Pine Island Eagle by BreezeNewspapers

WEEK OF NOVEMBER 15, 2023 FLIER INSIDE

Real life saver Lee County Park Ranger Supervisor Roy helps find missing island man — INSIDE PINEISLAND-EAGLE.COM

VOLUME 47, NUMBER 28

Things get heated over development projects presented at GPICA meeting By PAULETTE LeBLANC

pleblanc@breezenewspapers.com

Presenters at the Nov. 7 public information hearing, held at the monthly Greater Pine Island Civic Association meeting, were met with some weighty concerns from Pine Islanders over two prospective projects. The first presentation was given by RVI Planning and Landscape Architecture planning director Fred Drovdlic. The potential project site, located at 9101 Stringfellow Road, off Maria Drive, is for a commercial plan development zone. The Upper Captiva Carriage Club LLC is seeking to rezone 3.69 acres from Agriculture (AG-2) to Commercial Planned Development (CPD).

“We are at the initial stages of re-zoning that piece of property at the northwest corner of Stringfellow and Maria — 3.7 acres. The site plan that we’ll go over and the development program and the request before the county is for up to 5,000 square feet of commercial building area — right now there’s an existing 2,400-square-foot pole building on there — that will remain there, and there may be a small additional building, but we know that we’re capped at 5,000 square feet, with the Greater Pine Island Plan, in the Coastal Rural Future Land use feature category, so we’re gonna stay under that,” Drovdlic said. There will be low turnover, some 40-foot-deep parking spaces for vehicles and boats with trailers, he explained,

saying there will be up to 75 paid spaces (allowance provides for up to 115 total spaces) for short- and long-term parking, in addition to serving customers of the Upper Captiva Carriage Club. This short- and long-term parking will also serve people who live off-island and need to travel to Captiva. Some parking will be for members only, he said, who will be granted access through a gate code, although, parking will be discounted to those with Pine Island ZIP Codes. “We aren’t going to build anything that’s elaborate, See GPICA, page 19

Celebrating Pine Islanders: Former PIE Principal Steven Hook By PAULETTE LeBLANC

pleblanc@breezenewspapers.com

The very name, Steven Hook, is synonymous with many island organizations. He is a board member of Pine Island Kiwanis Club, serves on the Bobby Holloway Jr. Memorial Foundation board, tries to help support the work of the Beacon of Hope and, of course, is the former principal of Pine Island Elementary, where he still volunteers, just to name a few. Hook said he is now fully retired and at this point he See STEVEN HOOK, page 20

Staff surprises owners with anniversary party at Blue Dog Bar and Grill By PAULETTE LeBLANC

pleblanc@breezenewspapers.com

Blue Dog Bar and Grill owners John Lynch and Jesse Tincher were both astonished to find that their staff had decided to throw a surprise ninth anniversary party Sunday, Nov. 5, at the restaurant. It’s possible Lynch and Tincher were the only ones in the neighborhood who had no idea prior to the party, said Lynch, as many regular customers showed up to join in the celebration. “Every year we do something special. This year the staff was asking what we were doing and I just said, nothing, honestly. We have so much going on with Stone Crab Fest coming up and just getting stuff put

back together. I said, let’s just save it all for the 10th anniversary next year, and make that one a really good one,” Lynch said. The Blue Dog staff had other ideas, however, as Lynch said they put the surprise party together without his or his partner’s knowledge that anything was hapSee BLUE DOG BAR AND GRILL, page 18 Staff, friends and supporters of the Blue Dog Bar and Grill at the special anniversary celebration Nov. 5. PHOTO BY STEPHEN LONGEST

PHOTO PROVIDED

Former Pine Island Elementary School Principal Steven Hook, his wife Sue and their grandchildren with two special friends on a recent trip.

Athlete of the Week.........11 Island Mahjongg...............7 Local Tides......................16 insidetoday Editorial..........................4 Letters to the Editor..........4 On the Water......................8 Classifieds & Obituaries

Week of Wednesday, November 15, 2023 n Page 2 pineisland-eagle.com Pine Island Eagle

American Red Cross recognizes Park Ranger Roy with Lifesaving Awards County officer helped find, rescue missing island resident Last Tuesday, Nov. 7, the South Florida Chapter of the American Red Cross recognized Lee County Park Ranger Supervisor Chad Roy with Lifesaving Awards for using lifesaving skills to save a life. On July 17, 2023, while on patrol, Roy, Ranger Supervisor for Lee County, heard on the radio that the Lee County Sheriff’s Office was searching for a missing person in the area between Phillips Park and the elementary school on Pine Island. Aviation was in the air and a blood hound was on the ground. Roy contacted one of the deputies, Deputy Berg, who was involved in the search, to get a description of the individual in case he was at one of the parks. Roy also sent out a BOLO (be on the lookout). Berg asked Roy to meet her at the missing person's address so she could show him a photo of the missing individual on her computer. Roy met with the deputies See PARK RANGER ROY, page 17

Lee County Park Ranger Supervisor Chad Roy, center, receives his Lifesaving Awards from representatives of the local chapter of the American Red Cross. PHOTO PROVIDED

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Pine Island Eagle

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OPINIONS

Little peace at home for America’s vets 10700 Stringfellow Road, Ste. 60 Bokeelia, FL 33922 Phone: (239) 283-2022 Fax: (239) 283-0232 Web: pineisland-eagle.com Publisher Raymond M. Eckenrode reckenrode@breezenewspapers.com Executive Editor Valarie Harring vharring@breezenewspapers.com Editor Paulette LeBlanc pleblanc@breezenewspapers.com Advertising Director Laurie Ragle lragle@.breezenewspapers.com Advertising Sales Charlene Russ cruss@breezenewspapers.com Design & Layout Chris Strine cstrine@breezenewspapers.com Obituaries Debbie Carletti obits@breezenewspapers.com Subscriptions 1 Year $52 To Pay For Your Subscription P.O. Box 151306 Cape Coral, FL 33915 Circulation (239) 574-1936 Classified Advertising (239) 574-5644

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On Saturday, at the11th hour of the 11th month, Americans again marked the pending peace pact of “the war of all wars.” Called Armistice Day back in 1918, what is now Veterans Day began with the temporary end of the hostilities between the Allied nations and Germany. While World War I did not officially end until the Treaty of Versailles was signed on June 28, 1919, Veterans Day has its roots as a day of peace and it has become the day we thank those who served. But for too many American veterans, particularly those who served in the our country’s post 9-11 wars, peace is lacking as they struggle to fight battles within. Despite the efforts of the Veterans Administration, despite studies, analyses and programs of aid and intervention, those who served during the overlapping wars on terror — Iraq from 2003-2011 and Afghanistan, 2001-2021 — are dying. And at a heartbreaking rate, the only demographic where death by suicide among veterans continues to increase. According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Office of Mental Health and Suicide Prevention 2022 National Veteran Suicide Prevention Annual Report found at mentalhealth.va.gov/suicide_prevention/data.asp, the suicide rate among veterans increased across the board from 2001 to 2020 with the rate for those between the

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

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

ages of 18 and 34 rocketing by 95.3%. From 2019 to 2020, suicide rates have decreased among veterans except for those between the ages of 18 and 34 where deaths continue to climb, where for veterans 18-44, suicide ranks as the No. 2 cause of death after accidents. For those of us with family members who enlisted in the wake of 9/11 and then deployed to wage what our country called the War on Terrorism, our greatest fear was that they wouldn’t come home. For those of us who counted ourselves lucky, most did come home, some visibly wounded, many not. What we didn’t know was that our fear of not only came home with them but came home in them. And they — our sons, our daughters, our spouses, our loved ones — are continuing to fall on a field of battle they are finding far more deadly than the one on which they served. At least four times as many active duty personnel and war veterans of post-9/11 conflicts have died of suicide than in combat, according to Brown University, Watson Institute For International And Public Affairs in a June 21, 2021 report. The paper, which may be found at wat-

son.brown.edu/costsofwar/papers/2021/Suic ides, estimates that 30,177 active duty personnel and veterans of the post 9/11 wars have died by suicide —more than four times the 7,057 service members killed in war operations. Causes cited range from mental health issues and substance abuse to other healthrelated and societal challenges. Preventative solutions range from VA services to efforts in nearly all states with 500-plus local suicide prevention coalitions. Yet here we are. Here we are still. We thank those who served and those who serve. We grieve for the lost and those who love them. May every veteran, of every war, of every branch of service, know that they can reach out. To a friend. To a family member. To the veterans crisis line — 988, press 1, or, via text, 838255. To the nearest emergency room. Please, give the country, the people you fought for, an opportunity to reach back in gratitude for all you have given.

Letters to the Editor

The Eagle is published every Wednesday Customer service hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., except major holidays. Letters to the editor must be typed or handprinted. Your name and phone number must be affixed to the copy. In the event of an advertising error, we are responsible only for the first incorrect insertion of the ad itself. We are not responsible for any credit or reimbursement after 30 days from publication. Postal Information: Bulk rate postage paid at Fort Myers, FL Postmaster. Send address changes to the Pine Island Eagle. Permit # 521.

Eagle Editorial

Tax bills show continuing assault on property owners’ wallets To the editor: As I begin my annual rite of passage that involves the mystery of my local property tax bills, I stopped to contemplate what exactly do these detailed bills really represent. As a retired person and owner of several Lee County properties including my own residence, I notice the never-ending increase in the final tally of these property tax bills. Some simple math computations helped me calculate that my residence tax bill went up 7% and the tax bills on my single-family rental homes went up between 7% and 18%. Of course, my local government entities will argue that their costs of services have increased due to inflation and they need more money. This argument will not recognize that two of the largest contributors to our inflation rate are increased real estate values and cost of borrowing, neither of

which my local governments should be subject to with balanced budget restraints. It seems that it isn’t hard to argue that my local governmental entities are enjoying a revenue windfall at the expense of the taxpayers. The fact that is easily ignored is these increased tax amounts are actually taxes on unrealized value gains on our property and that the property owner can only realize their profit if they dispose of the property. In other words, it represents a tax on unrealized profits. The size of government grows with these increased surplus taxes. Unfortunately, once real estate values start to go down, which they always do at some point, the size of government stays the same and you can feel pretty secure that your taxes aren’t going down with reduced property values. We, the taxpayers, would be wise to pay attention when voting for our representatives that control our local government and elect politicians that promise static property taxes,

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

controlled government spending, and aren’t comfortable with the never-ending assault on the taxpayers’ wallets. The taxpayer’s income doesn’t necessarily go up at the rate of inflation. George W. Hoover Cape Coral

A precious commodity To the editor: When was the last time you drank a glass of water? Did you think at all about how important and precious water is? Or, did you, as most do, just take it for granted? Did you think about how necessary it is for our survival? Think about the manner in which our politicians treat our water. Is there anything in their conduct that makes you think they consider it to be of any importance? If they do/did, why are almost all of the waterways in Florida contaminated? If they do/did, why would Lake “O,” one of the largest freshwater lakes in our country, be in such abysmal condition? Here in Lee County, the problem is just as bad, if not worse. The County Commissioners routinely override the plans, rules, regulations and laws that were set in place to protect the integrity of such an invaluable resource. They allow complicitous developers to run rampant in the race to pave over “paradise.” High-density housing developments are being allowed with very little regard to our environment. To present such a problem places a burden on the presenter to provide a possible See LETTERS, page 20

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Pine Island Eagle

Week of Wednesday, November 15, 2023 n Page 6 pineisland-eagle.com Pine Island Eagle

Bottlenose dolphin Beacon accepting applications for financial support for skincare Indo Pacific botflesh. tlenose dolphins pracDolphins even line tice a very thorough up and take turns with skin routine which this skincare behavior. involves a lot of coral Entire groups of dolmucus. The dolphins phins locate the coral rub their bodies or sponge and then against certain types line up and patiently of corals and sponges wait their turn to swim that are believed to over it. As the dolhave medicinal benephins pushed or fits. The three invertebrushed against them, brates that the dolsome corals would Capt. Cathy Eagle phins seem to be secrete mucus that drawn to are toadstool would stick to their leather coral, gorgonskin. Dolphins apparian coral and sea ently teach this behavsponge. ior to their young. Seventeen bioacInterestingly, scientive compounds protists observed dolduced by these corals and sponges phins performing these skincare rithave been identified by scientists. uals after waking from a nap. These compounds include antibacThere are three main areas of terial substances and antioxidants coral reefs in Florida. They are the as well as hormone-like com- Florida Keys, the southeastern pounds that might help maintain coast from northern Monroe skin hydration and elasticity. Some County to Palm Beach County, and of the corals produce small the Florida Middle Grounds in the amounts of toxic compounds that eastern Gulf of Mexico, south of may help to kill parasites that live Apalachicola and northwest of on the skin’s surface. Tarpon Springs. Southwest Florida Sometimes the dolphins take the is not known for coral reefs but dolcorals into their mouths and shake phins find other ways to exfoliate their heads to make a brightly col- their skin such as riding in the ored substance fly out. It forms a wakes of boats, brushing up along cloud around the dolphin and then the sandy sea floor, and rubbing up the dolphin swims through the against seawalls. cloud like someone using a perfume spritz. By regularly coating their silCaptain Cathy Eagle has spent ver-gray bodies with these com- over 40 years boating in our local pounds the dolphins may prevent waters. As a professional Charter and treat skin infections as well as Captain, she specializes in Dolphin generally maintaining their skin and Nature tours. Visit microbiomes or the community of CaptainCathy.com or call /text 239 microorganisms that live on their 994-2572. Welcome aboard!

Dolphin Tales

island businesses, individuals

Post-Hurricane Ian funding available through grant from Volunteer Florida The Beacon of Hope has received a grant through Volunteer Florida to provide financial support to individuals and small business in the Greater Pine Island area. The Beacon of Hope’s Mission is “to improve the lives of those who live in the Greater Pine Island area by fulfilling a need, giving a path upward, or by volunteering to help others.” Over the last year, Beacon of Hope has helped hundreds of people recovering from Hurricane Ian. This application is for Small Businesses in the Greater Pine Island area. Eligibility criteria: ∫ Businesses operating on Pine Island before Hurricane Ian. ∫ Businesses in current operation since Hurricane Ian ∫ Locally owned and operated small businesses in the Greater Pine Island area. ∫ Must provide a current SunBiz Annual report, Title, and business tax returns or profit/loss statements for the past two years. Criteria Questions: ∫ What type of assistance, if any, have you applied for thus far? (i.e., Small Business Association (SBA) Loan, other grants, etc...) ∫ How will your business use the money? ∫ How will this grant make a positive difference for your business to serve the Greater Pine Island area? (Other documentation such as estimates may be required later on an “as needed” basis) Required Information to Qualify: ∫ Criteria questions on the application must be completed in their entirety. ∫ Initial required documentation must be attached to the application.

If further documentation is warranted, the applicant will be notified if further documentation is needed. Grant applications are on the Beacon of Hope website at www.beaconofhopepineisland.com. Completed applications and supporting documents can be mailed to or dropped off at the Beacon of Hope, 5090 Doug Taylor Circle, St James City, FL 33956. Applications can be dropped off during normal operating hours: Monday-WednesdayThursday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. If you have questions about the grant process, please do not hesitate to contact Joanne Lembo at jlembo@beaconofhopepineisland.com. Please add in the subject line, “Business Grant Questions.” Decisions will be based on evidence of need. The Application Deadline is Nov. 30. Business grants may represent taxable income to you. It is solely your responsibility to determine whether a grant awarded under this program is taxable income to you. For more information about tue Beacon of Hope and its programs, please visit its website at https://beaconofhopepineisland.com/ or call 239-283-5123

The Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation reported that a Pine Island resident recently posted photos of a Florida box turtle on a Pine Island Facebook page because they had never seen the species locally and were wondering if it was someone’s lost pet. Immediately after that, people started responding that it was a native species to the area and to let it go. Luckily, someone noticed that the turtle had peculiar marks — round holes — on the ends of the shell. Others started commenting that the turtle must be part of a research project, as turtles are often marked with scute notchings as an identification method. The marking also serves as a deterrence to poachers because notched turtles likely have an identification microchip

implanted as part of the study. The SCCF was notified within an hour of the posting and the turtle ended up being a Sanibel turtle that was last processed in 2021 as part of its Box Turtle Project. “This is the second instance of a box turtle being found post-Hurricane Ian somewhere else. The first one was found in a saltwater canal in Cape Coral,” Wildlife & Habitat Management Director Chris Lechowicz said. “Although many of our study turtles ended up weathering the storm fine on Sanibel, we are confident a good number of turtles got swept off the island and ended up in other places.” The SCCF reported that such movement due to storms is considered natural colonization and is a reminder of just one

the Monroe Canal and end just before where the channel narrows north of the Low Key Tiki. Those who have historically viewed the parade from the Waterfront Restaurant and Marina need to arrive before the parade start at 6 p.m. The boat line up begins at 5 p.m. on the Henley Canal in the staging area north of the Waterfront Restaurant and Marina. Should the parade be cancelled due to weather or other circumstance, the parade will be rescheduled for Sunday, Dec. 10, at 6 p.m. It is time to catch the Pine Island Christmas Spirit and enter a boat in the parade. To enter a boat in the parade or to obtain more information, please contact Peter Karas Karascon@AOL.com Please remember you must register to participate.

Island Mahjongg We had 11 players on Thursday, Nov. 9, for mahjongg at the Moose Lodge. We are very happy to welcome Cynthia Harris. Top scorers were Linda Yannick with 140 points, Bonnie Kellen and Sue Rasmussen with 130 and Toni Lindsay

with 105. The mahjongg group meet every Thursday at 11 a.m .at the Moose Lodge on Stringfellow Road, St. James City. New players are always welcome. For more information, call Carolyn 239-233-7682

of the methods by which wildlife inhabit the islands of the Pine Island Sound. Many of the movements are humaninfluenced due to the transportation of goods such as plants, sod, mulch or dirt. Other translocations are incidental such as a beetle, frog or lizard hiding in a crevice in a vehicle or on luggage. Other times, pets escape or are released inten-

tionally, often with good intent by the owner, but without knowledge of the risks to other wildlife. If you see a box turtle, take a photo and notify the SCCF at 239-472-3984 or clechowicz@sccf.org. The SCCF is at 3333 Sanibel Captiva Road, Sanibel.

Pine Island Eagle

The Pine Island Community Christmas Boat Parade will be held Saturday, Dec. 9, in St. James City starting at 6 p.m. All community members, boat clubs, organizations and businesses are invited to participate. Please note, you must register to participate. Organizers report boats are needed to participate this year - a lot of boats were lost to hurricane Ian. The 2023 parade will use same route as 2021. Due to Hurricane Ian, there was no parade in 2022. It is important to note the parade will stage and start north of the Waterfront Restaurant and Marina on the Henley Canal. The parade will proceed up Cherry Estates Canal and into the canal that runs east and west between North Royal Palm Drive and Trailer Park Drive, but will not pass north of this canal. The parade will continue down

GRAPHIC PROVIDED

breezenewspapers.com

Pine Island Community Christmas Boat Parade Dec. 9

A screenshot of the Facebook post with photos of the box turtle found on Pine Island. The turtle had been tagged by the SCCF on Sanibel but managed to somehow get to Pine Island.

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Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundationtagged box turtle found on Pine Island

Week of Wednesday, November 15, 2023 n Page 8 pineisland-eagle.com Pine Island Eagle

Calm seas brings fishing opportunities Finally, a week without caught but their numbers strong winds. After what will increase moving forseemed like a month of ward. winds, we had a reprieve, The better seatrout fishand enjoyed calm seas. I ing or at least the better cannot say the fishing was reports are coming from always better but it sure south Pine Island Sound and was more enjoyable. For San Carlos Bay. Larger fish some fishing was good, were common around the others found a difficult same oyster bars as redfish bite. On my boat we expeon the higher tides. Trout up rienced both good and to 18 inches were caught in bad. 3 to 5-foot depths outside Redfish continues to be Tarpon Bay, around Capt. Bill Russell the word inshore, across McKeever Keys, and south Pine Island Sound and of Rocky Channel. Anglers Matlacha Pass. Anglers also hooked ladyfish, report steady action with Spanish mackerel and mostly “rat” reds or undersharks, and, of course, lizard sized fish below 18 inches. fish, puffers and catfish. I Oyster bars in the Sound near Buck Key actually had a slow morning last week and Regla islands, shorelines and sand where I would have been happy to catch holes on the eastern side of the Sound, any one of those three. and around oyster bars and creeks in There are plenty of sharks around if South Matlacha Pass all yielded action you want to play tug-a-war. When you with redfish. When the fish are ganged find a fishy area, put out a large chunk of up, they are not usually picky on their mullet or ladyfish and you’re likely to meal. Any type live or fresh shrimp rig, hook into a shark. Size varies from 3 to cut pinfish or pilchards, and soft plastic 8 feet or more, so adjust your tackle baits work well when the bite is on. accordingly. Many of these areas held snook and jack Boats finally had weather to run offcrevalle as well. shore. With both gag and red grouper Reports of pompano are on the rise. seasons closed many are choosing not to Many were sighted skipping boat wake run the long distances. Large bait schools inside Redfish Pass and south Matlacha are moving down the coast from just off Pass near McCardle Island. Fishing live the beaches out to around 50-foot shrimp under a popping cork or slow depths. Fishing around the bait pods, bouncing pompano or crazy jigs are the anglers are encountering Spanish and best way to hook-up. Pompano also were king mackerel, bonito or false albacore, hooked around Red-Light Shoals and bar and occasional cobia and sharks. Watch edges west of Bokeelia. for surface commotion and birds to help Starting to get reports of sheepshead locate the fish. as their numbers begin to increase. Fish Another good area to check out for up to 15 inches bait schools and predators are around the were caught many artificial reefs along our coast. All around Blind and are public numbers and a good starting Redfish passes point to locate fish. Mangrove and lane and sand holes snapper, plus grunts were caught over on low water marked reefs and hard bottom in 35 to near Mondongo 50-foot depths. Shrimp, small pilchards Island. Not a bunch were See CALM, page 16

On the Water

PHOTO PROVIDED

With the inshore bite slow, a trip offshore gave good action. Terri Rolfes along with husband and friends caught lane and mangrove snapper, grunts and catch-and-release grouper. They were fishing 40-foot depths with Capt. Bill Russell.

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Pine Island Eagle

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Tick-borne illnesses topic of Pine Island Garden Club meeting Thursday This Thursday, Nov. 16, the Pine Island Garden Club, at its monthly meeting beginning a 9 a.m. at the Fishers of Men Lutheran Church, will host its own Denise Cwalina, who will discuss recognizing the signs and symptoms of tick-borne illnesses, such as Lyme Disease. A native of New Hampshire, Cwalina's career has centered on educating medical doctors on new testing procedures to identify various diseases. Founded in 1975, the Pine Island Garden Club mission includes the protection and conservation of natural resources, encouraging island beauty and stimulating the study of the fine art of gardening. Its civic duties include

the creation and maintenance of the grounds at Philips Park, Museum of the Islands, Bokeelia Post Office and the butterfly garden at the Pine Island Elementary School. It produces the annual Garden Gala (which will return on Feb. 17), the proceeds from which are utilized to financially support several island benevolent organiza-

tions, such as the Beacon of Hope, Calusa Land Trust, CROW, Kiwanis Children's Park and the Pine Island Food Pantry. For more information, visit pineislandgardenclub.org or contact Marty Kendall at 239-283-8175

Work continuing on permanent repair projects along Pine Island Road As part of the Emergency Restoration of the Pine Island Road Causeway and Bridge, crews will be working in the project boundaries along CR 78 Pine Island Road from west of Little Pine Island Bridge (Bridge No. 120111) to West of Shoreview Drive east of Matlacha Island. Crews continue driving sheet piling and work on utilities on the north side of the causeway. Motorists can expect occasional delays due to flagging operations for delivery/removal of materials, transfer of equipment. Crews are maintaining two-lane traffic on causeway.

Pedestrians and bicyclists are not permitted within the construction zone. Noise from construction equipment in the area is to be expected. Please use caution and watch for workers and construction vehicles entering and exiting the roadway. Please be patient and plan for additional travel time as it may be slower than usual in the area. For additional information on the ongoing work, please visit the FDOT project web page at https://www.swflroads.com/project/451937-2 or email at shana.overhulser@dot.state.fl.us.

GPIA, Lions Club giving away drywall, installation In collaboration with the Lions Club International, the Greater Pine Island Alliance was scheduled to give away drywall and insulation at the First United Methodist Church Tuesday, Nov. 14, at 8:30 a.m. Supplies are limited so come early! First United Methodist Church is at 5701 Pine Island Road, Bokeelia.

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Cape Coral

Athletes of theWeek

(Selected by the Breeze Sports staff)

Pine Island Eagle

Breeze

Pine Island Eagle

pineisland-eagle.com

Week of Wednesday, November 15, 2023 n Page 12

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Pine Island Eagle

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Best of Pine Island winners recognized Readers of the Pine Island Eagle have cast their votes and the winners of the Best of Pine Island poll are now official. The Eagle thanks those who voted as, between the back-to-back impacts of a global pandemic and Hurricane Ian, a round of applause is due to all of the island's business neighbors who persevered. The winners of the Eagles readers’ poll for the Best Of Pine Island 2023 are: ∫ Bar- Froggy's Bar ∫ Barbeque- Fine Swine Southern BBQ ∫ Bartender- Lecia Scott- Froggy's Bar ∫ Breakfast- The Perfect Cup ∫ Chef- Reed Freeman-Street Eatz & Ale ∫ Deli- Salty Girls Island Cafe ∫ Dispensary- Bear's Den ∫ Dinner- Blue Dog Bar & Grill ∫ Fish Sandwich- Lazy Flamingo Restaurant ∫ Hamburger- Street Eatz & Ale ∫ Happy Hour- Froggy's Bar ∫ Ice Cream- The Frozen Flip Flop ∫ Local Band- Pipe Dream ∫ Lunch- Salty Girls Island Cafe ∫ Pizza- Pine Island Pizza ∫ Seafood- Blue Dog Bar & Grill ∫ Waiter/Waitress- Nicole Dence- Salty Girls Island Cafe ∫ Waterfront Dining- Tarpon Lodge ∫ Art Gallery- Bokeelia Art Gallery ∫ Local Artist- Leoma Lovegrove ∫ Bait & Tackle- D & D Bait & Tackle

Church of God of Prophecy to host Thanksgiving Dinner The Church of God of Prophecy will be having a Thanksgiving Turkey Dinner Thursday, Nov. 23. Dinner will be takeout only, no dine in. The price is $10 per dinner — turkey, mashed pota-

Pine Island Eagle

∫ Boat Dealer- Bob & Annie's Boatyard ∫ Gift Shop- CW Fudge Factory ∫ Seafood Market- Barnhill Seafood Market ∫ Air Conditioning/Heating- Target Air Conditioning ∫ Appliance Repair- Josh Baxter/Baxter Appliance Repair ∫ Cabinets- St John Carpentry Remodels & Repairs ∫ Electrician- Gault Electric South ∫ Flooring- Island Floors Interiors & Cabinetry ∫ Housewatch Service- Islander Homewatch Services, LLC ∫ Lawn/Landscaping- Uni-scape Waterfalls & Landscaping ∫ Marine Construction- Williamson Bros ∫ Painting Contractor- Duane Terry

∫ Paver Company- Next Level Paver Co. ∫ Pool Service- Pine Island Pool Supply ∫ Roofing- D.R. Martineau Roofing ∫ Plumbing Contractor- Pine Island Plumbing ∫ Chiropractor- Jeter Chiropractor ∫ Dentist- Riverdale Dental Associates ∫ Massage Therapist- Pam McCarty- Christine Karow Hair & Massage ∫ Accountant- Pine Island Tax & Accounting ∫ Attorney- Tim Bruehl, Waggoner & Bruhel, PA ∫ Automotive Repair- St James Automotive ∫ Bank- Centennial Bank ∫ Boat Lift Maintenance- Amberjack Marine Services ∫ Boat Repairs- On The Water Marine Services-Joey Patterson ∫ Charter Boats- Island Girl Charters ∫ Computer Services- Island Tech Computer Repair & Consulting ∫ Day Spa- Center of Attention Day Spa ∫ Financial Services- Spyrnal Financial Group ∫ Fishing Guide- Jesse Minoski ∫ Hair Salon/Barber Shop- Cutting Ties Salon ∫ Hair Stylist- Christine Karow- Christine Karow Hair & Massage ∫ Insurance Agency- Robertson Ryan & Associates ∫ Motel/Inn- Tarpon Lodge ∫ Marina- Monroe Canal Marina ∫ Real Estate Agency- John R. Wood Properties ∫ Real Estate Agent- Stephen Longest- John R. Wood Properties ∫ Service Organization/Club- Matlacha Hookers

toes and gravy, corn or green beans, dinner roll and dessert. Turkey is fried in peanut oil. Gluten free and baked Turkey available upon request. Call your order in to 239-283-2128 as soon as pos-

sible, quantities limited. Pick-up will be from 12:30-3 p.m. The church is located at 15146 Stringfellow Road, Bokeelia.

By MEGHAN BRADBURY

news@breezenewspapers.com

school they love. “They allow substitutes to make their choices,” he said. Board member Jada LangfordFleming said the district has to do something, as teachers are struggling with covering classes. “The guest teachers, as far as I am concerned will always be a part of the Lee County School District. We are all one team, and you are part of that team. That is how I feel about it,” she said. “I am comfortable moving forward as long as the term of the contract allows us to terminate that it is in fact costing taxpayers money and not fulfilling the goal we are trying to meet.” Langford-Fleming said she wants to see a quarterly updates on how things are going, which could come before the board as early as March. Before the board’s approval Tuesday night, members of the public spoke against the piggyback with Orange County Public Schools for substitute teacher services, awarded to Kelly Services, Inc. of Orlando, for the period of Nov. 7, 2023, through June 30, 2024, for up to $8,500,000, with an option to

cancel if deemed to be in the best interest of the district.” County Association of Lee Professional Substitute Teachers President Sheridan Chester told the board that the substitute teachers are more than willing to work. “They just want to know that they are still going to be a part of the Lee County School District and not Kelly,” she said. “This is the concern that we are going to be separated — that we are not going to have the same kind of input. Teachers are willing and ready to work as long as we are working with you and not against each other.” Bernier said anytime there is a shift there is some angst. He said no matter whom the substitute teachers are directly working for, they are a group of people the district values and wants to continue communicating with. We want to “ensure they remain part of the family conversation about what is happening in our classroom and in our schools with our leaders and with each other,” Bernier said. He reiterated the same sentiments he shared a week prior regarding the impor-

tance of not having a vacant classroom. “At the very best it is chaotic at a school building when a sub doesn’t come, or a class is uncovered. In other cases, it could lead to another sub when someone is asked to cover a classroom and for every right and purpose, they decide they are not up to that task on that day,” Bernier said. “We are trying to exhaust in this day and age of limited resources in another manner in which we can relieve some of the pressure on some of our amazing educators in our school building.” The district is trying to ensure it is doing everything possible to have more substitutes and ensure more classes are covered, he said. Board member Melisa Giovannelli pulled the agenda item to have further discussion before the unanimous vote was taken. “I know we need to help and support our teachers. I am concerned we did not have adequate stakeholder input and that makes me somewhat hesitant in supporting the outsourcing,” she said. “We have been less that transparent with the guest teachers and community that we served. We should have afforded stakeholder communication and conversation with what they were thinking.” She initially asked the board to table the item before agreeing with other board members that the district is in dire need of teachers. She asked for stakeholder input in a survey or questionnaire to know that the process is working in favor of teachers.

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Kelly Education Services will provide substitute teachers for the School District of Lee County, at least until the end of the school year. District staff said this week the transition for the Guest Teacher Program will be seamless, as existing subs will be contacted to “simply transition their employment to the company.” The transition will take place in January and the contract will run through June. Although the outsourcing is bringing angst to the substitutes, the agreement brings a pay raise, officials said of the contract approved by the Lee County School Board. n Less than a bachelor’s degree - $17 an hour n Bachelor’s degree or higher - $22 an hour n Verified retired educator - $27 an hour There is also a $500 bonus pay for 30 days of coverage. The contract also includes Kelly Services handling the administrative tasks of hiring subs, which includes screening, vetting potential candidates and ensuring they meet necessary qualifications and background check requirements. The important part of working with Kelly Services, Superintendent Dr. Christopher Bernier said, is the online interface for both teachers that need a substitute and providing substitutes with the option to continue to work at the

Although the outsourcing is bringing angst to the substitutes, the agreement brings a pay raise , officials said of the contract approved by the Lee County School Board. n Less than a bachelor’s degree - $17 an hour n Bachelor’s degree or higher - $22 an hour n Verified retired educator - $27 an hour There is also a $500 bonus pay for 30 days of coverage.

Page 15 n Week of Wednesday, November 15, 2023

Kelly Education Services to provide substitute teachers

Pine Island Eagle

Week of Wednesday, November 15, 2023 n Page 16 pineisland-eagle.com Pine Island Eagle

Calm From page 8

Cat of the Week Henry Those big blue eyes and innocent expression help Henry get away with a lot at the shelter. He came to us with a permanent head tilt. Since we don’t know his history, we can only guess what caused it. Some think he had an inner ear infection, but I like to think he accidentally ate a skink. Our sweet Henry would never have eaten it on purpose. That mean old skink probably forced Henry to chomp him up. If I’m going to be completely honest, Henry probably should be an only cat. The other cats complain that he is a bit of a bully, but all it takes is one look at that sweet face and I melt. Henry is a 3-year-old flame point/Siamese mix. He loves to watch out the window, especially now that we have a peacock that likes to visit. If you are looking for a best friend, he will have you wrapped around his paw in no time. Call Helping Paws Animal Sanctuary at 239283-9100 to meet this adorable kitty. I f you’d rather just donate, our address is 10060 Mallory Parkway, E, Unit D., St. James City, FL, 33956 or there’s always our website at www.helpingpawsanimalsanctuary.com

and cut squid were top baits. Look for large sheepshead to make their presence in these areas soon. FWC or Florida Fish and Wildlife Officers are on the water doing checks and often in unmarked boats. Make sure you know the rules, regulations, sizes and seasons for any fish you might catch. Stay up to date with fishing regulations by visiting Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission at: www.myfwc.com. Also, upload the Fish Rules app on your phone. It has current regulations with pictures to help identify fish. Keep up to date with fishing rules and regulations by visiting www.myfwc.com. Also, upload the Fish Rules app on your phone. It has current regulations with pictures to help identify fish. If you have a fishing report or for charter information, contact Gulf Coast Guide Service at 239-410-8576 (call or text); on the web at www.fishpine island.com; or via email at gcl2fish@ live.com. Have a safe week and good fishin’. As a lifetime resident of Matlacha and Pine Island, Capt. Bill Russell has spent his life fishing and learning the waters around Pine Island and Southwest Flori-da, and as a professional fishing guide for the past 23

Beacon in need of part-time tutor The Beacon of Hope needs a part-time tutor for the ESOL class, available to teach when the regular teacher is out of town. You would not need experience, you would learn from the teacher running the class. This could be a fun and

learning experience. ESOL stands for English for Speakers of Other Languages. English is the only language necessary for this position. If you are interested, call Mary Lou at 239-5657012.

Pine Island Democrats and friends will meet this Saturday, Nov. 18, from 10-11:30 a.m., at the Cape Coral Northwest Regional Library, 519 Chiquita Blvd., next to Mariner High and Middle schools in northwest Cape Coral. Those wishing to attend are urged to notice this is a new location.

Kari Lerner, who is running for Congress against Byron Donalds, will be the guest speaker. Lerner is also a Pine Island ROAR member. Other topics to be discussed include canvassing for Lerner and other candidates on Pine Island, and the group's continuing work on GOTV.

Park Ranger Roy From page 2

Pine Island Eagle

actions of Ranger Roy demonstrate the highest degree of concern of one human being for another who is in distress,” said Jill Palmer, executive director, Florida Gulf Coast to Heartland Chapter, “Through his efforts he was able to alleviate human suffering and help save a life.” Take a First Aid and CPR course online to learn what to do in case emergency help is delayed. A variety of online, blended (online and in-person skills session), and classroom courses are also available. To learn more and get started, visit redcross.org/takeaclass. Nominate Someone If you know of a local hero in your community or group of individuals who used Red Cross skills or training to save or sustain a life, you can nominate them at LifesavingAwards.org. About the American Red Cross The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies about 40% of the nation's blood; teaches skills that save lives; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a notfor-profit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org/southflorida or visit us on Facebook or X at @SFLRedCross.

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and was asked to assist in searching a hard-to-reach area behind the missing person's home via ATV. Roy began searching the area behind the residence, elementary school and Publix. At this point most of the initial search was winding down. The elderly man had been missing since 8 p.m. the night before. After an hour and a half of searching, Roy picked up a track that matched the type of shoe that the missing person was wearing. He called Berg and asked her to assist at this point. The K-9 was no longer on scene, so the search continued on foot with a drone in the air above. As Roy continued to utilize his tracking skills, losing and regaining the trail, he found an area in the tall grass that had been matted down near the edge of the mangroves. “At this point I observed two Crocs matching the individual’s shoes,” said Roy. “This was approximately 70 yards from where I began tracking.” Roy continued into the mangroves and observed a naked man lying in the sticks and mud approximately 30 yards in. Roy approached the man who appeared to be motionless and called his name. The man slowly raised his head, and it was confirmed that he was still alive. Roy ran to the ATV for water and attempted to get the man hydrated while waiting for EMS to arrive. The Matlacha/Pine Island Fire Control District utilized its UTV to get the victim to the access road behind Publix. The individual's family was notified, and he was transported to Cape Coral Hospital. EMS and the Sheriff's office indicated that the man probably would have died if Roy hadn't found him. The drone had already searched that location earlier in the day. Due to his quick actions, Roy was able to save a life. For his incredible act of service and quick actions, Ranger Roy has been awarded the American Red Cross Certificate of Extraordinary Personal Action. This award is bestowed upon individuals who step up during a time of emergency to alleviate suffering and save or sustain a life. “Emergencies can happen at any time; in the grocery store, at a family gathering, at the community pool, in your home; or deep in the mangroves of Southwest Florida. The

Page 17 n Week of Wednesday, November 15, 2023

Pine Island Democrats to meet Saturday in Cape Coral

Week of Wednesday, November 15, 2023 n Page 18 pineisland-eagle.com Pine Island Eagle

Matlacha Holiday Lighted Boat Parade Dec. 10 The Matlacha Holiday Lighted Boat Parade will be held Sunday, Dec. 10. Boats shall gather on the south side of Matlacha Bridge at 5:30 p.m. The parade starts at 6 p.m. The parade will go north under the bridge along the shoreline

of Matlacha. All boaters are welcome to participate in the parade. All participants should embrace the joy of the holidays. Participants are asked to please refrain from political signs or references.

Best viewing is from the bridge or along the shoreline of Matlacha. For questions, call Rick at 269-330-0274 with the Yacht Club of Matlacha.

Blue Dog Bar and Grill From page 1 pening. Lynch describes the party as a massive success. “I just could not believe how many people were there — and that they kept it all quiet — friends, family and employees. I was absolutely floored. Some were people I saw the night before,” Lynch said, laughing. He had been with his business partner all day long, and Lynch said neither of them had any idea what the staff had been planning, until he went to the restaurant to pick up one of his staff members who said she’d wanted to go out and celebrate Lynch’s daughter’s recent birthday. “I was going out for a sushi dinner, and now I’m here with 150 of our closest friends. It was the best surprise party or anything like that I’ve ever been a part of,” Lynch said. Going above and beyond, Lynch said the staff had even been in touch with beer companies and food reps, getting them involved in the celebration. It was nice to slow down and listen to stories from customers, said Lynch, when the restaurant is generally too busy to allow he and Tincher to stop, laugh and visit with their friends and regulars. “It was spectacular. I’m humbled by the response and how many people came out. I walked through that room and I knew every single face in there. I’m still on cloud nine — it’s a little bit hard to believe that they pulled this off and the incredible support we’ve had,” Lynch said. Next year, Lynch said to keep your calendar clear around the first week of November for a 10th year celebration!

PHOTO BY STEPHEN LONGEST

The crowd on hand to help celebrate the Blue Dog Bar and Grill’s 9th anniversary. The staff of the island restaurant surprised the owners with the special anniversary party.

PAULETTE LEBLANC

Pine Island Eagle

Tyler Wainwright, center, representing Upper Captiva Carriage Club, taking questions from the audience at the GPICA meeting. Dean Martin, with TDM consulting, gave After a heated debate, Bokeelia native presentation was a zoning change, which a presentation on the proposed project resident Robert Ballard shared his experi- must be addressed at a meeting by the located at 11010 Stringfellow Road, that ence from having been on Pine Island for Hearing Examiner. Only those who have he said is initially being planned as a 37- many years. first addressed the Hearing Examiner may unit residential project, with a commercial “With all these developments, the speak to the BoCC at the final meeting component, which is already zoned appro- county is going to say we have to build regarding any project. priately. This project has already been sub- another bridge … then what happens to An unofficial vote, by show of hands, mitted to Lee County for a Plat and this island? Kiss it goodbye … as soon as was taken on those in favor of either projDevelopment Order review, and currently you put another bridge across this island, ect, for reference, at the meeting. Both awaits approval. this island is gone. Palm farms are gonna projects were voted down, by overwhelm“Everyone worries about traffic, but in sell out, everything’s gonna be gone. ing majority, by present members. this case, the traffic generated by the lots You’re gonna see all these developments The next GPICA meeting, on Tuesday, don’t really trigger any kind of turn lane, going on — every one of these palm farms Dec. 5, will have a guest speaker from the but the county will make us — once we are gonna be turned into these develop- Florida League of Cities, who is invited to sell the parcels — the out parcels in the ments. It’s got to stop some place. It’s got explain the process of incorporation for front — and whoever buys them and to stop now, or else we’re not gonna have Pine Island. develops them as commercial projects will an island,” Ballard said. To watch this meeting in its entirety, have to reanalyze the traffic and potentialGPICA President Deborah Swisher- visit the GPICA Facebook page. Visit ly build turn lanes on Stringfellow,” Hicks reminded everyone that the first GPICA.org for additional information, Martin said. GPICA members maintain that although many potential projects are said not to cause traffic issues, many do, in fact, end up doing just that, and opening the door to more density on the island, may make it impossible to close. Martin argued that this project is not proposing an increase in density, and that the project site is already zoned appropriately. Members emphasized that they fail to see how this particular project benefits Pine Island. They also commented that many Pine Island residents who suffered loss of or damaged homes in Hurricane Ian are still in need of housing, and it may be short-sighted to build 37 single-family homes, with the intention of utilizing them as vacation homes or rentals.

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nothing that’s tall. There’s just going to be more pole barns that meet the land development code standards … lighting will probably be a concern. We’re going to do code minimums … we don’t want to overlight this, so our only concern is just safety for some of the vehicles that’d be parked there overnight, but we don’t want to light this more than we absolutely have to be required to by Lee County and we want to keep the lights low, we want to keep them shielded, all the other things that are required to do. That is our goal as well. We want this to be kind of invisible as it can be, but still service a busy marina—provide spaces for people to park trailers, boats…and people that go to Upper Captiva,” Drovdlic said. The first public hearing before a hearing examiner for this project Drovdlic estimates for March 2024, with a hearing before the Board of County Commissioners estimated by June 2024. Site property owner Tyler Wainwright, representing Upper Captiva Carriage Club, took questions from community members, such as security concerns, traffic, lighting and refuse. While there will not be manned security on site, Wainwright said, there will be security cameras and access controlled gates on site. “There’s going to be both public parking, that’s available for public entry and there’s going to be parking for membership-based parking, so it’s going to be for both and the public would be on a firstcome first-serve. There’s a reservation system that’s intended to be online that you would go and make a reservation that would be for a weekend or a day or whatever and that would be first-come firstserve and then the membership parking would be a paid annual membership — that’s more intended for our barrier island parking for the short- and long-term, ” Wainwright said. A traffic impact statement has been submitted for the project, he said, as well as an environmental species survey conducted, per requirement, which concluded two gopher tortoise boroughs resided on the property; one active, and one potentially active, which currently reside on the property, and will be relocated. A member spoke out regarding the boat ramp designated for this parking project, pointing out the capacity of the boat ramp for this many potential boaters, which could cause a potential bottleneck. Property owner Viet Famisland Inc. is requesting to plat a 19.52-acre parcel for a mixed-use development of commercial and single-family lots. Representative

Page 19 n Week of Wednesday, November 15, 2023

GPICA From page 1

Week of Wednesday, November 15, 2023 n Page 20 pineisland-eagle.com Pine Island Eagle

Steven Hook From page 1 gets to watch his beautiful grandchildren three days a week, which allows his daughter-in-law to work. Hook originally came to work on Pine Island in 2016, when he took the job as principal of Pine Island Elementary, although he had already been involved with the Bobby Holloway Jr. Memorial Foundation a year or two prior to that. “We worked together on two different tournaments that happened in Cape Coral, and I met Ernestine (HollowaySquires) and Summer Dooley and some of the people involved with the tournament and we started partnering together and I loved their mission and what they were about so I started just volunteering originally and then later became a board member,” Hook said. The years in which he was involved with the Bobby Holloway Jr. Memorial Foundation gave Hook a bird’s eye view of the spirit of Pine Island. He admits the nature of the community to be giving and focused on what each could do for someone else, made Pine Island a place he wanted to be every day. “Love thy neighbor is really shown out there, and I told Dr. Pruitt (Former superintendent of his charter school), I don’t ever really want to leave Oasis, but if Pine Island School would ever open up, I would really consider going out there. She called me and asked, if I really meant that, and it all fell into place just the way it’s supposed to,” Hook said. When it comes to what the Pine Island community has gained from Hook’s influence, he said it’s likely his unique position to have been allowed to influence so many of the island children. “I’m not sure I’m the only one who could offer this, but I preach to kids and to the staff and everywhere I’ve ever

From left, former PIE Principal Steven Hook, Superintendent Christopher Bernier and Principal Dr. Tom Millins at the recent community gathering at Pine Island Elementary School. been that kind, caring, respectful and hardworking are the best traits to live out and put into action all the time and so I try to live those words, I try to make those words come alive at school, through bringing improvements to the school, showing love and teaching that family should come first, and that loving your neighbor does give meaning and purpose to your life,” Hook said. In reference to his years as a teacher and principal, Hook said, school is more than a test. Teaching kids to be kind and caring is a goal for which he strived and continues to strive for regularly. “If we teach kids to be kind and caring and respectful and hardworking, then they will contribute to the community in

a far greater way than just being academically sound — we want them to be academically sound and do their best but there are two pieces to that — the kind, caring, respectful, hardworking is the other side,” Hook said. Describing his opportunity to teach these things to children as a blessing, Hook said he was able to work in the field of education for 41 years. In every school he worked, Hook said he tried to make a point to not only know the names of his staff and students, but to get to know the important things going on in their lives as well. This act forced him to be continuously cognizant of that which was going on around him. Hook admits his greatest wish for Pine Island is that she doesn’t lose a sense of her own identity, no matter what life brings. “Through the hurricane and through

COVID and through growth — sometimes there are changes that are happening that aren’t always necessarily the best thing, but the neighborhood, the small community the atmosphere that’s out there can be maintained even through the changing times. Change is inevitable and it’s going to happen, but if you can maintain your core values, well, that’s huge. Every now and then, it’s important to step back and realize what a special place Pine Island is. It’s cliché, but stop and smell the roses. There are so many great things and great people on the island. If you get a chance to donate, whatever it is, your time, talents or treasures. Your community is a very special community inside of Lee County and there are a lot of things you can support and help. Pine Island Strong are not just words on a T-shirt, it’s what people live,” Hook said.

Letters to the Editor From page 4 solution. Knowing that developers orchestrate the whole process, I would like to present some solutions, which while they will not be a total cure, might provide a slowdown of environmental degradation until we elect new people to office who approach governing with a modicum of common sense and healthy respect for the voters who allow them the honor of being of service. n See that all irrigation is provided by retention ponds. n Have all paved and unpaved surfaces deliver this liquid gold into the retention ponds. n Direct all run-off from all structures into the retention ponds. n Reduce the footprint of grassy areas to reduce the amount of irrigation water used. n Provide a listing of native trees, shrubs and flowers that may be used in new developments.

n Plant at least one shade tree per residence for both aesthetic and environmental reasons. If commercial is involved plant more shade trees. n Employ micro irrigation in the bedded areas. n Assure that paving materials of the highest porosity be used allowing more rain water to enter the aquifers below. n Work with the developers to assure that all building materials be environmentally friendly. n Utilize colors, everywhere, towards the white end of the spectrum n Install “Energy Star” rated appliances. n Have all structures meet Florida Gold Star Water Certification. If the politicians, in cahoots with the developers, are insistent on continuing to pave over our county, the very least we can do is slow their destruction of life as we all want it to be. Norman Cannon Fort Myers

Page 21 n Week of Wednesday, November 15, 2023 breezenewspapers.com

Pine Island Eagle

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Tree Service

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Sprinkler Systems & Irrigation

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Pine Island Eagle

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