WEEk of JaNuarY 10, 2024 FLIER INSIDE
Eaglet hatches 2023 was an eventful year for the Southwest Florida Eagle Cam — INSIDE pINEISlaND-EaglE.com
VolumE 47, NumbEr 36
Gifford finds a home at Sunbelt Realty By PAULETTE LeBLANC
pleblanc@breezenewspapers.com
Velma Gifford’s island roots began 5 generations ago on Cayo Costa. Her father was in the Army, which meant the family traveled often, but they always came back to the island for the summer, she said. When Gifford was going into the 9th grade, her parents got a divorce, which brought her mother back to Pine Island full time, in fact, family is the reason Gifford said she ended up where she is. “That’s where my family started and that’s where I feel comfortable. I feel like I know the culture and I heard a lot of really good things about Mike (Shevlin) and Sunbelt,” Gifford said. After a career in the education industry that lasted 36 years, Gifford got her real estate license. It was her moth-
Beacon begins disbursement of Unite Florida Grant By PAULETTE LeBLANC
pleblanc@breezenewspapers.com
According to Beacon of Hope board member Elsie Stearns, hiring Grants Manager Joanne Lembo for the disbursement of funds from the Unite Florida Grant was one of the best things the board could have done. After having been on the Beacon Task Force, Lembo wrote the application process. “Joanne has a tremendous background with law enforcement, and she’s been a big part of volunteering to help people with FEMA and all of that. She’s been right by our side since the aftermath of the storm,” Stearns said. Grants have a very strict audit trail, where projects done with the money must be shown, Lembo explained. After the announcement was made on Nov. 1, the application process was opened. Volunteer Florida had basic criteria in its MOA (memorandum of agreement), Lembo said, leaving her to try to imagine how the grant might best benefit Pine Island. “We received 39 applications from the island. We decided to approach small businesses first, because small island businesses were impacted and that’s one of the criteria. It had to be an impact by Hurricane Ian, you had to have had the business prior to Hurricane Ian, you had to have been on Greater Pine Island and it had to be tangible,” Lembo said. Of the 39 applications, 28 of them were awarded grant money, Lembo said, totaling over $340,000. Individual award amounts were kept confidential, Stearns explained, in an effort to protect the privacy of everyone involved. “There was a lot information gathered, a lot of consideration given and something that the Beacon wanted was the transparency and accuracy. Bringing Joanne in as someone who didn’t know everyone in the communiSee DISBURSEMENT, page 16
er who insisted she meet Shevlin. Once she did, she said she immediately felt comfortable. It was then Gifford said she realized she had to learn both the business of real estate, and also how to market herself. Although she is very familiar with the island, as a real estate agent, she considers herself a newcomer. “After being in education for 36 years, I wanted something that would be enjoyable — working with people — being
Velma Gifford
outside. I think I made the right decision. I wanted to go into something that makes people happy and buying your first home or buying a new home makes people happy,” Gifford said. Part of the reason Gifford loves her job, she said, is that she is able to be her own advocate for success, by creating her own schedule and hours. In meeting agents from Cape Coral and Fort Myers, Gifford has been able to see the various approaches taken. There’s no cookie cutter approach to this, she said. You just have to pick an approach that fits you. “I think the most important thing about being on the island is understanding the culture. I think that’s what makes me a good agent,” Gifford said. Contact Century 21 Sunbelt Realty at 239-283-1100.
Nasser new hair stylist at Christine Karow Hair Designs and Massage Special to THE EAGLE
pleblanc@breezenewspapers.com
Tricia Nasser is a new hair stylist at Christine Karow Hair Designs and Massage, with 25+ years of experience in the industry. Nasser travels back and forth between her New York and Florida locations, allowing her to offer services in several locations to better serve her clients. Over the years she has offered a multitude of services including hair, nails, lashes and cosmetic tattooing. She was a salon owner herself before moving into the independent contractor role. She uses her skills and knowledge to create unique and beautiful hairstyles for her clients. She said she believes that hair is a perfect way of Tricia Nasser expressing ourselves. She is here to help islanders recreate their vision or to help finally find the style that is your own. Nasser is also an experienced colorist, with a specialty in reds and curls of all tones, shapes and styles. Christine Karow Hair Designs and Massage is at 10700 Stringfellow Road, Unit #70, Bokeelia. For more information about the salon to make an appointment, call 239-283-4222 or to contact Nasser direct, call 518-322-3366.
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