WEEk of JaNuarY 24, 2024 FLIER INSIDE
Leadership award DJ Ruscik selected Chamber of Commerce’s Al Mills Award winner — INSIDE pINEISlaND-EaglE.com
VolumE 47, NumbEr 38
Come spend the day in Matlacha All-day, island-wide ‘open house’ event scheduled for Feb. 3 By PAULETTE LeBLANC
pleblanc@breezenewspapers.com
Matlacha residents and business owners alike fear word may not be out that the heart of Pine Island is still beating after the tragedy of Hurricane Ian swept through town. According to Matlacha Menagerie owner Larry Solinger, on Feb. 3, there will be an open house in Matlacha all day beginning approximately at noon.
“It’s basically a community call out for folks to come and see how our recovery is going. Enjoy the day. We’ve got food, T-shirts, local art and jewelry. Our ‘come meet the artist’ event at Matlacha Menagerie will feature artists who come out to meet the public,” Solinger said. The primary reason for the event is exposure, he said, as people have meandered into his store genuinely surprised to see businesses in Matlacha up and running after
last year’s hurricane. “I’ve had people tell me they thought Matlacha was destroyed. They didn’t think there was anything out here. They thought all the businesses had been wiped out. In a lot of cases it’s a pleasant surprise and we have lots of people that tell us they only came out because friends have told them there is still plenty to do out here,” Solinger said. See MATLACHA, page 12
St. James City Civic Association welcomes Hamby as new president By PAULETTE LeBLANC
pleblanc@breezenewspapers.com
GPIA discusses long-term recovery of Pine Island By PAULETTE LeBLANC
pleblanc@breezenewspapers.com
The Greater Pine Island Alliance discussed the island’s ongoing recovery efforts Jan. 16 at its monthly general meeting. According to GPIA co-founder Aaron Barreda, the GPIA continues to receive support from Habitat for Humanity via island housing projects, as well as Catholic Charities. “They (Catholic Charities) continue to support us
— of those funds $100,000 —we’ve spent approximately $40,000 in rebuilding homes, based on Catholic Charities supporting us. We continue to work with them and once the initial grant is spent down we will ask them to see if they can fund us with more funds through Catholic Charities to build homes,” Barreda said. The GPIA, along with the International Lions Club, See LONG-TERM RECOVERY, page 12
On Dec. 14, 2024, Cena Hamby took over as president of the St. James City Civic Association. Hamby said although Hurricane Ian caused much damage to the St. James City Civic Center, there was a formal board decision not to ask for help, for at least a year, from a community who had already lost so much. “How could we ask our neighbors to help us out, when they were simply trying to put roofs back over their heads,” Hamby said. Extensive hurricane damage to the center included the roof, ceilings, floors and doors, she said. Even the trees outside the Cena Hamby building sustained damage. The 1.8-acre property also contains a children’s park, managed and leased by the Pine Island Kiwanis Club, that was hit hard, she said. “We also have an exercise area with equipment used often by surrounding neighbors. People walk their dogs because we have a huge park. Now that we’ve started we have replaced our roof, and starting next month we’re putting in epoxy flooring. With the new board, we’re focused on putting in the proper materials so never vinyl flooring again,” Hamby said.
See HAMBY, page 12
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