Pine Island Eagle

By PAULETTE LeBLANC pleblanc@breezenewspapers com

organization was very concerned about the island during and after Hurricane Ian. Previous general managers did a good job, he said, evidenced in the way the utility fared throughout the storm

“We made it through the storm very well all the facilities were

Maillakakis said

The majority of water l e a k s , h e s a i d , c a m e from the loss of docks on the island, since many people have waterlines on their dock to clean b o a t s a n d f i s h M a i l l a k a k i s a n d t h e

board thought it would be a good idea to withhold a water bill for their customers for an extended period of time.

“We thought, let’s not charge a water bill for four months we had thought three months, but we turned it to four months because in September some peo ple had already paid their bills, but then the storm was at the end of September so some people’s bills weren’t received or they weren’t able to send in their bill so we decided to retroactively not charge for September,” Maillakakis said

If a payment was received, it was cred ited to a customer’s account, he said Customers at Cape Royal and Saddle Wood Farms received two months free of charge due to minimal overall damage in these areas Maillakakis emphasized that d e s p i t e f r u s t r a t i o n p e o p l e m a y h a v e toward government agencies, some organ izations in particular were very helpful to the GPIWA

“These agencies recognize that water is very important They gave us support so

Millenium Physicians Group Kristin Gustin finds a way to treat those in need

By PAULETTE LeBLANC pleblanc@breezenewspapers com

t e

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i

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After the storm, G u s t i n s a i d , before FEMA or a n y m e d i c a l r e l i e f t e a m s a r r i v e d o n t h e island, with the h e l p o f I s l a n d T a c t i c a l o w n e r

Jay Sanderson, she made trip after trip in order to care for those in need

By PAULETTE LeBLANC pleblanc@breezenewspapers com

Mickuleit, the Matlacha Hookers

Island Fire Control District requesting that they store and hand out plywood and sheetrock to the community

“They donated it to the community, but the district was chosen to distribute it, because we have the staff to hand it out as well as the facilities to store it,” Mickuleit said

Posted on his Facebook page, Things to do on Pine Island, by islander Kevin Russell, Mickuleit said instructions were to come at 9 a m on Monday, Nov 28, however, they were already lining up at 8 a m These materials were for anyone in the community who needed them, given out on a first come, first served basis, he said

“There were four sheets of plywood and eight sheets of drywall they were gone within an hour I believe they’re going to try to continue this by getting

more donations The community came together as a whole Everybody is help ing their neighbors and their friends, and it shows Everybody is so close knit here, ” Mickuleit said.

Mickuleit said if any islanders have needs, thy should not hesitate to come to S t a t i o n 1 w h e r e r e s o u r c e s w i l l b e sought The district is currently trying to determine any needs the community may have

“The next day after the storm I ended up going out to the island by boat pret ty much every day I did I would leave in the morning around 7:30 and come home around 8 or 9,” Gustin said

Gustin, who lives in Cape Coral, said she and Sanderson always had a different boat to get to the island and always found a way to get back home Each day, they loaded up a boat with supplies such as gasoline, food and drinks She began doing wellness checks in the first two days, she explained, but soon found that it wasn’t enough

Nurse Practitioner Kristin Gustin of Pine Island Millenium Physicians Group was determined to provide medical care, e v e n a f t e r s h e b o a

d

o

h e

s l a n d a n d s a w the damage left by Hurricane Ian

Mikes Maillakakis

Kristin Gustin

PHOTO PROVIDED BY MATLACHA/PINE ISLAND FIRE CONTROL DISTRICT

‘We’re Still Here’ CLT work/ fun parties set for Saturday

Hurricane Ian blasted a l l o f P i n e Island/Matlacha and that i n c l u d e s t h e C a l u s a L a n d T r u s t p r e s e r v e s Rather than the custom ary mission of invasive plant eradication the emphasis now must revert to clearing debris from upland trails in order to make them passable This Saturday, Dec 10, beginning at 9 a m , there will be two simultaneous work/fun parties: one at the Wigert/Barron Preserve (at the east end of Barrancas Rd in Bokeelia) and the other at the St James Creek Preserve (off Stabile Rd in the St. Jude Harbors subdivision in St James City) For those able to break

away from their own c l e a n u p e f f o r t s y o u r assistance will be most appreciated.

As an all volunteer land conservancy, the Calusa Land Trust relies upon work/fun parties to accomplish its stewardship mis sion on over 2400 acres of its protected land It is recommended that volunteers p r o v i d e w o r k g l o v e s / c l o t h i n g , r a k e s , pruning tools and a happy spirit CLT will reward participants with cold bever ages and trail snacks

For more information one may contact Robert Ballard at 239 770 0070 or Les Smith at lesmanatee3355@gmail com

Free autism screening for young children

In partnership with Ronald McDonald House Charities of Southwest Florida, the G o l i s a n o C h i l d r e n ’ s H o s p i t a l o f

Southwest Florida offers a free monthly autism spectrum disorder screening for toddlers 18 months to 5 years of age.

The next screening will be held on Dec 9 from 9 a m to 2 p m at the Pediatric Specialist Office, at 15901 Bass Road, Suite 102, Fort Myers

The ASD screening is conducted by the children’s hospital The screenings are administered by an Advanced Practice R e g i s t e r e d N u r s e , w h o h a s e x t e n s i v e training and experience in typical child development and developmental disor ders

A physician referral is not required To schedule a screening or for more information, call 239 343 6838

FEMA reaches storm survivors

FEMA reported that it is reaching Hurricane Ian survivors where they are to help jump start their recovery. FEMA teams are going door to door in hard hit communities, operating one stop Disaster Recovery Centers and supporting com munity outreach

As of Nov 29, FEMA had provided $771 million in grants to 538,028 appli cants for the Individuals and Households Program, the U S Small Business Administration had provided $1 billion in disaster loans, the National Flood Insurance Program had paid $793 mil lion in claims and FEMA had provided $358 million to Florida for emergency response Disaster Survivor Assistance teams had visited 261,000 homes and interacted with 129,000 individuals, and over 1,800 households were sheltered in hotels at FEMA's expense

F E M A a l s o r e p o r t e d t h a t i t h a s extended the application deadline to Jan 12 for survivors in Brevard, Charlotte, C o l l i e r , D e S o t o , F l a g l e r , G l a d e s ,

H a r d e e , H e n d r y , H i g h l a n d s , H i l l s b o r o u g h , L a k e , L e e , M a n a t e e , Monroe, Okeechobee, Orange, Osceola, P a l m B e a c h , P a s c o , P i n e l l a s , P o l k , Putnam, Sarasota, Seminole, St Johns and Volusia counties

In addition, there are Disaster Recovery Centers operating throughout the impacted area To find a center, go online to DRC Locator or floridadisas ter org, or text DRC along with your zip code to 43362

It is not necessary to visit a center to apply Survivors can go online to disas terassistance.gov, use the FEMA mobile app or call 800 621 3362 The line is open every day from 7 a m to 11 p m Help is available in most languages If you use a relay service, such as video relay (VRS), captioned telephone or other service, give FEMA the number for that service To view an accessible video about how to apply, visit https://www youtube com/watch?v=LU7 wzRjByhI

Alzheimer ’s Association to hold virtual event

The Alzheimer's Association will host a v i r t u a l B r a i n B u s e v e n t , c a l l e d “ U n d e r s t a n d i n g A l z h e i m e r ' s a n d

Dementia,” on Dec 13 from 11 a m to noon via Zoom

Alzheimer's disease is not a normal part of aging Learn about the impact of Alzheimer's, d i f f e r e n c e b e t w e e n Alzheimer's and dementia, stages and risk factors, cur r e n t r e s e a r c h a n d t r e a t ments available for some symptoms, and Alzheimer's Association resources

T o r e g i s t e r , v i s i t h t t p s : / / a l z o r g z o o m u s / m e e t i n g / r e g i s t e r / t J I r c O 6 o r z I i G N T y E E 7 2 j J u c mMDM3C jJO8

A FEMA Disaster Survivor Assistance team visits a neighborhood on Sanibel impacted by Hurricane Ian, talking with resident about the FEMA assis tance available

Hurricane did not deter voters from making their voices heard

The 2022 General Election

County

Before Hurricane Ian made landfall in Lee County, our office was ready to conduct the Nov 8 General Election Early Voting and Election Day voting locations were secured and prepared to be staffed with sufficient coverage Our dedi cated staff and poll workers were available and ready to

County

The devastation of Ian in Lee County generated uncer tainty around the availability

Guest Commentary

of Election Day voting sites and sufficient poll workers to staff those sites. It significant ly impacted our ability to con duct the election in the manner to which voters are typically accustomed

My team and I are incredi bly thankful for your patience, s u p p o r t a n d u n d e r s t a n d i n g throughout this election cycle, especially on Election Day as you waited in line

The aftermath of a near Category 5 hurricane did not deter voters from making their voices heard

Lee County had a 53 per cent voter turnout, an astound

ing number considering the challenges Ian presented to our office and many voters in Lee County. This number is also consistent with voter turnout in counties across Florida Thank you for voting in this election, whether by mail, in person during Early Voting or on Election Day

I am grateful to my staff, election support staff, voting location coordinators and our dedicated poll workers. Our office conducted this election under emergency conditions, yet we remained committed to ensuring the vot ers could cast their votes safely and securely We look forward to the next election and serving the voters of Lee County.

T o m m y D o y l e i s t h e L e e C o u n t y

Supervisor of Elections For more informa tion, visit https://www lee vote/

Make the most of your charitable donation

With the holiday giving season underway, many generous Southwest Floridians will look for ways to support those less fortunate, lending their support to nonprofit organiza tions making a difference in this community

There are an endless variety of causes worthy of support, including education, arts, c u l t u r e , h u m a n i t i e s , e n v i r o n m e n t , h e a l t h care, human services, religion and many oth ers Our community is fortunate to have hun dreds of highly effective nonprofits serving the residents of Southwest Florida

If you are not sure where to begin, below are five things worth considering to ensure gifts of any size have your desired impact this giving season.

Transparency Ratings

Nonprofits are required to disclose basic financial information through IRS Form 990 Reputable, successful organizations welcome full transparency, posting financial state

ments online in addition to voluntarily submitting data, personnel information, orga n i z a t i o n a l c h a r t s , m i s s i o n statements and other materials to companies that evaluate and rate nonprofits Charity N a v i g a t o r a n d G u i d e S t a r e v a l u a t e a c c o u n t a b i l i t y , finances, culture, leadership, r e s u l t s a n d m o r e Organizations can earn top ratings by being good stew ards of donations and accom plishing what they say they’re going to do.

Par tnerships

Krupp Guest Commentary

N o n p r o f i t s o f t e n p a r t n e r w i t h o t h e r p h i l a n t h r o p i c minded organizations to help carry out their missions. In Southwest Florida, for example,

local chapters of the United Way identify partner agencies to receive funding after under going a thorough screening process Additionally, Naples C h i l d r e n & E d u c a t i o n Foundation (NCEF), Collier C o m m u n i t y F o u n d a t i o n , Richard M Schulze Family Foundation and other organi z a t i o n s d i s t r i b u t e g r a n t s t o local nonprofits Often, fund i n g f r o m r e p u t a b l e p a r t n e r agencies signals that a non profit has been thoroughly vet ted, offering validation that a nonprofit is effective

Impact

N o n p r o f i t s h a v e m i s s i o n statements that outline their overall goal or

Season of giving offers opportunity to

Giving is more impactful, and important, than ever before Hurricane Ian brought to light the many needs across our commu nity, like affordable housing, hunger and social services.

Kiang Wu Guest Commentary

One issue that was prevalent before the storm, and remains a paramount concern today, is our children An investment in our youth is an investment in our future as a community Southwest Florida is fortunate to have world class

public school systems and top notch private schools, but how are we investing in our youth outside of school hours?

About five years ago, I began researching local nonprofits, evalu ating their missions, visions and goals I wanted to give my time and resources to an organization focused on our region’s future through our children Boys & Girls Clubs of Lee County’s mission is “to enable all young people, especially those who

need us most, to reach their full potential as productive, caring and responsible citizens ” One word in that statement stands out all

All parents doctors, nurses, restaurant servers, legal profession als, law enforcement officers, con struction workers, accountants, day laborers and others face the same challenge of finding high quality, affordable after school and summer programs, a task that has

eagle com

Kelly

Maylene

Tommy Doyle

goals. Some are aspirational, while others are realistic Quality organizations will take a deep dive each year that examines whether they are accomplishing, or on the path to accomplishing, their goals and objectives Results should be quantifiable Much like investors in the stock market want to see a profit, investors in a non profit should be able to see that their dol lars are making an impact Take a look at the nonprofit’s website to see recent Impact Reports and understand how your gift will make a difference.

Public Recognition

Good work always draws attention Industry associations, media and philan thropic groups often sponsor awards pro grams to recognize both organizations and i n d i v i d u a l s t h a t p r o d u c e o u t s t a n d i n g work Although nonprofits can be reluc tant to toot their own horns, those with a collection of awards are like athletes with

a jam packed trophy case it means they’re good at what they do

Personal Connection

One of the most important parts of giv ing is finding a cause that resonates with you Look for nonprofits that have values and beliefs that align with yours While ratings and success can be helpful in your selection process, what matters most is investing resources that help the commu nity in ways that matter to you.

Giving is important, but it’s especially meaningful if you give to a cause you truly support and give to an organization that will truly make a difference

Kelly Krupp is vice president of philan thropy at Guadalupe Center, which pro vides educational services to more than 1,750 students annually in Immokalee To learn more, visit GuadalupeCenter org or call 239 657 7711

From page 4

grown increasingly difficult as our region’s population continues to soar All children deserve opportunities to explore and pursue their passions with guidance from caring professionals

Founded in 1974, Boys & Girls Clubs of Lee County is an established organiza tion with a proven track record of success Members range from 6 to 18 years old and demonstrate high levels of academic per formance, good character and citizenship While many programs center on a singular area, Boys & Girls Clubs focus on out come driven experiences across five core areas: education and career, health and wellness, service and leadership, sports and recreation, and the arts This helps develop a whole child, not just one or two pieces

After many years of operating small but mighty programs, Boys & Girls Clubs of Lee County is poised for significant growth I was happy to contribute a lead gift to help purchase the new Park Meadows Community Club, a flagship location in Fort Myers that will be able to accommodate up to 600 children and teens annually. Upcoming renovations will create enclosed activity cen ters, a tech center, gaming room, central member hub and seating pods Outside, a covered sports pavilion and multipurpose sports field will expand athletic oppor tunities for members

Perhaps one of the most exciting features will be a new Teen Center that pro vides a separate space for older members to socialize, study, dance and play games For so long, teens in our community lacked a safe space that was relevant and cool, and Park Meadows will become the region’s new teen hub

For decades, Boys & Girls Clubs of Lee County operated in relative obscuri ty It was viewed as a place for lower income families and a backup plan for those who couldn’t find another after school option That has changed Clubs are con veniently located, afford

able, open to all families and offer compre hensive programming to support the whole child. Children and teens WANT to be members

Investors want to see a return on their investment, and Boys & Girls Clubs of Lee County offers plenty of evidence home work assistance and tutoring to improve academic achievement, mentoring to guide youth to make positive decisions and a safe environment that focuses on the overall well being of members

This holiday season, please consider investing in our future by supporting Boys & Girls Clubs of Lee County. The organi zation is raising money to renovate the Park Meadows Community Club in addition to supporting local families by making monthly registration fees even more afford able For more information, please visit BGClee org

Maylene Kiang Wu is president of the board of directors for Boys & Girls Clubs of Lee County

Donation to PIE families

we could get the water back on as fast as possible for the inhabitants of the island,” Maillakakis said H e n a m e s M e d i c C o r p , L e e C o u n t y E m e r g e n c y O p e r a t i o n s

Center, self generated support and t h e F l o r i d a D e p a r t m e n t o f Emergency Management and Florida Department of Environmental Pro tection with assistance from Tetra Tech Inc.

“Medic Corp is a quick reaction NGO They were on island the day after the storm They brought us 55 gallon drums of diesel and gasoline for the first week and a half, and their volunteers helped us fix leaks The EOC provided us a satellite phone, a barge with diesel, and mission num bers important in security additional s u p p o r t A f t e r t h e l a n d b r i d g e opened, GPIWA secured assistance through our mutual aid agreement with FlaWARN, which is a group of Florida based utilities for the purpose of disaster recovery and tapping it’s dedicated contractors, Boca Raton U t i l i t i e s s e n t a n I n c i d e n t Commander, Pinellas County sent three, two men distribution crews w i t h e q u i p m e n t , C a b a n a C o n s t r u c t i o n f o u r m a n c r e w a n d equipment

“Something unique to this hurri cane recovery was the governor’s involvement and his use of FDEM a n d F D E P T h r o u g h t h e m w e received a 25 ton air conditioning unit to replace our damaged one and a one mega watt portable generator Once utility power was restored to the water treatment plant we started twenty four seven service to all cus tomers ” Maillakakis said Maillakakis said he is especially grateful to Central World Kitchen who saw them driving around and stopped GPIWA workers to feed t h e m , a s w e l l a s i s l a n d e r s w h o stopped to help Since losing accessi

bility to the island wasn’t anticipated, the community came to aid with much needed diesel fuel in order to keep the water running

“We were rationing water before the bridge opened because we didn’t h a v e a s a f e s u p p l y o f d i e s e l , ” Maillakakis said, adding that the supply would have been fine, with out taking losing the bridge into account.

An assessment of the utility has been done since the hurricane, he said, and now improvements will be made, such as the creation of Noah’s Ark, so the same problems do not arise The first goal of this new pro gram is to prepare GPIWA for next year’s hurricane season, which is only 8 months away The second goal is to finalize hurricane preparations t h a t t a k e l o n g e r t h a n 8 m o n t h s GPIWA is currently applying for FEMA grants and reimbursements, he said

“We care about islanders They’re why we’re here and we think about them every day,” Maillakakis said

I w o u l d l i k e t o t h a n k H o n c Industries for clearing the CoOp/ Industrial marina at the end of Maria Drive, allowing for barge traffic to resume

Individuals and companies that assisted with diesel and diesel storage before the land bridge was open:

Medic Corp

Lee County Utilities

Control District

GPIWA Board Director Ila Valcarcel

Cape Coral City Councilmem ber Dan Sheppard, with Sheppard Landscape and Palm Source Pine Island, LLC

AP Bell Fish Co, Inc.

Tide Charters

PHOTO PROVIDED

Zach Robertson, right, presents a check from the Bradley David Stokes Jr. Memorial Scholarship Fund to Principal Tom Millins for families at Pine Island Elementary.

“With the blessing of the CEO of Millenium I was able to open up our office, despite having no electricity, no water, no air conditioning we turned it into an emergency clinic,” Gustin said After making an “emergency clinic” sign out of plywood, people were coming in non stop, she said Linda Overbaugh, h e r m e d i c a l a s s i s t a n

w h o l i v e s i n Bokeelia, agreed to help, without ques tion, never leaving Gustin’s side, she said Together they picked up the ceiling, which had caved in on the floor of the waiting area and proceeded to treat vari ous patients with multiple issues, from children with acute bronchitis, to laborers

who’d fallen from ladders, sustaining deep lacerations

“We cared for whoever came in it was a long journey we just never left,” Gustin said, adding that the help she r e c e i v e d f r o m l o c a l s , a s w e l l a s Sanderson, was crucial in allowing her to do this “They provided a generator to our office, they ended up giving us endless supplies of gasoline and checked on us probably five or six times a day Amazing locals dropped off air conditioning win dow units. We had medical disaster relief come in and set up Starlink so we had internet access for everybody eventually,” Gustin said

Several people helped to tarp the roof, she said, due to quite a bit of sustained water damage

Overall, Gustin admits she’s met many amazing people who have likely become a permanent part of her life as a result of working together through the disaster Once islanders realized they were open, they showed up to volunteer non stop, she said

“They gave us a list with names and if someone needed something off site, they would give us the address and I would go out personally and do whatever needed to be done whether they had a laceration, or needed medication or a shot of antibi

otics I was even going by boat to pick up medicines for patients and bringing them back because the pharmacy wasn’t open,” Gustin said

Through every facet of the hurricane response effort, Gustin admits she found it difficult to take a break, explaining that even after returning home as late as 10 p m , the island lingered on her mind, finding it was all she could think about

“It has made us stronger We’re that much closer because of this. I honestly feel that I could count on any person on this island and I hope they know that they can count on me as well We are Pine Island strong,” Gustin said

PHOTOS PROVIDED BY KRISTIN GUSTIN Above, fallen pieces of the ceiling in the waiting room. At left, Kristin Gustin with Island Tactical owner Jay Sanderson.

Saracione voted Athlete of the Month for November

The

The junior forward netted five goals and tallied an assist over two games for a talented Mariner team, including a four goal performance against Bishop Verot

“ I t h i n k w e ' r e f e e l i n g c o n f i d e n t

Voting for Decembers Athlete of the Month will open toward the end of the month Stay up to date on www capecoralbreeze com

Pine Island Potters Guild Show set for Dec. 10

The Pine Island Potters’ Guild is look ing forward to their holiday show and sale in the courtyard at Koucky Studios this Saturday, Dec 10, from 10 a m to 2 p m This outdoor venue hosts local artisans showing handmade crafts and pottery in a variety of mediums Please plan to attend, say hello, enjoy the community spirit, and support our local artisans

The Guild Show features an ever growing selection of handmade works created by local artisans in many medi ums perfect for everyone on your gift giving list or as a treat for yourself Stop by and explore the works by guild artisans f e a t u r i n g p o t t e r y , j e w e l r y , h a n d m a d e

cigar box style guitars and ukuleles, holi day themed gifts, tropical home décor, w o o d w o r k i n g , j a m s a n d h o n e y , a n d ready to wear art, and paintings This month, the Guild Show is introducing “Matlacha Aisle” a special row of booths from Matlacha businesses that have been displaced from their store fronts: Bert’s Pine Bay Gallery, CW Fudge/Gift Shop, Matlacha Menagerie, and Traders Hitching Post Fresh baked goods will be available for a delicious snack or to take home as a special addition to any meal

At 11 a m , Chuck Koucky and some of his pottery students will demonstrate

the art of horsehair raku Horsehair cre ates random patterns and lines on the pot’s surface shortly after it has been pulled, red hot, from the kiln If you are interested in Pottery Classes from begin n e r s t o a d v a n c e d , t a l k w i t h C h u c k Koucky about his class schedule

M a r k y o u r c a l e n d a r s a n d p l a n t o s t o p b y , s o a k u p s o m e P i n e I s l a n d H o l i d a y S p i r i t , r e l a x i n t h e i s l a n d s t y l e a t m o s p h e r e o f t h e c o u r t y a r d a t K o u c k y S t u d i o s , a n d e n j o y t a l k i n g w i t h a l l t h e a r t i s a n s a b o u t t h e i r b e a u t i f u l a n d u n i q u e p r o d u c t s

The Guild Shows are held on the sec o n d S a t u r d a y o f e a c h m o n t h f r o m

Centennial Bank to host Shred Day Saturday

By PAULETTE LeBLANC pleblanc@breezenewspapers com

a y f o r i s l a n d e r s , S a t u r d a y , D e c 1 0 , a t t h e

C e n t e n n i a l B a n k b r a n c h f r o m 9 a m

t o 3 p m H o t d o g s w i l l b e p r o v i d e d , s a i d b r a n c h m a n a g e r , E l s i e S t e a r n s

T h i s i s a c h a n c e t o g e t r i d o f d o c u m e n t s t h a t s h o u l d b e s h r e d d e d b e f o r e g o i n g i n t o t h e t r a s h a n d h a v e s o m e l u n c h w i t h f e l l o w i s l a n d e r s S t r o n g e r t h a n t h e S u r g e t e e s h i r t s w i l l b e a v a i l a b l e f o r p u r c h a s e o n t h e p r e m i s e s , s h e s a i d N o t h i n g w e t o r m o l d y w i l l b e a c c e p t e d

s C i t y

, please call Nancy Koucky at 239 233 3003

Koucky Studios is at 5971 Bay Point Road, Bokeelia

Bokeelia Art Gift Gallery to open today

The Bokeelia Art Gift Gallery will be opening for the season today, Dec 7 The gallery will feature local artists and crafts man as well as many works by new Southwest Florida artists

The gallery will be well stocked with gifts for all the special people on shoppers'

holiday lists.

The gallery will once again be collecting toys for the Pine Island F I S H holiday toy drive Please drop off toys by Dec 16

The Bokeelia Art Gallery is at 8315 Main St , Bokeelia Call 239 738 5280 for additional information

CW Fudge Factory to hold Christmas Bazaar and

Beacon of Hope is open Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 9 a m to 5 p m Computers, fax and printer are available for use Case Managers are available at these times Call 239 283 5123 to make an appointment

Special Events

∫ There will be a Christmas dinner delivered on Christmas Eve along with stockings for all the young people under 18 Please call the Beacon at 239 283 5123 to sign up You may also sign up to cook the food, to put the meals together at the Fire Station at 9 a m on Christmas Eve morning, or to deliver the meals

Ongoing Events

∫ The Food Bank Every Saturday at 9:30 a m The Emergency Pantry is available when we are open.

∫ Wellness Committee Monday, Sept 12, at 10 a m

∫ T h e V e t e r a n ’ s S u p p o r t g r o u p meets on the first Friday of every month from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Call 239 283 5123 to make an appointment

∫ Strange Arrangement Monday 6

7:30 p m Lessons given A musical experience

∫ Funds/Communications meeting To be announced

∫ Grants Committee meeting To Be announced

∫ Homelessness Committee to be announced

∫ Alzheimer’s Caregiver Support Group second and fourth Thursdays at 9 a m at the Methodist Church

∫ Yoga on Mondays from 4 to 5 p m

∫ Pine Island Boy Scout Troop will be meeting Wednesday evenings at 6 p.m.

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

∫ E S O L c l a s s e s a r e h e l d e v e r y M o n d a y a t 7 p m a t t h e B e a c o n , Wednesday night at Fire Station 3 in Bokeelia, and Monday at 9 a m at the Park

∫ The Attic (Thrift Store) will be open Monday through Friday from 9 a m to 2 p m Donations are on hold at the moment Every Tuesday is 50 per cent off clothing, shoes, and similar items

∫ Blood pressure screenings at the Beacon on Wednesday from 1 to 2 p m and Saturday mornings from 10 to 11 a m

Wellness articles are available on our Website beaconofhopepineisland com These articles are changed every couple of weeks Previous articles are archived to be read at any time The present arti cle is on E Cigs

Beacon of Hope is at 5090 Doug Taylor Circle, St James City

Nativity Scene Dec. 17

The CW Fudge Factory will have its Christmas Bazaar and Live Nativity Scene on the grounds of St John’s Episcopal Church Saturday, Dec 17 Performances will be at 5, 6 and p m Each performance will last approx imately 30 minutes

Because many islanders have said they've been unable to attend the per formances on Christmas Eve due to other commitments, organizers hope the earli er date provides the opportunity for more to attend.

Please bring your folding chairs and any drinks or snacks you want to enjoy and plan to do some Christmas shopping at the Christmas Bazaar starting at 3 p m

William and Carlos’ famous hot chocolate will be available in limited supply during the performances

Please also bring a canned food item for the Pine Island Food Pantry

St John’s is at 7771 Stringfellow Road in St James City Please email any questions to mrktglady@gmail com

Legion Auxiliary to host Pancakes with Santa Dec. 17

American Legion Auxiliary would like to invite the public to its 3rd Annual Pancakes with Santa Saturday Dec 17, from 9 11 a m The Legion Post is locat ed at 4106 Stringfellow Road, St James City

Please call to register your child with Teresa 239 738 5008 or Tracy 229

3 3 2 8 0 2 7 T h e A u x i l i a r y w i l l n e e d child’s name and age gifts will be age appropriate The age for participants will range from 0 12 years Please feel free to reach out to us

The cut off for registrations will be Dec. 7 to allow the auxiliary time to pre pare

November through April. For more infor m a t i o n a b o u t t h e P o t t e r s ’ G u i l d a n d D e c e m b e r ’ s H o l i d a y S h o w a n d S a l e

C e n t e n n i a l B a n k i s a t 5 5 5 1 S u n s e t L a n e , S a i n t J a m e

Staf f Repor t

votes are in for November's Athlete of the Month, and the winner is Mariner's Stephanie Saracione

Stephanie Saracione

United Way of Lee, Hendry, and Glades will host its annual campaign kick off on Dec. 14 at the Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall at Florida SouthWestern State College in Fort Myers

Networking and light breakfast items will be available at 8:30 a m The program will start at 9 a m

The event is the start of the United Way’s annual fundraising effort Team members, partner agencies and volunteers will unite to raise awareness in the communi ty through the testimonials of donors, advocates and recipients Pacesetter results will be announced United Way Pacesetters are companies that run their campaigns early to set the pace for the rest of the community The event also allows attendees to network with hundreds of United Way supporters

United Way Campaign Co Chairs Sally Jackson and Matt Humphreys will lead the kickoff event to the goal of $11,186,558 The theme of this year’s campaign has shifted to “United More Than Ever ”

“United Way of Lee, Hendry, and Glades is our United Way,” Jackson said “With one gift, you can help 90 agencies and over 260 programs that make a differ ence to people from early childhood through senior life One person, one donor, one volunteer can make a differ

ence in the lives of many of our friends and neighbors. We want United Way to be your way to make a difference ”

“ B e i n g t h e c h a i r o f t h e United Way Campaign is an h o n o r a n d a c h a l l e n g e , ”

Humphreys added “It is a huge r e s p o n s i b i l i t y t o r a i s e n e a r l y $11 2 million for our United Way, especially in the after math of a disaster, but I will pursue the goal with passion and enthusiasm When people ask me why I support our United Way, I answer that it is one of the most efficient, effective and compassionate ways to give back to the community I love It is the best way to connect people who need help with people who can help ”

A two year lease for a 2022 Acura from Scanlon Auto Group will be given away to an annual contributor of

$240 or more from the 2020 21 United Way Campaign. Five donors to the campaign will be drawn at random, and one will discover the keys in a gift box at the event

A l l m o n e y r a i s e d f o r t h e United Way campaign stays in the local community to help support the local human service network Partner agen c

Alzheimer’s Resource Center, Partners for Breast Cancer Care, Harry Chapin Food Bank, Boys and Girls Clubs and United Way 211, to mention a few. T i c k e

ly/UWKickoff22 23

For more information, call 239 433 2000 or visit www UnitedWayLee org

Dress for Success SW Florida is hosting its “Season of Giving” online auction from now through Dec 10, fea turing vacations, staycations, designer accessories and tickets to concerts and sporting events.

Some of the travel packages include:

∫ A Taste of N e w O r l e a n s : Hotel accommo d a t i o n s , d i n n e r a n d a c o o k i n g class

∫ E x p l o r e O l d S a v a n n a h : Hotel accommo d a t i o n s , d i n n e r , walking tour and cemetery tour

∫ Monserrat Caribbean Villa: Three bedroom, three bathroom mountain and ocean view suite with private pool and terrace

∫ Nashville Fine Dining: Hotel accommodations, din ner and distillery tour

“The last few months have been challenging for every one in Southwest Florida, which is why this holiday sea son is so important,” Executive Director Nickole Hendra said “‘Season of Giving’ o f f e r s a n o p p o r t u n i t y t o show our loved ones how we really feel by giving them a truly unique gift, while simultaneously pro viding resources to a non profit that serves so many women in our community ”

The proceeds will sup port Dress for Success' mis sion to promote the eco nomic independence of dis advantaged women by pro viding professional attire, a n e t w o r k o f s u p p o r t a n d career development tools to help them thrive in work and in life Programs help women find and maintain e m p l o y m e n t , a s w e l l a s achieve health and well ness, as they address social and economic needs

For more information or t o b i d , v i s i t one.bidpal.net/seasonofgiv ing22

Factory kicks off holiday season with activities

B y C H U C K B A L L A R O

n e w s @ b r e e z e n e w s p a p e r s c o m

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S h e r i d a n s a i d “ W i t h w h a t y o u g e t f o r t h e p r i c e o f a d m i s s i o n r e a l l y m a k e s t h i s a b a r g a i n ”

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“ A c o m p a n y m a y w a n t

t o h a v e t h e i r n a m e o n a n e n c l o s u r e , t h e y c a n d o n a t e $ 5 , 0 0 0 o r $ 3 , 0 0 0 W e ’ l l t a k e a n y t h i n g w e n e e d W e h o p e t o b e o p e n b y C h r i s t m a s , ” s h e s a i d

T o m m y ’ s i s o p e n , t h e S o u t h e r n G r i l l h a s r e o p e n e d a n d T h e P l a y e r s C i r c l e T h e a t e r h a s s h o w s o n s t a g e “ T h e L a d y w i t h A l l t h e A n s w e r s , ” a p r o d u c t i o n a b o u t f a m e d a d v i c e c o l u m n i s t A n n L a n d e r s , w i l l r u n f r o m n o w t h r o u g h D e c 1 8

F o r m o r e i n f o r m a t i o n , v i s i t w w w s h e l l f a c t o r y c o m o r c a l l 9 9 5 2 1 4 1

T h e S h e l l F a c t o r y & N a t u r e P a r k i s a t 2 7 8 7 N T a m i a m i T r a i l , N o r t h F o r t M y e r s

Lee County students to present ‘The Nutcracker

Its 20th year for the production, the North Fort Myers Academy for the Arts will per form “The Nutcracker” on Dec 7 at 7 p m at the Barbara B Mann Performing Arts Hall, at 13350 FSW Parkway, Fort Myers A spe cial production of Tchaikovsky’s holiday classic, the two act ballet is a multi faceted arts educational experience for students of all ages and arts disciplines at the school and will feature over 200 students ages 6 14 on the stage. Tickets range from $15 35. The proceeds will support the arts education pro grams and special arts opportunities at the school For more information or tickets, visit w w w B B M a n n P A H c o m , c a l l 2 3 9 4 8 1 4849 or stop by the Mann Performing Arts Hall box office

FILE PHOTO

Pam Cronin, owner of the Shell Factory & Nature Park, in the Holiday House

School district extends kindergarten pre-registration

The School District of Lee County reported that it has extended the online service for kindergarten pre registra tion until Jan 27 Parents no longer need to come in per son or email Student Enrollment, they simply need to use their FOCUS Parent Portal or create a parent portal if they are registering their first child Instructions to pre register incoming kindergarten stu d e n t s a r e a v a i l a b l e o n t h e d i s t r i c t ’ s w e b s i t e a

registration The pre registration is for students who will start kindergarten in August The documents required to pre register include:

Copy of parent photo ID

Copy of birth certificate

Physical health examination that has been dated

n i t i e s f o r L e e C o u n t y r e s i d e n t s f o r t h e D i s a s t e r S u p p l e m e n t a l N u t r i t i o n A s s i s t a n c e P r o g r a m ( D S N A P )

T o d a y , D e c 7 , a n d D e c 1 1 , t h e r e w i l l b e a p h o n e D S N A P e v e n t O n D e c 9 1 1 , a p p l i c a n t s u n a b l e t o c o m p l e t e t h e i r i n t e r v i e w d u r i n g t h e p h o n e e v e n t w i l l b e a b l e t o c o m p l e t e t h e i r i n t e r v i e w o n s i t e D S N A P p r o v i d e s f o o d a s s i s t a n c e

f o r i n d i v i d u a l s a n d f a m i l i e s i m p a c t e d b y H u r r i c a n e I a n w h o a r e n o t r e c e i v i n g f o o d a s s i s t a n c e b e n e f i t s t h r o u g h t h e r e g u l a r S u p p l e m e n t a l N u t r i t i o n A s s i s t a n c e P r o g r a m

T h e D C F r e o p e n e d p r e r e g i s t r a t i o n f o r i n d i v i d u a l s w h o r e s i d e i n L e e a n d d i d n o t p r e v i o u s l y p r e r e g i s t e r o n l i n e o r c o m p l e t e t h e i r p h o n e i n t e r v i e w b e f o r e O c t 1 6 I n d i v i d u a l s a r e e n c o u r a g e d t o p r e r e g i s t e r o n l i n e b e f o r e c o m i n g o n s i t e o r c a l l i n g t h e D S N A P C a l l C e n t e r t o c o m p l e t e t h e i r i n t e r v i e w P r e r e g i s

within 12 months prior to registration

∫ DH680 Florida Certificate of Immunization, which can be obtained for free by taking immunization record to the Lee County Health Department, at 3920 Michigan Ave , Fort Myers, after making an appointment by call ing 239 461 6100

Social Security Card (optional)

Custody documents (if applicable)

Proof of address

Once parents have all the necessary documents they can log into their FOCUS Parent Portal or create one to register and enter the required information for pre regis tration After submittal a confirmation email will be pro vided to the parent with additional information.

F o r q u e s t i o n s , c o n t a c t studentenrollment@leeschools net

t r a t i o n w i l l b e a v a i l a b l e a t w w w . m y f l f a m i l i e s . c o m / d s n a p t o d a y , D e c 7 , a n d D e c 9 1 1

∫ Phone interview

P r e r e g i s t e r o n l i n e :

MyFLFamilies com/DSNAP

C a l l : 8 8 8 3 4 8 0 4 0 8 o r 8 5 5 2 7 8

7136

Today, Dec 7, and Dec 11 from 7 a m to 5 p m

∫ On site location

Lee County Civic Center, at 11831 Bayshore Road, North Fort Myers

County announces closure of two debris drop-off sites

L e e C o u n t y r e p o r t e d t h a t t h e p u b l i c d r o p o f f s i t e s f o r H u r r i c a n e I a n s t o r m d e b r i s a t t h e B r o o k s C o m m u n i t y P a r k , a t 5 0 S o u t h R o a d , F o r t M y e r s , a n d L e e C o u n t y M o s q u i t o C o n t r o l , a t 1 8 4 0 G u n n e r y R o a d , L e h i g h A c r e s , w i l l c l o s e o n D e c . 9 a t 5 : 3 0 p m

T h e s i t e s o p e n e d t o a l l o w f r e e d i s p o s a l t o t h o s e w h o c h o s e t o s e l f h a u l s t o r m d e b r i s T h e c o u n t y r e p o r t e d t h a t m o r e

t h a n 4 , 6 0 0 p e o p l e h a v e v i s i t e d t h e s i t e s , b u t b o t h a r e c l o s i n g d u e t o d i m i n i s h e d u s e . T h e B r o o k s P a r k s i t e i n i t i a l l y s a w d a y s w i t h m o r e t h a n 1 0 0 v i s i t o r s a n d t h e n a v e r a g e d 6 6 p e o p l e p e r d a y R e c e n t l y , t h a t a v e r a g e d r o p p e d t o 3 8 . T h e M o s q u i t o C o n t r o l s i t e , w h i c h a c c e p t e d o n l y v e g e t a t i v e d e b r i s , s a w a n a v e r a g e o f 2 8 p e o p l e a d a y w i t h a r e c e n t d a i l y a v e r a g e o f 1 2

The following county sites will

continue to operate through Dec 21:

∫ San Carlos Utility Site, at 18078 Cypress Point Road, Fort Myers

∫ Shell Factory, at 2805 N Tamiami Trail, North Fort Myers

F o r H u r r i c a n e I a n r e s p o n s e u p d a t e s a n d i n f o r m a t i o n , v i s i t www leegov com/storm or follow “ L e e C o u n t y G o v e r n m e n t ” o n

F a c e b o o k o r a t w w w f a c e b o o k c o m / l e e c o u n tyflbocc

Dec 9 11 from 7 a m to 5 p m

∫ Current SNAP recipients are not eli gible for D SNAP and should not attend the on site D SNAP location

∫ Applicants who were approved dur ing the telephone interview for D SNAP will receive their EBT card by mail and should not attend the on site D SNAP location

∫ Households that do not live or work in Lee will not be served at the on site D SNAP location

l e

Growing business is looking to hire the right candidate to join a highly motivated team of audio installers. Willing to travel in the United States at any time. Days and nights as needed. Able to lift 70lbs and carry supplies. Able to climb ladder and stand. Must have driver’s license. Outstanding work ethics.Technical studies preferred. Background check and fingerprint is required. Spanish speaking a plus. $150 a day. Email resume to blueribbonconnection@yahoo.com

Army Corps adjusts Lake Okeechobee releases to Caloosahatchee

The U S Army Corps of Engineers' Jacksonville District reported that begin ning on Dec 3, it would increase releases f r o m L a k e O k e e c h o b e e t o t h e Caloosahatchee Estuary from the W P Franklin Lock and Dam (S 79) at a seven day average pulse release of 2,000 cubic feet per second No lake releases are planned for the St Lucie Estuary

The Corps added that anticipates that it will have to increase releases again and will spend this week listening to stake holders throughout the state to get their input and feedback on the best way to manage the needs of the entire system, while anticipating potential risks that may be in front of it

Last week's target was still within the R E s t o r a t i o n C O o r d i n a t i o n & VERification (RECOVER) optimal flow envelope for the Caloosahatchee Water from the lake will only be released in amounts needed to supplement local basin runoff to meet the target of 2,000 cfs, and the target was consistent with the recom mendation from the South Florida Water Management District for the week “Lake Okeechobee continues to rise d u e t o H u r r i c a n e I a n a n d N i c o l e , ” Jacksonville District Commander Col James Booth said “Based on conditions in the lake, we must increase releases to help manage lake levels and put the lake in the best possible position for the dry season and the next wet season We will continue to utilize our make up release tool which

allows us to make releases at lower levels and bank the volume not released ”

Make up releases are a water manage ment tool within the Lake Okeechobee Regulation Schedule 2008 (LORS08), which gives water managers the flexibili ty to bank releases allowed under LORS but not made in order to release them later when the schedule calls for lower releases LORS08 Part D guidance currently rec ommends up to 4,000 cfs at S 77 and up to 1,800 cfs at S 80 The volumetric dif ference between the actual releases and the guidance will be put into a water bank As conditions in the estuaries recover and the schedule goes into dry season mode, releases will be continued using the avail able volume of banked water The intent is to release the volume at beneficial levels during the dry season The Corps is com mitted to transparency throughout the implementation of make up releases

With the lake over 16 5 feet as of Dec 2, the Corps has been executing inspec tions of the south side of the lake from Moore Haven to Belle Glade weekly and inspecting the remainder of the dike every two weeks.

The HHD was inspected thoroughly before and after Ian and Nicole, and no problems were identified

As of Dec 2, Lake Okeechobee was 16 50 feet That is 0 10 feet higher than the prior week, 0 63 feet higher than 30 days ago, and 0 57 feet higher than it was on the same date last year

FWC approves rule to modify shortfin mako bag limit

At its recent meeting, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission approved a rule to set the Florida state waters recreational bag limit for Atlantic shortfin mako at zero

The rule will make Florida’s state reg ulations consistent with federal regula t i o n s , a d d r e s s o

h o r t f i n mako and support coordinated U S and international efforts to manage Atlantic shortfin mako

Commercial harvest of shortfin mako is already prohibited in state and federal waters

Learn more about shark regulations by visiting MyFWC com/Marine and click ing on “Recreational Regulations” and

FILE PHOTO