include Wiggins serving the city with the first five pages of the motion of injunction, but not the next 50 pages; does not cite any legal authority; Wiggins signed the document on the fifth page, but it was not sworn to or verified and the difficulty to interpret the “haphazard, shotgun nature” of the plaintiff’s injunction – preliminary/temporary injunction, a permanent injunction or both
“Perhaps the only clarity that can be gleaned from plaintiff’s motion for injunction is that plaintiff is displeased with the city’s legislative decision-making regarding the duly approved refurbishment of Jaycee Park, and plaintiff maintains an affinity for and is an apologist on behalf of exotic invasive species Australian pine,” Boksner wrote
The motion to dismiss states that the City Council adopted resolution 209-24, which approved an unsolicited public-private partnership proposal for improvements and refurbishments for Jaycee Park, “a city owned park and public amenity ”
includes a letter to Lee Clerk of the Kevin Karnes and cites information about Beach Parkway as a neighborhood, wind breaks-
Australian pines, the City of Cape Coral parks master plan update, Cape Coral City Council and mayor’s “disinformation campaign” and conclusion
Wiggin seeks to retain the windbreak and so the pines “as it a critical infrastructure protecting the Beach Parkway neighborhood ”
COMMUNITY
A staghorn fern hanging on the door of a residence. UF/IFAS
Staghorn ferns
By CATHY DUNN news@breezenewspapers com
You have probably seen the beautiful and unusual staghorn ferns somewhere in Southwest Florida I believe my first encounter with these magnificent plants was at the Edison Ford Winter Estates shortly after I moved to Cape Coral If you’ve ever seen the enormous staghorns that hang by heavy chains from oak tree branches on the grounds of the visitor center at the estates, you’ll understand why I was so impressed!
I i m m e d i a t e l y b o u g h t two small staghorn ferns at Edison Ford and installed them in large wire baskets that I suspended from iron
s h e p h e r d ’ s h o o k s u n d e r some palms in my garden
GARDEN CLUB OF CAPE CORAL
My ferns have been characteristically slow to grow, but once I started feeding them banana peels (on the advice of a fellow Garden Club member), they have really taken off! Please note that according to the UF/IFAS Assessment of Non-native Plants in Florida’s Natural Areas, gardeners should plant staghorn ferns with caution and manage its growth to prevent escape
Staghorn ferns thrive in warm, humid climates throughout much of the tropical world and are members of the Polypodiaceae family, which is comprised of over 1,650 species of ferns Staghorn ferns are epiphytes, or plants that grow on the surface of another plant (or other structure such as tree branches, tree trunks or rocks) and derive moisture and nutrients from air, rain and debris accumulating around the plant Epiphytes in temperate zones include mosses, lichens and algae; in warmer subtropical and tropical environments epiphytes include many ferns, cacti, orchids and bromeliads While the staghorn fern is considered a "tender" plant, here in Southwest Florida we usually don’t have to worry about c o l d e r w i n t e r t e m p e r a t u r e s , h o w e v e r , r e s i d e n t s i n Central and Northern Florida will need to bring in staghorns when the temperatures fall below 40°.
The staghorn fern is composed of two different fronds which are classified as basal or foliar structures
Also known as shields, basal fronds are small, tan-colored flat leaves that encase the plants’ root structure Basal fronds are sterile and collect water and plant debris to produce nutrient uptake Foliar fronds are the s t a g h o r n f e r n ’ s d i s t i n c t i v e g r e e n u p r i g h t f
Brownish reproductive structures called sporangia can b e f o u n d o n t h e u n d e r s i d e o f t h e f o l i a r f r o n d s Sporangia are also sometimes present as brown felt-like substances on the tips of the fronds; these spots are not harmful to the plant and are not indicative of any problem or disease
The ideal location for a staghorn fern is in a shaded or partially shaded area; you should avoid heavily shad-
OCTOBER 11, 2024
Keep Lee County Beautiful volunteers remove over 6,000 pounds of trash for International Coastal Cleanup Day
Keep Lee County Beautiful Inc held its annual Ocean Conservancy-supported International Coastal Cleanup with almost 1,000 volunteers at 42 sites across Lee County removing over 6,000 pounds of litter and debris from the environment
The International Coastal Cleanup engages people to remove trash from the world’s beaches and waterways Thanks to millions of volunteers around the world, the ICC has become a beacon of hope, leading and inspiring action in support of our ocean Since its beginning, more than 18 million volunteers have collected nearly 385 million pounds of trash. Keep Lee County Beautiful is the local organizer hosting the event for over thirty years
“Keep Lee County Beautiful would like to thank all the volunteers and supporters who made this event possible Gathering all the litter is crucial before it makes its way into the Gulf Ocean trash is a threat to our wildlife, human health, and the local economy,” said Executive Director, Trish Fancher
During the International Coastal Cleanup, volunteers collect the trash and log every item found which is sent to the world’s largest repository of marine debris data This data has been used by scientists, environmentalists, governments and others to better understand and characterize the global plastic pollution problem.
KLCB thanks the sponsors for making this event possible: Title Sponsor-Walmart, and Ocean Conservancy, Surfing's Evolution & Preservation Foundation, LCEC, Cemex, Kayak Excursions, College Hunks Hauling Junk, Passarella & Associates, Waste Pro, WM, Lee County Parks & Recreation, Lee County Solid Waste, Coca-Cola Beverages Florida, Tunaskin Aquatic Apparel, SCCF, Keep Florida Beautiful, Keep America Beautiful, City of Fort Myers, FPL, Town of Fort Myers Beach, SW Waste, Ron Jon Surf Shop, WearTheFund, City of Cape Coral, Fort Myers Beach Chamber of Commerce, Coastal Waste & Recycling, Lee County Visitor & Convention Bureau, Fort Myers Beach Community Foundation, and El Toro Mexican Bar & Grill
About Keep Lee County Beautiful Inc
Keep Lee County Beautiful, Inc , established in 1989, is the county’s largest volunteer-based community action and education organization This local nonprofit forms public-private partnerships and programs that engage individuals to take greater responsibility for improving their community environments For more about KLCB, a private/non-profit organization with 501 (c)(3) status, call 239-334-3488 or visit www klcb org Follow us on Facebook @KLCBInc or Instagram keepleecountybeautifulfl
Better Together, Grace Church to host job fair in Fort Myers Oct. 24
Better Together is partnering with Grace Church to host a community job fair from 11 a m to 2 p m , Thursday, Oct 24, in Fort Myers
Registration is now open for hiring employers and job seekers to participate in the October event The churchbased job fair connects job seekers with local employers who are ready to hire, while also providing resources to facilitate stronger connections and more hires Free oneon-one job coaching sessions are available to job seekers to review resumes and interviewing skills, and additional services will be available onsite
The community job fair is part of Better Together’s “Better Jobs” program, which has helped nearly 40,000 applicants connect with employment opportunities across 24 states At job fairs hosted by Better Together, twothirds of attendees get a job interview, and one in four receive a job offer on the spot Some 70% find work with-
in six weeks
The Oct 24 job fair will take place at Grace Church –Central Campus, at 2415 Grand Ave , in Fort Myers Job seekers and employers can register at BetterTogether US org/Events/FTMyers-JF or by texting “JOBS” to 844987-3949
Churches interested in hosting a Better Together job fair can visit BetterTogetherUS org for more information Better Together is a nonprofit organization that helps parents going through a hard time keep their kids out of foster care, find work and address the root causes of their struggle so that they can reunite as a family with the tools and support system to thrive In addition to community job fairs, the program offers job seekers coaching, guidance, support and encouragement through local church partners For additional information about Better Together, please visit BetterTogetherUS org
PHOTO PROVIDED
International Coastal Cleanup volunteers on the beach at South Seas on Captiva
BUSINESS
The Craft Club offers supplies - and fun
By CHUCK BALLARO news@breezenewspapers com
Many people like to paint ceramics and find little trinkets for crafts they’re working on to make them sparkle
Well, there’s a new store in North Fort Myers that offers arts and crafts for children and adults of all ages in a fun environment and will even come to your home if you ask
The Craft Club, at 505 Pondella Road, Unit 4, opened its studio earlier this year to offer families and individuals somewhere they can work on their artistic endeavors and have some fun in the process
Carla Ortega-Martinez and her husband started the business in February 2023 People reached out to her and she would do crafts at people’s homes, birthday parties and other special events
The business got big enough so they moved to their present studio early this year
“We’ve been here since March We opened the store in July. I was pregnant and gave birth two months ago,” OrtegaMartinez said “Things are starting to pick up ” For those looking for projects, The Craft Club “menu” offers deco-frosting, fluid
BY CHUCK BALLARO
painting, custom totes and more
Customers can pick out the item then want to custom craft, or pick out a sculpture they want to paint, Ortega-Martinez said
Among the things they can paint are Sanrio, Pokemon, Hello Kitty, and superheroes and sneaker bears.
They also offer special packages that can be done at the store or they can come to your location for parties or events Prices start at $25, though they offer discounts for sharing your creation
“They can select the project they would like, depending on the size of the sculpture and project and they select the colors,” Ortega-Martinez said “We provide them with gloves and aprons so they don’t get messy ” They stay busy with other ventures as well.
Her husband, Daniel Etheridge sells insurance while Ortega-Martinez does hair and makeup
y through Sunday from 11 a m to 7 p m
During the summer they were open daily
You can learn more about them online at thecraftclub as me
Cape Coral’s home market continues to weaken
As we join the masses of storm-weary Floridians preparing for the approach of Hurricane Milton, we can only hope and pray that our area is spared, while knowing a lot of people are about to have their lives changed dramatically for the worse
The main takeaways from our current real estate market, as detailed below, are that home prices and home sales continue to track lower The number of active listings remains high, while the number of pending home sales in the pipeline have been declining Homeowners trying to sell their “older” existing homes are not only facing competition from other similar sellers in this buyer’s market, but they are also competing against the new home construction market, with many builders able and willing to be very aggressive with prices and incentives To this point, new construction homes built in 2023 and 2024 make up 34% of our active listings in the Cape, and 44 7% of the pending home sales
To be clear, homes are still being sold, but most sellers are getting less money for their homes than they expected, as they are forced to grudgingly reduce their asking prices For now, the much anticipated increase in housing activity due to the recent drop in mortgage interest rates has not seemed to materialize yet, as the overall cost of home ownership still remains high for a lot of people The hurricane impact is also likely to make some buyers reconsider their plans.
Preliminary September
home sales and prices
In the overall Cape Coral single-family home market, the preliminary results for m e d i a n s a l e s p r i c e s i n t h e m o n t h o f September look to be coming in at our lowest level so far in 2024, while also posting o
$400,000 This number could still be
adjusted, but it is currently sitting about 5%
b e l o w t h e S e p t e m b e r 2023 median sales price
n u m b e r o f $ 4 0 0 , 0 0 0
The preliminary number o f C a p e C o r a l c l o s e
s currently running about 21.5% below the 482 sales posted in August, and some 8 9% below t h e 4 1 5 s a l e s i n September 2023
Pinpointing the reason for this sales deceleration is not an exact science It could be as s i m p l e a s o u r n o r m a l s e a s o n a l s l o w d o w n a t this time of year The slowdown could also be connected to the recent changes to the real estate commission structure that is placing a bigger potential cost on home buyers, a chaotic presidential election, economic conditions and inflation or a handful of other reasons
Homing
In
$300,000 We have 265 homes in the Cape listed at $1 0 million and above Back on April 23 of this y e a r , t h e r e w e r e 2 , 8 4 9 h o m e s l i s t e d f o r s a l e through a Realtor at prices ranging from $225,000 to $ 1 0 9 m i l l i o n a n d t h e median list price was at $499,900. To help illustrate the market shift we have been seeing, on April 23 there were 770 homes
l i s t
h
$300,000 to go with the 351 luxury homes listed at $1 0 million and above
So we have seen a growing number of lower priced homes on the
market and a declining number of million dollar-plus homes listed for sale as the i n c r e a s e d n u m b e r o f p r i c e r e d u c t i o n s became the market theme for homeowners trying to attract a buyer in this higher inventory environment
The number of pending home sales in the pipeline has continued to move lower, dropping to 577 homes under contract with buyers on Oct 7, down from 605 pending sales on Sept. 23. Based on our weekly market survey, the current median pending home sales price was at the $400,000 mark, up a tick from the $399,900 registered two weeks ago Currently, the price range for pending home sales in the Cape is ranging from $199,900 to $2 499 million, with 292 of the 577 pending sales priced at $400,000 and under, including 37 homes below $300,000 A total of 65 2%, or 376
Current active listings and pending sales
As of Monday, Oct 7, the number of active listings for Cape Coral single-family h o m e s t h r o u g h t h e M u l t i p l e L i s t i n g
Service has climbed back over the 2,600 mark, now standing at 2,613 homes on the market. List prices range from $224,900 to $7 867 million for a new construction riverfront home which just came onto the market recently The median list price on Oct 7 dipped to $469,900 from $475,000 two weeks ago on Sept 23, when there were 2,591 homes listed at prices ranging from $224,900 to $5 5 million Currently, one third of the 2,613 active listings, or 871 homes, are priced at $400,000 and under, with 87 of these homes listed below
Daniel Etheridge, left, and his wife, Carla Ortega-Martinez, at their studio, The Craft Club, at 505 Pondella Road
Bob and Geri Quinn
Staghorn ferns: Plants offer unique, tropical look for your home
From page 16
ed areas with very little light because this type of environment can encourage pests and disease Since the staghorn is an epiphyte, mounting the fern on a piece of wood, a tree branch or even a rock is an ideal solution Use sphagnum moss to form a mound to support the plant and allow the basal fronds to contact the moss; secure the fern to your planting surface using plastic plant tape, plastic fishing line, or non-copper wire You can divide
and remount large staghorn ferns once the basal fronds begin growing around the sides of your planting surface
Staghorn ferns don’t require a lot of water, and, in fact, an overwatered fern can rot and die I water my staghorns once a week during the warmest months, and maybe every two weeks in cooler weather The ferns will wilt slightly when they require water and will recover quickly once watered A balanced liquid fertilizer of 1-1-1 can be applied monthly during warm months, and every other month
when the temperatures are cooler Since my staghorn ferns are in hanging wire pots I use banana peels for fertilizer; I simply tear the peels into small pieces and lay them on the surface of the potting mix in the basket.
If you’ve admired staghorn ferns, I hope that you will try growing these wonderful plants! Their beautiful and distinctive fronds provide a unique tropical look for any location, whether mounted on a wooden board and hung in your lanai (or even front door!), planted in a wire basket
under your palms or placed on a tree branch or rock These low maintenance plants deliver a big impact with their graceful fronds and will provide an exceptional tropical touch to your landscape!
Cathy Dunn is a Lee County Master Gardener Volunteer, Garden Club of Cape Coral Member and president of the James E H
www gardenclubofcapecoral com Like us on our Facebook page
Homing In: Cape Coral’s housing market continuing to change
From page 19
homes, in the Cape are under contract at $450,000 and under, and there are currently 17 luxury homes under contract at $1 0 million and above
Going back to April 23 of this year, there were a total of 872 single-family homes in the Cape under contract with buyers at prices ranging from $225,000 to $3 799 million, and the median pending sales price was also at $400,000 At that
t
$
priced below $300,000 A total of 546 homes, or 62 6% of our market, were under contract at $450,000 and under, while there were 54 luxury homes pending at $1 0 million and above
Seller frustrations are widespread
The current market in Cape Coral has been frustrating to a lot of homeowners who have been hoping to get their homes sold We have cited numerous examples
about the length of time it has taken a fairly large number of local sellers to attract a buyer, often after having to make multiple price reductions There are stories about sellers struggling to attract a buyer occurring throughout the country and when we dig down into the details behind the sales, the numbers are telling a similar story to what we are seeing here There are clearly a lot of people out there who are getting a lot less for their homes than they expected We will wrap up with one example that illustrates what a lot of sellers are going through
A recent article headlined, “Model Elle Macpherson Doubles Her Money on Coral Gables Home,” by Sarah Paynter in the Wall Street Journal on Friday, Sept 27, 2024, helps illustrate why we continue pointing out the importance of digging down into the details to get a better feel for the current real estate market According to this article, Macpherson bought this 8,300square-foot home with six bedrooms on a 1 7-acre piece of property in a Coral
Journey’s End Estates for $8 1 million in 2018 The home was built in the 1980s, but it was “gut renovated” in 2017 prior to Macpherson’s purchase, and it was reported to include a boat slip in the Journey’s End marina It was recently sold for $18 5 million, so Macpherson received more than double her money on the sale As good as that was, she actually put the home on the market for $29 million in April 2022 That date just happened to coincide with the launching of the Federal Reserve’s war on inflation that began with their first in a rapid series of interest rate increases in March 2022 that ultimately led to substantially higher mortgage rates Records show Macpherson recently lowered her list price to $22 million before attracting a buyer So her estate property was on the market for more than two years, and it ended up selling for $3 5 million, or 15 9%, below her most recent list price This sale was also $10 5 million, or 36%, below her initial list price – a point that
almost gets ignored by the media and a lot of real estate insiders
The sales data for this article was o b t a i n
Multiple Listing Service Matrix for Lee County, Fla , as of Oct 7, 2024, unless otherwise noted It was compiled by Bob and Geri Quinn and it includes information specifically for Cape Coral single-family homes, and does not include condominiums, short sales or foreclosures The data and statistics are believed to be reliable, h
revised periodically, and are subject to change without notice The Quinns are a husband and wife real estate team with the R E / M
Coral. They have lived in Cape Coral for over 45 years Geri has been a full-time Realtor since 2005, and Bob joined Geri as a full-time Realtor in 2014 Their real estate practice is mainly focused on Cape Coral residential property and vacant lots
Religious
$0)52:/1=15/ 6=-5) ;6 #; <,76:;3- )5, )9;?9 /9-); 15 =19;<)5, 91+0 15 419)+3-: 5-)9 215:4)5 6. -:<: 091:; .)1;0.<3 15;-9+-::69 6. )33 >06 15=62- ?6<9 :7-+1)3 7)9;65 )/- 15 ;14- 6. 5--, $6 ?6< 0)=9-+6<9:- .964 ;0- ,-7;0 6. 4? 0-)9; )5, 0<4*3? *-/ ;6 >064 6, 0): /1=-5 :<+0 /9-); 76>-9 ;6 +64- ;6 4? )::1:;)5+- -37 4- 15 4? 79-: -5; )5, <9/-5; 7-;1;165 5 9-;<95 79641:- ;6 4)2- ?6<9 5)4- 256>5 )5, +)<:- ?6< ;6 *- 15=62-, #; <,- 79)? .69 <: )5, )33 >06 15=62?6<9 )1, 4-5 #)? ;09-- <9 );0-9: ;09-- )13 )9?: )5, 3691): <*31+);165 4<:; *- 7964 1:-, $01: 6=-5) 0): 5-=-9 *--5 256>5 ;6 .)13 0)=- 0), 4? 9-8<-:; /9)5;-, <*31+);165 79641:-,
Auctions & Bazaars
Saturday,Oct12th at10:00am
15570RasmussenRd PuntaGordaFL
CommercialRestaurant Equipment,Power Tools,HandTools, ZeroTurnMower, HouseholdItems. KubotaSkidSteer Stingerattachment WoodChippers, Feeders,Ladders, CanRacks,Worm Beds&MuchMore!
AllcoastAuction&Realty 239-242-7661 AU415
Garage Sales
REDBARN
HugeEstateSale
Sat,Oct12th-Sun,Oct13th 8amto3pm 5605SW12thPl(off SkylineandElDorado)
G orgeousFurniture: L eathersofa,King& Queenbedroomsets, D iningroom&awesome ChinaCabinets. Kitchenfull,Garageis bulgingattheseams. LovelyLanaiFurniture& orchidplants, A wesomemisc&Home D ecor. Youwonátbelieve t hissale! D onátmissit! Pictures: facebook.com/RedBarnCapeCoral
(+ %)C< (+ 9,=C<
$ + & >133 64- $6 (6< $6 #-- ; !<1+2 ):? #)3& #" ' &$#' &15+-@ @ 6+)3
(+ %)C< (+ 9,=C<
$ + & >133 64- $6 (6< $6 #-- ; !<1+2 ):? #)3& #" ' &$#' &15+-@ @ 6+)3
*-,9664 *);0 064- 15 15:3)5, 6=- <33? <951:0-, %7,);-, ;096</0;6<; -)9 791=);*6); 3)<5+0 ");- *):-, 65 3-5/;0 6. :;)? )33
Fill in the blank cells using numbers 1 to 9. Each number can appear only once in each row, column, and 3x3 block. Use logic and process of elimination to solve the puzzle. The difficulty level ranges from Bronze (easiest) to Silver to Gold (hardest).
Cryptoquip Solution:
