VolumE 48, NumbEr 28
Labor of love: Islander awarded judgement on behalf of ailing wife
By PAULETTE LeBLANC pleblanc@breezenewspapers com
A Pine Islander known for his public service recently won a battle much closer to home a $150,000 judgement on behalf of his ailing wife
Michael Dreikorn alleged that his wife, Darlene Soler, did not receive proper treatment while in respite care provided by Hope Hospice and Community Services, Inc after falling and breaking her arm.
In October, pursuant to an arbitration decision and award dated Aug 19, a final judgement of $150,000 was awarded on Soler’s behalf, according to records filed with the Lee County Clerk of Courts
Hope Hospice said it could not comment
“In the interest of patient privacy, Hope Hospice chooses not to discuss the care of a patient and the organization remains committed to its mission of providing quality care to the communities we serve,” Hospice said in a statement
Promise made promise kept
When Matlacha fire commissioner
Michael Dreikorn decided to make a bid for the District 1 seat on the Lee County Commission, he also made a promise to his then-girlfriend, Darlene Soler, that he would take her down to the Caribbean if he lost the race in 2018
He fulfilled that promise in a big way despite Soler’s declining health, the couple now find themselves enjoying sunsets in Puerto Rico where they currently reside
Soler had been diagnosed with Huntington’s disease in 2016 after Dreikorn’s noticed what he thought might be a mental health issue
The unexpected illness changed their life path
“At that time we’d been together 13, maybe even 15
Beacon
of
Hope’s
15th annual Holiday House Dec. 6-8
By PAULETTE LeBLANC pleblanc@breezenewspapers com
This year’s Holiday House fundraiser event is going to be at the Historic Tarpon Lodge, once again This three-day event will take place on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, Dec 6-8 It is $15 per person (free for kids) and includes appetizers and musical entertainment There will also be a cash bar
According to Beacon board member Elsie Stearns, it promises to be a wonderful night out, where guests can stroll the lodge grounds and do some holiday shopping, while supporting Pine Islands Beacon of Hope
Santa and Mrs Claus are roles filled again by EV and wife, Margie Goodwyn, Stearns said
“Santa and Mrs Claus will be at the event every day and available for
photo-ops,” Stearns said There will be live music each night, she said, with singers and steel drum music, a wine sampling, which will be available for purchase and an array of new vendors The tree-top auction and raffle table will be available, filled with donations from each Holiday House vendor which are then raffles off to a lucky winner
years. She went to see a psychiatrist, who referred her to a neurologist He took one look at her and the disease manifests, not only in behavior, but you start to look a little different, you have jerking movements in your body, your eyes start to wander a little bit He took a look at her and said, we have to do a DNA test,“ Dreikorn said
The DNA test was to assess whether she carried the gene for Huntington’s disease Her mother had died of the disease and there is a 50% chance of inheriting it from a parent, he said.
Months went by with no change in her behavior
When Dreikorn asked about it, Soler con-
See DREIKORN, page 19
See HOLIDAY HOUSE, page 20 PHOTO
The Greater Pine Island Chamber of Commerce hosting its fourth annual wall sculpture auction, “Adopt a Dolphin,” this Sunday, Nov 17, from 4-7 p m The event will be held at the Tarpon Lodge, in the shade at Island House, at 13771 Waterfront Drive, in Pineland
This lovely outdoor setting will set the tone for a fun casual time
The bar will be open and a lighter fare menu offered Bob Mueller will provide some entertainment
Starting at 4 p m there will be time to see and enjoy the 22 dolphin sculptures on display Make sure to arrive early, as the chamber will have a free Wicked Dolphin cocktail for you to enjoy as well as free door prizes being given away before 5 p m Thanks to Matlacha on Shoreview for providing a two-night stay giveaway, valued at over $500, and a Wicked Dolphin gift basket
At 5 p m , island resident auctioneer Isacc Holeva will take the microphone and start things rolling.
The chamber thanks the 20 island businesses that have sponsored wall sculptures Each business sponsored a blank template of the dolphin and then organized a local artist to produce the masterpiece
Prior to the event, the dolphin can be viewed on
20
Darlene Soler
Little Pine Island Bridge work continues; expect traffic delays
report was prepared by the Florida
D
inform the public about upcoming road work in Southwest Florida Pine Island Road Causeway and Bridge Permanent Repairs:
Construction project: 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
∫ Phase 1 of construction on Little Pine Island Bridge has begun The bridge is reduced to one lane as part of the Phase 1 construction plan The bridge will remain one lane through the duration of Phase 1 Temporary signals are
placed on both ends of the bridge and variable message signs are in place to alert drivers
∫ The Little Pine Island bridge has been reduced to a single lane width of 12 feet through the duration of Phase
1
∫ Motorists can expect occasional lane closures on the causeway for delivery/removal of materials, transfer of equipment as crews perform work on the south side
∫ Motorists are reminded not to block driveways or entrances and to follow all posted signage throughout the construction zone
∫ Since the start of construction with the Little Pine Island Bridge, boaters are asked to be aware of construction equipment and erosion control measures that are in
Lee County to host temporary permitting office for Fort Myers Shores, Olga and Alva residents
Additional Pine Island temporary permitting hours also continue
temporary, remote permitting office to serve residents from Fort Myers Shores, Olga and Alva
The office will be open:
∫ 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 16, at the Olga Community Center, 2325 S Olga Drive
These temporary offices have proved successful in assisting residents in unincorporated Lee County to
office on Pine Island will be open:
∫ 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., for two more consecutive Fridays, Nov 15 and Nov 22, at the Pine Island Public Library, 10701 Russell Road, Bokeelia
See PERMITTING OFFICE, page 16
place
∫ Please be alerted to construction equipment in the construction zone To maintain safety, motorists should find alternate parking areas
∫ Pedestrians and bicyclists are not permitted within the construction zone
∫ Please use caution and watch for workers and construction vehicles entering and exiting the roadway
∫ Noise from construction equipment in the area is to be expected
Please be patient and plan for additional travel time as it may be slower than usual in the area
Travelers can visit www FL511 com or dial “511” from their phone to learn about traffic conditions on major roadways across the state
For additional information about FDOT, please visit its website at https://www fdot gov/
GPIA seeks funding for lunches for volunteers working on
f r o m t h i s h a r d w o r k a t a l o c a l r e s t a ur a n t w h e r
n a i r c o n d i t i o n i n g i s g r e a t l y a p p r e c i a
v a t e d o n a t i o n s , G P I A h a s b e e n p r o v i d -
i n g l u n c h f o r t h e v o l u n t e e r s T o h e l p
s u p p o r t l o c a l b u s i n e s s e s , t h e f u n d s a r e
g o i n g d i r e c t l y t o P i n e I s l a n d r e s t a ur a n t s G P I A w o u l d l i k e t o c o n t i n u e t o
t h a n k t h e v o l u n t e e r s i n t h i s w a y b u t
n e e d s a d d i t i o n a l f u n d s t o d o s o
“ T h e s e o u t s t a n d i n g v o l u n t e e r s a r e
t a k i n g t h e i r t i m e a n d u t i l i z i n g p e r s o n a l
r e s o u r c e s t o a i d i n t h e r e c o v e r y o f t h e
i s l a n d T h e f e l l o w s h i p o f t a k i n g a b r e a k
oPinions
Publisher Raymond M Eckenrode reckenrode@breezenewspapers com
Executive Editor
Valarie Harring
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Editor Paulette LeBlanc pleblanc@breezenewspapers com
Advertising Director
Laurie Ragle
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Obituaries Debbie
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Classified
District policies align with Florida’s Fairness in Women’s Sports Act
As a School Board Member for the School District of Lee County, I’m grateful to connect with you to address questions, share updates, and celebrate the many accomplishm
n t s o f o u r D
c t O n e topic that comes up frequently is our policies regarding student athletics, including questions about team participation and facility use
T h e c o n v e r s a
o n
u n d transgender athletes in school sports is ongoing, and we recognize that this is a complex and sensitive topic that affects students, families, and communities in meaningful ways In Lee County, our District’s p o l i c i e
Commentary
law, specifically the Florida Fairness in Women’s Sports
been in place here for three
designed to create and maintain equitable athletic opportunities, outlining guidelines that our District follows U
teams and use locker room
their biological sex as designated at birth. This means that
who identify as female but were assigned male at birth are currently not permitted to p a r t i c
teams
The objective of SB 1028 is to ensure that female athletes can showcase their talents, strength, and dedication in a competitive environment that supports them It also aims to create opportunities for these athletes to gain recognition, earn college scholarships, and benefit from the physical and personal growth that athletics offers While perspectives on this topic can vary, there are many community members that support this policy, believing it helps preserve fair competition
Our commitment as a School District is to follow all state laws while fostering an inclusive environment where all students feel valued and respected. We know that each student brings unique strengths to our schools, and we continue to seek ways to support everyone’s well-being and growth
Armor Persons represents District 5 on the Lee County School Board
Veterans: Relieve stress, inform family about VA benefits
More than 6 million Americans receive
including disability compensation, education benefits, caregiver assistance, burial benefits and more It is critical for spouses and caregivers to know how veterans benefits are accessed and what could happen when or if a veteran dies
Consider this scenario A veteran has not told his spouse much about his veteran’s benefits The veteran dies suddenly His spouse grieves and plans a funeral, which she pays for out of pocket The $2,500 tax-free payment from the VA for her husband’s disability compensation has stopped being deposited into their bank account, which her spouse managed Now she struggles to meet her expenses and is afraid she will have to sell their home
Ultimately, she realizes she must connect
Web Poll
Facing bullying head-on
To the editor:
Bullying can be a relentless force that chips away at a person’s confidence and sense of safety, especially in close-knit communities In many cases, people expect targets to ignore the bullying or take the high road, but sometimes standing up to a bully means mirroring their aggression to reclaim respect This isn't about stooping to their level, but rather showing that you won’t be
with the VA to try to access
g h th e bureaucracy, she struggles to understand what she may be eligible for and knows little about what her husband was receiving This can be overwhelming during the best of times, but during this period of loss, it adds more stress
offer to help them with VA benefits in return for payment Faced with what feels like an
some agree, even though paying for help is not necessary as
Paul R. Lawrence
pushed around By matching their intensity without crossing into harmful behavior yourself you can effectively draw a line, making it clear that you won’t be an easy target It’s not about revenge; it’s about breaking the cycle of intimidation and demanding respect
In tight-knit communities like ours, where reputations and bonds run deep, bullying can take on an even more insidious form. Petty jealousies and grudges can quickly escalate, and the true spirit of looking out for one
many free resources are available to assist them
Here are some tips to help veterans prevent this types of scenario from befalling their loved ones.
∫ Organize veterans benefits paperwork and information in a binder, and/or in a special digital folder that you s h
y Carefully organize all the docu
military service, your application for benefits, and the decision letters describing service c o n n e c t i o n S t o r e p a p e r copies in a fireproof cabinet
See VETERANS, page 5
another can be overshadowed by those who seek to tear others down But islanders and especially our veteran community know better Our veterans understand the fight for respect and dignity; they’ve stood on the front lines, knowing that true strength c o m e s f
n
n e another rather than tearing each other down Our veterans continue fighting the good fight right here at home, bringing that same courage and commitment to our local community Just as they protected us all, they stand up against bullying and division They know that real strength doesn’t come from belittling others but from lifting each other up, standing firm and preserving the values that make our community strong: loyalty, resilience and the courage to protect one another By facing bullying head-on and holding the line, we honor the sacrifices of our veterans and keep the heart of our community intact, defending our unity against anyone who tries to disrupt it
Armor Persons Guest
Calusa Waterkeeper receives National Nonprofit of the Year award
Calusa Waterkeeper, a champion for clean water in Southwest Florida for nearly three decades, has been recognized as the 2024 Cox Conserves Heroes 2nd Place Nonprofit of the Year Winner This award reflects dedication of an organization committed to protecting and restoring our precious waterways
"We are deeply honored to receive this recognition from the Cox Conserves Heroes program,” said Connie R
W
Waterkeeper
“It reflects not only our commitment to clean water but also the dedication of our volunteers and community members who stand with us in this vital mission Together, we are building a sustainable future for Southwest Florida, ensuring that everyone can enjoy clean, healthy and abundant water for generations to come
Veterans
From page 4
or safe It is ideal to scan or photograph paper documentation and to also store it digitally on a computer or thumb drive
∫ Explain your current veterans benefits to your family Schedule a day and time to talk one-on-one with your family about the benefits you receive Get out your binder and digital files and explain to them how the information is organized Help them understand the situation as it is today.
∫ Discuss what happens to these benefits after you die and what additional
strides in its mission, conducting over 384 water quality tests across its expansive 1,000 square miles of waterways The organization also recycled 8,000 oyster shells- preventing them from going into landfills and created 200 vertical oyster restoration gardens to filter water and nurture marine life
Calusa Waterkeeper’s advocacy impacted over 60 water quality issues, both locally and nationally, show-
health
The Cox Conserves Heroes program is part of Cox Enterprises' broader sustainability initiative, celebrating the incredible work of volunteers and nonprofits that strive to create a healthier planet.
“We were among good company and would like to congratulate Keep Oklahoma Beautiful who came in first place and Wildlands Restoration Volunteers of
Disability compensation payments stop after a veteran dies Additional survivor and burial benefits may be available after a veteran’s passing You can learn more by checking online at VA gov or with a veterans service officer (VSO)
∫ Plan ahead for possible financial shortfalls Even if a survivor benefit is awarded to a widow or widower by the VA, the payment for this benefit will typically be lower than the disability comp e
Colorado who came in third place for the 2024 Cox Conserves Heroes Nonprofit of the Year Award,” said Ramos-Williams
About Calusa Waterkeeper
Founded in 1995, Calusa Waterkeeper Inc is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the protection, preservation and restoration of the Caloosahatchee River and its watershed CWK’s jurisdiction covers four counties in Southwest Florida and encompasses 1,000 square miles of waterways Through advocacy, education, community engagement, legislation and science-based programs and research, Calusa Waterkeeper strives to ensure clean water for current and future generations that is drinkable, fishable, and swimmable For more information about Calusa Waterkeeper visit calusawaterkeeper org or call 239-899-1440
alive One way to address this income shortfall before the veteran dies is to purchase life insurance that will provide additional income for the spouse
∫ Give your family contact information for your VSO Ideally, your spouse should be introduced to the VSO, so the spouse knows who can assist with applying for survivor and burial benefits after the veteran dies
tough for many, they can better inform and relieve stress for our families in the
future You want for the people you love to be taken care of after you are gone, so do not delay having these conversations
Paul R Lawrence, Ph D , served as Under Secretary for Benefits at the U S D e p a
m 2018-21 For more information, visit https://www va gov/ He is the author of “Veterans Benefits for You: Get what You Deserve.”
Dolphin party pre-Hurricane Rafael
I was on a charter Tuesday, Nov 5, and our bottlenose dolphin were everywhere A lot of socializing going on, AKA, mating Very active pods converging together
Hurricane Rafael was set to be about 200 miles offshore Wednesday evening, Nov 6
It was expected to bring some wind and much needed rain, but I don’t think the dolphins will need to move offshore They will find shelter in Pine Island Sound and continue their mating activity
Mating activity is fun for the dolphins They chase each other, head butt each other, as well as scratch each other with their teeth (That might hurt!) I often see the rake marks on the dolphins from the scratching activity.
The actual mating is quick ,lasting a
Cathy Eagle Dolphin Tales
few seconds and then the male is off to the next mate Dolphins are clearly polygamous! There is much going on under the water but you can clearly tell what’s happening above the water if you wait and watch for the signs. Wait and watch.
As the males reach sexual maturity, the small alliances of 2-3 males will join forces with other small alliances to form up to 14 members who help each other find females to herd and mate with. They may even steal females from other male alliances As well, if other alliances try to steal your females, the other males on your team will come in and help you But females will also join in to protect other females and their young!
Male dolphins use physical displays to attract the attention of females They can
Friends of Pine Island Library
program with Zan Lombardo
Nov. 19
P i n e I s l a n d a r t i s t Z a n L o m b a r d o i s
b e s t k n o w n f o r p a i n t i n g w a t e r c o l o r s c r o l l s u p t o 3 0 f e e t i n l e n g t h S h e i s
t h e d a u g h t e r a n d g r a n d d a u g h t e r o f a w a r d - w i n n i n g s t o r y t e l l e r s S h e
s h a r e s h e r p a i n t i n g s a n d t h e s t o r i e s , p o e m s a n d s o n g s t h a t g o w i t h t h e m .
H e a r h e r s t o r y f i r s t h a n d ( s h e i s a l s o
b r i n g i n g h e r l a t e s t - C r y s t a l C a v e
T h e F r i e n d s o f T h e P i n e I s l a n d
L i b r a r y i s a n o n - p r o f i t , v o l u n t e e r o r g a n i z a t i o n d e d i c a t e d t o p r o v i d i n g s u p p o r t f o r t h e s e r v i c e s a n d r e s o u r c e s o f t h e l i b r a r y T h e o r g a n i z a t i o n v i g o ro u s l y p u r s u e s a p r o g r a m t o d e v e l o p c o m m u n i t y a w a r e n e s s a n d s u p p o r t f o r t h e P i n e I s l a n d L i b r a
be seen exhibiting behavior such as the “rooster strut” where male bottlenose dolphins arch their head and bob up and down above the surface near a female I saw multiple males posturing this behavior yesterday
Females tend to reach sexual maturity at age 5 to 11, and males at age 7 to 14. Bottlenose dolphins can live up to 60 years in the wild
After observing the dolphin behavior on my tour, several swam up to my boat They clearly wanted to ride in the wake I am very vigilant not to be aggressive with my dolphin friends. I prefer to educate. When they engage me, I provide a nice wake that provides fun, exfoliation and a free ride
Captain Cathy Eagle has spent over 40 years boating on our local waters As a professional charter captain, s
CaptainCathy.com or call /text 239 994-2572. Welcome aboard!
Bridge at Fishers of Men Lutheran Church every Wednesday
10360 Stringfellow Road, Saint James
Anyone wishing to play, who likes the challenge is welcome and does not need a partner It costs three dollars to play, some of which goes back to winners of the
1st place, Kathy Brown, 2nd place, and George Fenyohazi, third place
SJCCA Update
Thursday, Nov. 1 4
∫ Ping Pong, 9-11 a m Fun way to meet the neighbors and play ping pong
∫ MahJongg, 1 - 4 p m T h i s i s a great place to learn to play Mahjongg!
Tuesday, Nov. 1 9
∫ Ping Pong, 9-11 a m Thursday, Nov 1 4
∫ Ping Pong, 9-11 a m
∫ MahJongg, 1-4 p m
Additional details, contacts and ticket sales are available on the SJCCA website at SJCCAPI ORG
All activities are held at St James City Civic Association, which is located at 3300 Fourth Ave , at the corner of Lemon Street, in St James City
Republican incumbents sweep county, state races
By MEGHAN BRADBURY news@breezenewspapers com
In county and state races across Lee County, it was a red sweep on Nov 5 as the two-to-one voter registration held by Republicans was evident in nearly all countywide races County voters overwhelmingly returned Lee County S h e r i f f C
M
Election, as well as two Lee County commissioners.
Marceno recorded 90 62% of the vote, despite a write-in challenge from former Lee County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Michael Hollow Hollow had challenged the ethics of a contract Marceno engaged in with a social media consultant, among other allegations Marceno has denied any impropriety
Republican David Mulicka handily won election to the Lee County Board of County Commissioners for District 3 with 96 40% of the vote over write-in candidate Jake Cataldo Mulicka, owner of Honc Destruction
and husband of state Rep. Jenna Persons-Mulicka, won the Republican primary in August over Matt Thornton
Incumbent Lee County District 5 Commissioner Mike Greenwell defeated Democrat Kizzie Fowler by garnering 65 92% of the vote In the Primary Election, Greenwell won a tight challenge against Republican challenger Amanda Cochran
Jonathan Martin, who represents Sanibel and Captiva and most of Lee County for District 33, coasted to victory over Democrat Christopher Proia with 66 04% of the vote
Incumbent Republican Rep. Adam Botana, who rep-
Springs, easily won re-election to keep his District 80 seat over Democrat Michel Schlayer with 68 51% of the vote
At the federal level, incumbent Republican U S Sen Rick Scott held onto his seat with 66 24% of the vote in
Lee County and 55.61% statewide. He faced several
Powell, Libertarian Feena Bonoan, and Tuan TQ Nguyen and Ben Everidge, both of no party affiliation
Incumbent Republican Congressman Byron Donalds, who represents most of Lee and Collier counties for District 19, cruised to victory over Democrat challenger Karie Lerner He garnered 65 57% of the vote in Lee County and 66 33% in his district
In a statement on his victory, Donalds said, “Serving
Congress has been the greatest honor of my life Thank you to the people of Collier County and Lee County for entrusting me with two more years as your representative Our national needs real leadership, our federal government needs reform, and the American people deserve leaders that will put them first ” Elections results are unofficial until certified
Chaviano readies to address teacher, parent concerns
B y M E G H A N B R A D B U RY
n e w s @ b r e e z e n e w s p a p e r s c o m
H e r f i r s t t i m e e n t e r i n g t h e p o l i t i c a l a r e n a , C a p e C o r a l r e s i d e n t V a n e s s a
C h a v i a n o w a s e l e c t e d t o t h e D i s t r i c t 7
s e a t o n t h e L e e C o u n t y S c h o o l B o a r d i n
t h e G e n e r a l E l e c t i o n o n N o v 5
C h a v i a n o r e c e i v e d 2 0 7 , 1 7 9 v o t e s , o r
6 9 1 2 % , w h i l e h e r o p p o n e n t S h e r i d a n
C h e s t e r r e c e i v e d 9 2 , 5 5 8 v o t e s , o r
3 0 8 8 % , i n t h e G e n e r a l E l e c t i o n
S h e s a i d s h e w a s s t i l l p r o c e s s i n g t h e
v i c t o r y o n N o v 6
“ I a m g r a t e f u l a n d h o n o r e d I t ’ s m y
f i r s t t i m e r u n n i n g a s a c a n d i d a t e , g e t t i n g
i n t o t h e p o l i t i c a l a r e n a , ” C h a v i a n o s a i d , a d d i n g t h a t s h e h a s b e e n a p a r t o f t h e c o m m u n i t y v o l u n t e e r i n g a n d c o a c h i n g f o r a l o n g t i m e “ I t ’ s n i c e t o s e e t h a t s u p -
p o r t ”
S h e s a i d s h e g r e a t l y a p p r e c i a t e s
e v e r y o n e w h o s u p p o r t e d h e r C h a v i a n o
w a n t s t h e v o t e r s t o u n d e r s t a n d s h e i s a
v o i c e t o u n d e r s t a n d w h a t i s h a p p e n i n g i n
t h e s c h o o l s “ W e c a n ’ t f i x w h a t w e d o n ’ t k n o w , ”
s h e s a i d “ W e a r e t h e r e t o s e t p o l i c y , w o r k w i t h a n e l e c t e d s u p e r i n t e n d e n t ,
w h i c h i s a n a d m i n i s t r a t i v e f u n c t i o n ”
C h a v i a n o s a i d i t i s a b o u t m a k i n g t h e
b e s t S c h o o l D i s t r i c t o f L e e C o u n t y , w h e r e s t u d e n t s , f a m i l i e s a n d t e a c h e r s
a r e h a p p y a n d p r o u d “ I w i l l b e w o r k i n g w i t h t h e b o a r d a n d
t h e n o w e l e c t e d s u p e r i n t e n d e n t a n d
c o m m u n i c a t e a n d c r e a t e t r a n s p a r e n c y
a n d m a k e s u r e w e a r e a l l o n t h e s a m e
p a g e , ” s h e s a i d T h e D i s t r i c t 7 a t - l a r g e a n d n o n - p a r t i -
s a n s e a t p r o v i d e s a l l v o t e r s c o u n t y w i d e
w i t h t h e o p p o r t u n i t y t o c a s t a b a l l o t
C a t h l e e n O ’ D a n i e l M o r g a n , w h o h a s
s e r v e d i n t h e s e a t s i n c e 2 0 1 2 , d i d n o t
s e e k r e - e l e c t i o n
C h a v i a n o , 4 0 , a 2 5 - y e a r r e s i d e n t o f
L e e C o u n t y , i s i n m a r k e t i n g o p e r a t i o n s a t L I V D i g i t a l M a r k e t i n g S h e h a s a
b a c h e l o r ’ s d e g r e e i n c r i m i n a l j u s t i c e a n d
c r i m i n a l f o r e n s i c s a n d a m a s t e r ’ s d e g r e e i n c r i m i n a l f o r e n s i c s , b e h a v i o r a l a n a l ys i s , a n d b u s i n e s s a d m i n i s t r a t i o n T h e r e a r e m a n y i s s u e s o n h e r r a d a r t o t a c k l e o n c e s h e i s s w o r n i n t o o f f i c e o n N o v 1 9 “ O u r t e a c h e r p a y , r e c r u i t m e n t i s h u g e , ” C h a v i a n o s a i d “ W e a r e l o s i n g g r e a t t e a c h e r s i n o u r d i s t r i c t t o o u r s i s t e r d i s t r i c t s n o r t h a n d s o u t h b e c a u s e o f p a y ” W i t h t h a t i m p r o v e m e n t , s h e s a i d i t w i l l h e l p i m p r o v e s t u d e n t a c h i e v e m e n t
I t w i l l h e l p i n c r e a s e t h e i r r a n k i n g a m o n g
l a r g e d i s t r i c t s i n F l o r i d a
Vanessa Chaviano
“Our teacher pay, recruitment is huge. We are losing great teachers in our district to our sister districts north and south because of pay ”
“ T h e g o a l i s t o b e t h e r e a t t h e t o p , ” C h a v i a n o s a i d , a d d i n g t h a t w h e n t h e y f o c u s o n t e a c h e r a n d s t a f f p a y i t w i l l p u t t h e r i g h t t e a c h e r s i n t h e c l a s s r o o m
A n o t h e r i s s u e i s c h a m p i o n i n g t h e d i st r i c t ’ s c a r e e r a n d t r a d e s c h o o l s “ W e n e e d t o i n v e s t i n o u r w o r k f o r c e h e r e C a p e C o r a l w a s o r i g i n a l l y a r e t i r e -
m e n t c o m m u n i t y W e a r e s e e i n g t h a t d e m o g r a p h i c c h a n g e n o w . T h i s c i t y h a s g r o w n s o m u c h a f t e r C O V I D , ” s h e s a i d , a d d i n g t h a t t h e r e a r e m u l t i p l e p a t h s o f
s u c c e s s t h a t a r e n o t n e c e s s a r i l y c o l l e g e “ W e h a v e t h r e e v o c a t i o n a l s c h o o l s h e r e t o c h a m p i o n o u r t r a d e s ” T h e r e a r e m u l t i p l e p o s s i b i l i t i e s ,
C h a v i a n o s a i d o f H V A C , p l u m b i n g a n d e l e c t r i c a l “ W i t h o u t t h o s e t h i n g s w e w o u l d b e
c a m p i n g I t i s c r u c i a l a n d i t i s v e r y i m p o r t a n t T h e y a r e v e r y w e l l - p a i d
t r a d e s t h a t a r e m u c h n e e d e d . T h e r e i s s o m u c h h e r e i n L e e C o u n t y t o i n v e s t i n t h e m ( s t u d e n t s ) h e r e a n d c o n t i n u e t o k e e p g r o w i n g o u r c i t y a n d o u r c o u n t y m o v i n g f o r w a r d , ” s h e s a i d T h e c o n c e r n s C h a v i a n o h e a r d o n t h e c a m p a i g n t r a i l i n c l u d e d t e a c h e r p a y , b e h a v i o r a n d d i s c i p l i n e , a n d b r i n g i n g p a r e n t s b a c k i n t o t h e f o l d “ T h e f i r s t t e a c h e r i n t h e c h i l d ’ s l i f e i s t h e p a r e n t g u i d i n g a n d c r e a t i n g a f o u nd a t i o n T i m e s h a v e c h a n g e d p a r e n t s a r e w o r k i n g i f n o t o n e , b u t m u l t i p l e j o b s , ” s h e s a i d a d d i n g t h e p a r e n t
p a r e n t “ S o m u c h d i f f e r e n t i s g o i n g o n a n d w e n e e d t o b r i n g t h e m b a c k i n t o t h e m i x , s o t h e c h i l d c a n b e t h e b e s t t h e y c a n
b e ”
C h a v i a n o e n c o u r a g e s p a r e n t s a n d
g u a r d i a n s t o u s e t h e d i s t r i c t a s a
r e s o u r c e , a s t h e y w a n t s t u d e n t s t o b e
s u c c e s s f u l . “ T h e y a r e s u p p o r t e d , a n d L e e C o u n t y i s a g r e a t p l a c e t o b e W e a r e n o l o n g e r
a s l e e p y t o w n , ” s h e s a i d , a d d i n g t h a t
t h e r e a r e o p p o r t u n i t i e s o n t h e h o r i z o n
C h a v i a n o i s a n a p p o i n t e d m e m b e r f o r
t h e s i t e s e c t i o n c o m m i t t e e , a s w e l l a s f o r
t h e e q u i t y a n d d i v e r s i t y a d v i s o r y c o m -
m i t t e e f o r t h e s c h o o l d i s t r i c t S h e i s a
b o a r d m e m b e r a n d m e m b e r o f t h e g o v -
e r n m e n t a f f a i r s c o m m i t t e e f o r t h e C a p e
C o r
a c o a c h f o r P o p W a r n e r Y o u t h F o o t b a l l Y o u
School superintendent, long-tenured board members, thanked
By MEGHAN BRADBURY news@breezenewspapers com
Two Lee County School Board members and the interim superintendent were thanked for their services Wednesday, their last board meeting
“I am honored to recognize Dr Ken Savage for his exceptional commitment and willingness to serve as the interim superintendent for the second time He has a passion for data analytics and took a deep dive into historical academic performance spanning a decade (He saw that) transformative changes were needed to ensure academic outcomes that were more aligned with a world class school system It was not easy, or universally
n i f e r C u p i dMcCoy said, adding that “prioritizing the needs of our students was paramount ”
Savage said he has been an administrator for almost 20 years now with almost all of that time spent in the School District of Lee County To have the opportunity to serve in the superintendent role is his greatest professional privilege that he could ever imagine, he added
“When you see this system through a lens of how critical it is for the entire community you impact the daily lives of so many people. It is an incredible privilege and humbling every single day,” Savage said
He said he got to be the chief ambassador for a lot of people that work so very hard to try to help serve the community
“I will never be able to thank them enough It’s an honor so grateful for all my colleagues past and present What an opportunity it has been to serve this board, to work with you,” Savage said
District 7 school board member Cathleen Morgan and District 3 board member Chris Patricca were also honored for the time they dedicated to the district on the board.
Morgan served on the board for 12 years She was first elected in November 2012
“While I won’t miss my seat, I won’t,” she said laugh-
ing “I will miss the opportunities I have had to connect, collaborate, and strategize with district employees and community members I love to work with people who care and feel as passionately as I for high quality education for all as it is more critical than ever,” she said Wednesday night “It has been an enormous pleasure to learn and grow beside you ”
Morgan said the district has hardworking and dedicated individuals
“I see children thriving The people doing the work for growing students for life and work after school are my heroes,” she said “You cannot begin to imagine the respect I have for each one of you bus drivers, cafeteria workers, custodians, teachers, support staff and school leaders I will miss conversations about the important work I am profoundly grateful for the chance to work with you a privilege and honor I will always cherish ”
Patricca served on the board for eight years She was first elected in November 2016
“This is meant to be a fond farewell It is time for me to say goodbye,” she said “The first two years on this board were by far and hands down were the best The last two were a close second The middle four were character building Thankfully, an election brought in a new level of professionalism.”
The best part of being a board member, she said, was the people
“In every single corner of this county, we have staff that puts other people in front of themselves every day,” Patricca said
Superintendent-elect Denise Carlin, newly elected board members Vanessa Chaviano and Bill Ribble, as well as Melissa Giovanneli, who was re-elected for another term, will be sworn in at 3 p m Tuesday, Nov 19
Chris Patricca
Dr. Ken Savage
Cathleen Morgan
Carlin excited about school superintendent win
By MEGHAN BRADBURY
W i t h n e a r l y 7 0 % o f t h e v o t e e a r n e d T u e s d a y n i g h t ,
D e n i
t h e 1 9 7 0 s o n N o v 1 9
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o p p o n e n t , D e m o c r a t V i c t o r A r i a s , r e c e i v e
C a r l i n s a i d i t i s v e r y e x c i
S c h o o l D i s t r i c t o f L e e C o u n t y ; i t ’ s l i k e s h e i s g o i n g
h o m e “ I h a v e w o r k e d w i t h s o m a n y o f o u r t e a m m e m b e r s
h e r e a r e c e r t a i
a c q u a i n t e d w i t h , ” s h e s a i d “ I h a v e h a d g r
g a m e o n , g e t t o w o r k a n d g e t t h e p a r t y s t a r t e d . ” C a r l i n , 5 7 , a L e e C o u n t y r e s i d e n t o f 5 5 y e a r s , w a s a f o r m e r e d u c a t o r f o r t h e L e e C o u n t y S c h o o l D i s t r i c t f o r
3 2 y e a r s a n d f o r m e r c h i e f o f s t a f f
C a r l i n h a s f i v e p r i o r i t i e s o n c e s h e t a k e s o f f i c e e n s u r e s a f e s c h o o l s f o r c h i l d r e n a n d s t a f f , i m p r o v e s t u -
d e n t a c h i e v e m e n t , i m p r o v e t e a c h e r r e t e n t i o n a n d r e c r u i t m e n t , f i s c a l r e s p o n s i b i l i t y , a n d e m p o w e r i n g p a r -
e n t s t o b e t r u e p a r t n e r s i n e d u c a t i o n
C a r l i n s a i d n o p a r e n t s h o u l d e v e r h a v e t o w o r r y a b o u t t h e i r c h i l d ’ s s a f e t y w h i l e t h e y a r e s c h o o l T h e y s h o u l d h a v e p e a c e o f m i n d w h i l e t h e y a r e a t s c h o o l
S h e s a i d s h e i s c o m m i t t e d t o f i s c a l r e s p o n s i b i l i t y
l e a r n i n g t o l i v e w i t h i n t h e b u d g e t “ W e a r e g o i n g t o l i v e l i k e w e d o w i t h o u r o w n p e r -
s o n a l b u d g e t , ” C a r l i n s a i d , a d d i n g t h a t t h e y a r e g o i n g t o t r e a t “ t a x p a y e r d o l l a r s a s p r e c i o u s ”
S h e s a i d e m p o w e r i n g p a r e n t s i s v i t a l , a s t h e y n e e d
t h e m a c t i v e l y e n g a g e d a n d i n v o l v e d
“ W e c a n ’ t d o t h i s j o b b y o u r s e l v e s W e n e e d p a r e n t s t h e y a r e t h e c h i l d ’ s f i r s t t e a c h e r I f w e e n g a g e t h e m ,
t h e i r c h i l d r e n a r e g o i n g t o b e s u c c e s s f u l , ” C a r l i n s a i d
S h e h e a r d m a n y t h i n g s o n t h e c a m p a i g n t r a i l f r o m
t h e v o t e r s
“ T h e y w e r e n o t s h y , t h a t w a s f o r s u r e , ” s h e s a i d .
“ W e h a d s o m e r e a l l y g r e a t c o n v e r s a t i o n s ”
T h e f i r s t t h i n g a h i g h - p e r f o r m i n g s c h o o l d i s t r i c t
w h e r e c h i l d r e n a r
f r o m h i g h s c h o o l , e q u i p p e d w i t h p r o
“We are not going to settle in Lee County. We are going to put a highquality teacher in front of every child We are going to improve those working conditions, so we don’t lose those teachers ”
i n
n
c
i n g c l a s s e s , w h i c h i s n o b o d y ’ s f a u l t “ W e a r e n o t g o i n g t o s e t t l e i n L e e C o u n t y . W e a r e g o i n g t o p u t a h i g h - q u a l i t y t e a c h e r i n f r o n t o f e v e r y c h i l d , ” s h e s a i d , s o t e a c h e r s c a n c a t c h a b r e a t h “ W e a r e g o i n g t o i m p r o v e t h o s e w o r k i n g c o n d i t i o n s , s o w e d o n ’ t
l o s e t h o s e t e a c h e r s ”
C a r l i n h a s m e t w i t h t e a c h e r s a f t e r s c h o o l , a n d d u r i n g
t h e s u m m e r t o h a v e a b e t t e r u n d e r s t a n d i n g o f w h y t e a c h e r s a r e l e a v i n g t h e p r o f e s s i o n T h o s e c o n v e r s a -
t i o n s r e s u l t e d i n t w o a n s w e r s : t e a c h e r p a y a n d e x t r a o r -
d i n a r y s t u d e n t b e h a v i o r c h a l l e n g e s i n t h e c l a s s r o o m
C a r l i n s a i d n o b o d y g e t s i n t o t h e t e a c h i n g p r o f e s s i o n t o b e r i c h b u t t h e y d o w a n t a s u s t a i n a b l e w a g e
“ W e a r e g o i n g t o h a v e a s e r i o u s c o n v e r s a t i o n a b o u t
o u r b u d g e t a n d g o l i n e b y l i n e t h r o u g h t h e b u d g e t t o
p u l s e o f w h a t i s o c c u r r i n g
C a r l i n s a i d i t
N o v e m b e r o f 2 0 2 2 T h e m e a s u r e , w h i c h w
f i n d m o n e y t o i m p r o v e t e a c h e r p a y , ” s h e s a i d “ T h a t i s v e r y i m p o r t a n t ” T h i s i s t h e f i r s t t h i n g s h e p l a n s t o t a c k l e o n c e s w o r n i n t o o f f i c e . A s f a r a s b e h a v i o r c h a l l e n g e s , C a r l i n s a i d i t i s i m p o rt a n t t o p r o v i d e m e n t a l h e a l t h t r a i n i n g o n h o w t o d e a l w i t h b e h
GPIWA accepting applications for Board of Director candidates
The Greater Pine Island Water Association is
Directors There are two “at large” positions and a one “Matlacha/Mainland” positions that are open To be considered as a candidate you must be a GPIWA customer Please email your name, address, cell phone number, and brief (half a page) resume to mikesm@pineislandwater com
Denise Carlin
School Board discusses modified student enrollment plan
By MEGHAN BRADBURY news@breezenewspapers
Wednesday for its first formal consideration
provided an update on th plan for the 2025-202 school year during the reading
The past two years have had sig nificant changes with proximity plans for elementary and middle school enrollment, she said T
Island Coast High School, which will now have a Florida Gulf Coast University collegiate program Island Coast will be a school choice for subzone three in the West Zone.
“They are going to have to rank it for the upcoming school year,” she said of the district’s school choice system
Bayshore, will have grade 7 for the 20252026 school year
“Bayshore will be available for middle school zone CC for sixth and seventh grade,” Ralph said “How we are going to do that is wait until after all current Bayshore fifth and sixth graders are preplaced for the upcoming school year. The seats left will be filled We will be able to set that capacity and let students in sub-
hool to rank in the East ubzone one
There are two changes for the South Zone, both if which involve Dunbar High School Ralph said they will be ranked in u b z o n e o n e
milies that live in sube three, or four can rank r High School and subver, which will eliminate transportation being provided.
Dunbar High School is an available option for a waiver for students residing in subzone three, and East Lee County High School is also an available option via a waiver for students residing in subzone one
Elementary School Ralph said they have taken those schools out of the rankings in the different zones.
F
schools by wavier by emailing studentenrollment@leeschools net
“We are enrolling upcoming kindergarten class, charter schools, or pre-K g
enrolling them right now so they will be ready for the choice applications that will open Jan 21 and run through Feb 28,” Ralph said
Lee School District awarded $450,000 grant from Sprouts Healthy Communities Foundation
By MEGHAN BRADBURY news@breezenewspapers com
Support continues to flood into the School District of Lee County, providing for gardens at school campuses across Lee County
The district recently was awarded a t h r e e - y e a r $ 4 5 0 , 0 0 0 g r a n t
Foundation
“ S
Foundation reached out to us They gave us, originally, a $25,000 grant around the time when the new store on College Parkway was opening,” Healthy Living Collaboration Chair Leisha Roy said
The money went towards a garden at Heights Elementary School, which has a student garden club.
“We did a full garden build for them
2
solar irrigation, six raised beds, a lot of different fruit trees ”
From there, communication continued with Sprouts to share what is happening in the district and what can be done to promote long-term sustainability
“We were all doing all this garden stuff in addition to our regular jobs,” Roy said “We were doing this like crazy no dedicated position from the district, just extra work ”
Long-term sustainability requires boots on the ground and additional manpower because the lack can quash even the most enthusiastic of efforts
“Then, whatever happens, the garden goes to the wayside, and it’s not sus-
tained,” Roy said “Our goal is to have our school gardens literally part of the school To maintain it just like you do your arts, academics It is a very important living classroom hands on stuff ”
All of this was shared with the foundation at a scheduled meeting
“I don’t know if we were expecting what they offered We are the only public school district that has ever been awarded a grant of this size $450,000 over a three-year period That money is dedicated to having a position at the district That i s a l l y o u d o H e a l t h y L i v i n g Collaboration from the time you start in
evening,” Roy said
This money will help the expansion, development and maintenance of school gardens
In the last two weeks three brand new g
Caloosa Middle School completed on Oct. 21, Paul Lawrence Dunbar Middle School completed on Oct 30, and Bonita Springs Middle Center for the Arts completed on Oct 23 Tortuga Elementary School also received a new garden
There are 80 gardens in the district, which range from butterfly and pollinator
where they are harvesting their crops and serving it in the cafeteria
E
teacher Susie Hassett said Monday they were on the Cape Coral High School cam-
See GRANT, page 11
Registration underway for 2025 Lee County Senior Games
m u s t b e
5 0 y e a r s o r o l d e r b y D e c 3 1 , 2 0 2 5 , a n d q u a l i f y i n g e v e n t t o p f i n i s h e r s w i l l b e e l i g i b l e t o c o m p e t e a t t h e
s t a t e l e v e l i n t h e 2 0 2 5 F l o r i d a S e n i o r G a m e s T h e g a m e s w i l l b e h e l d J a n 2 4 t h r o u g h M a r c h 9 w i t h e i g h t s p o r t s i n v a r i o
From page 10
pus helping the culinary class put together hydroponic towers and raised beds She spoke with students about different methods of container gardening that are beneficial and how to conserve water
“They hydroponic towers will grow 24 plants in a space that you could normally grow one It’s totally automated and on a solar panel. Part of the purpose is to get food into the cafeteria on student menus use the foods they are growing,” Hassett said of the herbs, vegetables, and fruit
Since Cape Coral has a few long-standing gardens, the schools have become mentors to other gardens across the county Island Coast High School the l a r g e s t g a r d e n i n t h e c o u n t y a n d Trafalgar Middle School have flourishing gardens
Island Coast High School has had its garden in its current location since 2008 It has raised beds, 200 different hydroponic towers and an aqua pond system to grow tilapia
Trafalgar Middle School has in-ground gardening, raised beds and hydroponic towers. Hassett said they provide food to Community Cooperative, as well as have a farm share where families can come and take home a bag of food They are also putting food into their cafeteria zuc-
c h i n i b r e a d , e g g p l a n t p i z z a , r a i n b o w glazed carrots, kale chips and collard greens
“They are pretty innovative It’s fun for the kids to eat what they have grown,” she said “Every kid in the s c h o o l g o e s t h r o u g h o n e semester of working in the garden, so they understand the process of how to grow food and where it comes from They tend to value the food and the waste is less because of that ” Gardens in Cape Coral schools include:
∫ Caloosa Elementary: Pocket refuge and containers
∫ C a p e E l e m e n t a r y : raised beds and containers
∫ G u l f E l e m e n t a r y : raised beds and permaculture, chickens
∫ H e c t o r C a f f e r a t a : raised beds and permaculture
∫ P a t r i o t : p o l l i n a t o r garden
∫ Pelican: raised beds
∫ Skyline: raised beds and pollinator gardens
∫ Trafalgar Elementary: raised beds
∫ C
hydroponic towers
∫ G
PHOTO PROVIDED
tainers, permaculture
∫ Mariner Middle: raised beds, containers
∫ Trafalgar Middle: in ground, hydroponic towers, raised beds, containers, permaculture
∫ Cape High: raised beds, hydroponic towers, permaculture
∫ Island Coast High: Hydroponics, aquaponics, raised beds, pollinators, permaculture
“There are a lot of different community partners involved in helping us be successful,” Roy said, adding they have a wait list for schools that wish to have a garden at their campus “We’ve had several schools that had full builds due to Rotary grants.”
Hassett said during COVID they start-
p l e t e e v e n t s c h e d u l e a n d a d d i t i o n a l i n f o r m a t i o n a b o u t t h e L e e C o u n t y S e n
When the schools shut down in March, all the schools with gardens still had food growing and plants ready to be planted
“We harvested the food and put it into
seedlings to grow at home We gave away 5,000 plants,” Hassett said
departments came together and started organizing school gardens as the vehicle to benefit all different aspects of student health and wellness.
Ding Darling Friends of Wildlife currently has the pocket refuge grants open, for which schools can apply until before Thanksgiving for a garden
Rafael disrupts fishing for a few days
Early to mid-week weather was unsettled as hurricane Rafael churned over Cuba and into gulf waters before heading west and a w
On the Water
o m u s M
i n g reports came late week and into the
tions Beach anglers
species including snook, sea trout, whiting, mackerel, jack crevalle,
B
d live shrimp, small red and white bucktail jigs, Berkley Gulp shrimp, and white Clouser flies
Fishing the morning falling tides, boats in Matlacha Pass, around the mouth of the Caloosahatchee River, and Pine Island Sound, south of Pineland hooked into snook, redfish, sea trout, jack crevalle, and sharks A steady bite came for many while working shorelines and oyster bars with wind and/or tide pushing water Baits included live and cut pinfish, shrimp, cut ladyfish, suspended twitch baits, and spoons in gold or silver
Sea trout up to twenty-two inches were caught drifting over four-to-six-foot grass flats in the Sound south of Cabbage Key and between Demere Key and Chino Island Baits included spoons, baby spooks, small pinfish, and shrimp under popping
With water cooling down Spanish mackerel are prowling the waters inshore and off the beaches This one was hooked in six foot of water in Charlotte Harbor near Bokeelia fishing with Captain Bill Russell
corks, and Z-man shad tails
It’s hard to believe into the second week of November we are still tracking tropical storms and hurricanes But here we are 2024 is a year with plenty of surprises Despite the many setbacks the year has delivered, fishing has remained good We j u s t n e e d c
weather.
If you have a fishing
SJCCA Mahjongg
Scores for 10/31/24
There were 12 players at Mahjongg on Oct 31 Thank you Paula for supplying us with Halloween candy!
Top scorers were Clem Moors with 125 points, Joyce Berber with 115 and Bonnie Kellen with 110
Scores for 11/7/24
There were 13 players at Mah Jongg on November 7th Welcome Sarah, visit-
ing from Miami
Peggy was the highest scorer with 115 points, Paula Bruckner and Jackie Mallory tied in second place, each with 105 points
If you would like to join, the group plays Mahjongg every Thursday from 1-4 pm at St James City Civic Center at 3300 Fourth Ave on the corner of Lemon and Fourth Streets For more information call Carolyn 239-233-7682
Capt Bill Russell
PHOTO PROVIDED
‘It’s Floriduh, Man’ hopes to see air time
Prospective television series highlighting odd-couple friendship now in production
B y C J H A D D A D
c j h a d d a d @ b r e e z e n e w s p a p e r s c o m
A n e w t e l e v i s i o n s e r i e s w i t h t h e h o p e s o f b e i n g
p i c k e d u p b y a m a j o r n e t w o r k o r s t r e a m i n g p l a t f o r m
t h a t d o t e s o n t h e c h a r m a n d u n i q u e n e s s o f t h e
S u n s h i n e S t a t e b e g a n s h o o t i n g l a s t w e e k i n S o u t h w e s t
F l o r i d a “ I t ’ s F l o r i d u h , M a n ” t o o k i t s f i r s t s t e p s i n C o l l i e r
C o u n t y o v e r l a s t w e e k e n d , p r e p a r i n g s c e n e s a n d a d v e r t i s e m e n t s f o r t h e c o m e d y s e r i e s d e v e l o p e d b y
W r i t e r / E x e c u t i v e P r o d u c e r J o h n S o k o l i c h
O t h e r t h a n t o p - b i l l e d c a s t , t h e s e r i e s i n c l u d e s l o c a l
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p r o v i d e s t a f f i n g , v e h i c l e s , a n d e v e n r e p t i l e s f o r t h e
f i l m i n g T h e s e r i e s i s d i r e c t e d a n d p r o d u c e d b y K a t
S o k o l i c h , w h o a l s o o w n s t h e p r o d u c t i o n c o m p a n y ,
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t a n t d i r e c t o r a n d e x e c u t i v e p r o d u c e r “ I t ’ s a b o u t f r i e n d s h i p , a n d a n o d d c o u p l e w i t h t h e
b a c k d r o p o f F l o r i d a a n d t h e c r a z y s t u f f t h a t h a p p e n s
d o w n h e r e , ” J o h n s a i d .
A c c o r d i n g t o t h e s e r i e s s y n o p s i s , R a y m o n d , a p o li s h e d p r o f e s s i o n a l , e n c o u n t e r s O s c a r , a d i s h e v e l e d
h i t c h h i k e r f r o m h i s p a s t , o n h i s w a y t o a h i g h s c h o o l
r e u n i o n T h e i r u n e x p e c t e d r e u n i o n s p i r a l s i n t o a
c o m e d i c a n d s u r r e a l a d v e n t u r e f i l l e d w i t h b i z a r r e
a n t i c s , a s O s c a r ’ s e r r a t i c b e h a v i o r c o n t r a s t s s h a r p l y w i t h R a y m o n d ’ s s t a b l e y e t u n r e m a r k a b l e l i f e
T h e c r e a t o r s s a y d e s p i t e i n i t i a l s k e p t i c i s m ,
R a y m o n d g r o w s t o a p p r e c i a t e O s c a r ’ s r e s i l i e n c e a n d k i n d n e s s , l e a d i n g t o a r e n e w e d , a l b e i t c h a o t i c , f r i e n ds h i p T h e s e r i e s s e t s a q u i r k y t o n e , b l e n d i n g c o m e d y
a n d d r a m a w h i l e h i n t i n g a t d e e p e r t h e m e s o f f r i e n d -
s h i p a n d r e d e m p t i o n a g a i n s t t h e e c c e n t r i c b a c k d r o p o f
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o f f e a c h o t h e r , b u t i t ' s c o m i c a l ”
J o h n m e t O s c a r C o s t a ( O s c a r ) a n d A b e l C e p e d a
( R a y m o n d ) o n a p r o j e c t K a t w a s w o r k i n g o n a n u m b e r
o f y e a r s a g o H e s a i d t h e d i f f e r e n c e s i n t h e t w o
s p a r k e d a n i d e a i n h i s m i n d
“ T h e s e g u y s w e r e l i k e t h e o d d c o u p l e , ” J o h n s a i d o f
C o s t a a n d C e p e d a . “ I t w a s l i k e a t y p i c a l F l o r i d a m a n
t a l k i n g t o a b u s i n e s s m a n , a n d t h a t ’ s r e a l l y w h e r e t h i s w h o l e t h i n g g o t i t s s t a r t I w a s l i k e , ‘ I ’ v e g o t t o w r i t e
s o m e t h i n g f o r t h e s e t w o ”
W h i l e t h e “ F l o r i d a M a n ” m o n i k e r h a s g a i n e d
n a t i o n w i d e r e c o g n i t i o n f o r d e b a u c h e r y a n d c r i m e ,
J o h n s a i d h i s v i s i o n f o r t h e s h o w w a s n ’ t n e c e s s a r i l y
t h a t “ I n O s c a r ’ s c a s e , h e ’ s j u s t a f u n - l o v i n g , e a s y - g o i n g g u y , w h o j u s t h a p p e n s t o h a v e t h i n g s h a p p e n t o h i m
b e c a u s e h e ’ s s o k i n d h e a r t e d , ” h e s a i d “ I t ’ s n o t l i k e
t h e ‘ c r a z y ’ F l o r i d a M a n , i t ’ s j u s t s o m e b a d d e c i s i o n s
w h i l e t r y i n g t o b e l o v a b l e a t t h e s a m e t i m e . ”
J o h n , K a t , a n d T a r a c a l l S o u t h w e s t F l o r i d a h o m e ,
a n d t h o u g h t i t w o u l d b e a g o o d p l a c e t o k i c k o f f t h e
PHOTO PROVIDED
Luka Hanlein (director of Photography), Kat Sokolich (director), Bubba the Alligator
s e r i e s a n d g a r n e r l o c a l i n t e r e s t “ W e w a n t p e o p l e t o s u p p o r t i t a n d g e t e x c i t e d , a n d w h a t b e t t e r p l a c e t h a n o u r b a c k y a r d ? ” J o h n s a i d “ T h e r e ’ s r e a l l y n o t h i n g t h a t I ’ v e s e e n i n a l l m y y e a r s l i v i n g h e r e o f a n y t h i n g l i k e t h i s h a p p e n i n g i n t h i s l o c a l a r e a , ” T a r a s a i d “ G e t t i n g l o c a l b u s i n e s s e s t o b e a p a r t o f i t i s s o m et h i n g w e w a n t t o d o I t h e l p s t h e m w h i l e t h e y ’ r e h e l p i n g u s ” A c o m m e r c i a l w a s s h o t t h i s p a s t w e e k e n d a s t h e
p r o j e c t ’ s p r o o f o f c o nc e p t , w i t h t h e n e x t s t e p s b e i n g f u n d r a i s i n g t o s h o o
h e p i l o t T h e r
a r e 1 0 e p i s o d e s w r i t t e n t h u s f a r f o r w h a t w o u l d b e t h e f i r s t s e a s o n o f t h e s h o w
A s f o r h o w t h e t r i o h o p e s t o s e e t h e c o m m un i t y g e t s b e h i n d t h e p r o je c t ?
“ W e ’ r e t r y i n g t o b e a u t h e n t i c w i t h t h i s , ” J o h n s a i d “ N o t t h e s e n s a t i o n -
a l i z e d h e a d l i n e s y o u s e e a l o t o f t i m e s w h e n i t c o m e s
t o F l o r i d a M a n “ T h i s s h o w i s a b o u t f r i e n d s h i p I t ’ s a b o u t g r o w i n g a n d g r o w i n g p a i n s a n d l i v i n g l i f e W e ’ r e h o p i n g t h a t r i n g s a b e l l h e r e l o c a l l y a n d s p r e a d s o u t ” K a t a d d e d t h a t m a n y s e r i e s a n d s h o w s o u t t h e r e
c u r r e n t l y s o r t o f p
i t h t h i s , w e w a n t p e o p l e t o h a v e p r i d e i n t h
c o m m u n i t y a r o u n d t h e m , ” s h e s a i d “ W e w a n t t o c o nv e y
t c
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t e ’ 2 5 o r e a r l y 2 0 2 6 “ W e ’ d r e a l l y l i k e t h i s w h o l e p r o j e c t t o n o t j u s t b e s o m e t h i n g t h a t w e ’ r e w o r k i n g o n , w e ’ d l i k e i t t o b e
s o m e t h i n g t h e c o m m u n i t y g e t s i n v o l v e d i n s o w e c a n a l l h e l p e a c h o t h e r , ” J o h n s a i d O n c e t h e c o m m e r c i a l i s i n t h e c a n , t h e g r o u p w i l l b e s h o p p i n g t h e s h o w
T h e L e e C o u n t y T a x C o l l e c t o r ' s
Office reported that 541,741 tax bills were mailed to property and business owners on Oct 31 Property owners who signed up to receive their bill electronically received their emailed notice on Nov 1
The bills reflect the value of the property as of Jan 1, when Florida law required them to be assessed
To make it easier for customers, the Lee County Tax Collector's Office has introduced two new payment options this year:
∫ Tax payment kiosks at all service
c e n t e r s , w h i c h e n a b l e c u s t o m e r s t o quickly pay their bills with a credit card or eCheck and print receipts without waiting in line
∫ Secure property tax payment drop boxes available 24/7 at the Downtown
a
S
Customers can drop off payments anytime, allow five business days for pro-
c
receipt
“Our mission is to deliver five-star service to our customers,” Lee County Tax Collector Noelle Branning said “These new resources not only save property owners time but also provide peace of mind with secure payment options ”
In addition to the new options, tax payments can still be made online at LeeTC com/pay-online, by mail, or over the phone
Tax payments are due by March 31, 2025, but customers can take advantage o f e a r l y p
4 %
n November, 3% in December, 2% in January, and 1% in February.
This year's tax collections are projected to exceed $2 4 billion before discounts, with all funds distributed to Lee County’s Levying Authorities to support essential services, like fire rescue, law enforcement, and vital infrastructure, including schools, roads, parks, and utilities
readily accessible to help residents navigate the permit process. The last customer sign-in for each location is at 2:30 p m
The county may add additional temporary, remote permitting offices in other unincorporated Lee County locations as
include Island Park, Captiva and Boca Grande
Residents must live in these areas to use the temporary locations Residents acting as their own contractor can submit permit applications, have them reviewed and – in some cases – issued from the remote office The applicants need their address, a description of the damage, estimated cost to repair, material cost documentation, and, if available, a floor plan
Hired contractors are asked to continue to use the existing electronic permitting process Residents seeking a full demolition or complete replacement of a
Department of Community Development permitting office at 1500 Monroe St., Fort Myers, FL 33091, for a permit
Lee County Government is reminding residents in unincorporated areas to pull permits for work on their homes to repair
Helene or Hurricane Milton
Any unincorporated Lee County residents or businesses within the Special Flood Hazard Area with any damage to t
water intrusion and all drywall repairs, m
Email FIRMinfo@leegov com for assis-
resources, and be sure to include the following information:
∫ Contact information
∫ Property address
∫ Type of damage
∫ Height of the water that entered the home
Residents also can find more information at www leegov com/dcd/BldPermit Serv/disaster-recovery Or they can call 239-533-8948
It is a priority of the Lee Board of County Commissioners following storm e v e n t s
impacted – and part of commissioners’ goal is to ensure residents understand the N a
requirements that permits are necessary for even minor repairs This is particularly critical for residents in the Special Flood Hazard Area, which encompasses
Pulling proper permits helps ensure the county’s compliance with NFIP, and that in turn ensures residents are afforded the benefits of the program such as eligibility for federal flood insurance and certain types of federal disaster aid
As of Nov 5, the county’s temporary sites have had a total of 264 sign-ins and 87 permits issued
For additional information and updates on any future temporary permit office locations, visit www leegov com/storm
To receive updates from Lee County Government, sign up for the newsletter
ters Follow Lee County Government on
Dreikorn From page 1
fessed she had been diagnosed with Huntington’s, but hadn’t told him because she feared losing him.
He told her she must be thinking he was a different man
Three months later they were married
“She can get all my military benefits she’s got the best care in the world,” Dreikorn said
For the next few years, life continued and they traveled the world, as they had always done, however, he saw her decline more and more on each adventure they shared, until, on a trip to Cancun, Dreikorn found himself rolling her around in a wheelchair.
Soler wanted more than anything to be with their friends and family, he said, trying to describe her zeal for life
“She refused to give up When there was dancing going on, she was still kind of able to stand up, so we would cradle her in our arms and dance with her,” Dreikorn said
Although Dreikorn admitted he had only changed one baby diaper in his life before handing his baby back to his wife, he now found himself changing six to eight diapers a day in addition to feeding and bathing Soler
Although he was unwaveringly committed keep the promise he’d made to his wife to see her through until the end of her days Huntington’s disease has symptoms he finds himself describing as aggressive
“When a Huntington’s patient goes through certain phases, it’s almost abusive Aggression comes out Strong aggression, as they are acting out,” Dreikorn said
When good help was not to be found, he reached out to Hope Hospice and Community Services, Inc After an evaluation and discussion as to whether they would admit her since her life expectancy from what ultimately is a terminal condition was then unknown, Soler was admitted
Dreikorn said Hospice told him something that resonated: “We are now your safety net If anything happens, you call us first We’ll be here to help you ”
After what the couple had been through, this came as quite a relief
“After feelings of helplessness and despair, all of a sudden I felt like I had a resolve God gave me a path forward through this organization called Hope Hospice,” Dreikorn said
He said their reality, though, was less than expected
Church of God of Prophecy turkey dinner Nov. 28
The Church of God of Prophecy will be having a turkey dinner Nov. 28. Dinner will be takeout only, no dine in The price is $10 per dinner turkey, mashed potatoes and gravy, corn or green beans, dinner roll and dessert
Turkey is fried in peanut oil Gluten free and baked chicken available upon request
Call your order in to 239283-2128 as soon as possible, quantities are limited Pick-up will be from 12:303 p m
The church is located at 15146 Stringfellow Road, Bokeelia
While Hospice provided some muchneeded equipment, including a bed and wheelchair and weekly nursing care, Dreikorn said the wheelchair first provided did not have an anti-tipping device or a seatbelt, which is necessary due to the involuntary bodily movements sometimes caused by Huntington’s disease
“So, Darlene had some falls She fell out of the wheelchair frequently I had to strap her into the wheelchair and I hated doing that, but it took literally 8 months for them to give me a seatbelt and anti-tipping devices for the chair Meanwhile, Darlene had bruises and scrapes and they didn’t care. That was frustrating, but it should have been an indicator The fact that they wouldn’t provide the equipment, when they knew Eventually, the only thing that worked was strapping her to the bed at night It was the only safe thing to do,” Dreikorn said
Dreikorn said he also sought out other resources to supplement care provided by Hospice anywhere and everywhere he could imagine including hiring “a revolving door of caregivers,” which did not work out as some stole her prescription drugs as well as her jewelry
“I ended up having to put Darlene into respite at Hope Hospice in 2021 They told me that her condition is not at a rate of decline that would allow them to keep her in the program It was a great surprise,” Dreikorn said
At the suggestion of Hope Hospice, Dreikorn kept Soler in the respite care facility through a business trip he had to take
While on the trip he received call from that Soler had fallen, but was OK. He said he was told that she had hurt her arm but he shouldn’t worry about it and that if anything else happened they would call him
Dreikorn said when he dropped Soler off at respite care, his wife walked in with his help When he picked her up five days later it was a very different story
“When I picked her up, she looked disheveled, like a street person hair hadn’t been combed, she was wearing only a diaper and her bed was full of blood,” Dreikorn said.
Dreikorn said he had to roll her out of that facility, as Soler could not walk from that
point on She was holding her arm and mumbling for the next three months and had an unexplained 45- pound weight loss, he said
Although he said he asked continuously what was happening with his wife, Dreikorn said he received no answers
“I said, she’s complaining about pain and losing all this weight and she’s still bleeding profusely, from an open wound on her elbow The nurse said, ‘That’s OK, we put special bandages and it’s part of the disease and the decline,’” Dreikorn said
By January 2022, he took note of a bulge in his wife’s arm that he demanded be Xrayed Hope Hospice brought a portable Xray to their home
A break was detected, an older one Dreikorn said had already begun to heal
At the advice of Hospice, Dreikorn took Soler to an orthopedic physician
She underwent surgery about a week later on Feb 9, and then a second surgery that March, which included a bone graft
That was when Dreikorn filed a lawsuit against Hope Hospice and Community Services, Inc. on Soler’s behalf, alleging negligence
On Oct 2, as Soler’s husband and power of attorney, he was awarded the final judge-
ment of $150,000, plus interest
Dreikorn said it was more than he wanted before filing the suit.
“Had they just said, sorry, I wouldn’t have done anything That would have gone a long way There was a complete denial that this happened on their watch They did not provide Darlene the dignity that she deserved,” Dreikorn said
He then decided this was the time to live his promise to head south, chase sunsets and be pirates, a plan had been delayed by the condition with her arm when they had hoped to be in Puerto Rico back in December 2021.
They made it back and are there now, enjoying the sunsets
“I just wanted to move on I had given Hope Hospice every opportunity to say I’m sorry Had they said, ‘I’m sorry, we recognize what we did here,’ I would have never filed a lawsuit,” Dreikorn said
“This experience significantly impacted Darlene’s final chapter of life and has scared me forever My priority in life has now become about peace and tranquility, and I have no clue what I will become once Darlene does pass,” Dreikorn said
Toast and Shop A Pine Island Center Night Market set for Nov. 22
Lets toast to our communities resilience Lets toast to local businesses being open Let's toast to the upcoming holiday season at Pine Islands 1st Toast and Shop, Friday, Nov. 22, from 5 to 9 p.m., hosted by Sacred Souls LLC
From Kickstands Pub, to Sweeneys SOS, join our local businesses and specialty vendors for a special night of shopping, music and fun We will unroll the sidewalk and invite you all out to shop, eat, and toast the night away
Featuring:
∫ Live music and vendors at several locations
We are unrolling the sidewalk for this event, come shop some of you favorite shops with special open hours
For every $10 spent at vendors, patrons receive an entry for the raffle. you do not need to be present to win.
Participating businesses include:
∫ Kickstands
∫ Island Tactical
∫ Bears Dens Apothocary
∫ Salt and Poppy
∫ El Viejon
∫ Chamber of Commerce
∫ Street Eats and Ale
∫ Island Bikeworks
∫ Spots Ice Cream and Crepes
∫ Salty Girls Cafe
∫ Sweeneys SOS
∫ And more
For more information, please call Jennifer at 239-
Spyral Financial Group collecting Toys for Tots donations
Spyrnal Financial Group recently announced it is partnering with Toys for Tots for this year’s campaign to collect new, unwrapped toys and distribute those toys to less fortunate children at Christmas Beginning Nov 1 until mid-December, the island business will be a drop-off location for anyone wishing to donate a new, unwrapped toy
While Toys for Tots coordinators organize, coordinate and manage the campaign, the ultimate success depends on the support of the local community and the generosity of the people who donate toys
The Spyrnal Financial Group office is at 5524 Avenue A, Bokeelia, and it is open 8:30 a m to 4:30 p m , Monday-Friday
Holiday House
“The raffle table seems to be really well received by the public because it offers an opportunity to make a donation to the Beacon, and someone is winning something great, because they are generally really nice things,” Stearns said
While Sunday is the last day of the event, it is also Family Day, she said The Matlacha/Pine Island Fire Control District will be serving hot dogs and different organizations will provide crafts, such as Pine Island Elementary, Bobby Holloway and the Matlacha Hookers
“Sunday will be really special We have DJ Frankie to do dancing with the kids and holiday music, and the Beacon of Hope will do bobbing for apples with the kids and the American Legion is doing a cotton candy machine and face-painting It’s a very eventful day from 1-4,” Stearns said
Several businesses have sponsored the tents, she said, for nothing more than a thank you for their charitable donation, which really helps offset the cost of the event for the Beacon
“Something that I think is important for people to know is the Tarpon Lodge has been affected by the last three storms and they worked feverishly to get the lodge back up and restored, so we’re super happy that we were able to host this event there again and it’s important that people make reservations early for dinner they’re planning to have dinner after they’re done shopping,” Stearns said
on the Greater
where you can also place a pre-auction bid which will be the opening bid on the day Contact the Chamber of Commerce, 239-283-0888, to continuing bidding if you cannot make it to the live auction
Facebook
Pine Island Auction Group page,
PHOTOS PROVIDED
Auction
page 1
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