040425 Cape Coral Weekend Breeze

City OKs utility infrastructure in preserve

By MEGHAN BRADBURY news@breezenewspapers.com

Plans to install utility infrastructure at Yellow Fever Creek Preserve has final approval from the Cape Coral City Council. Council amended three policies within the city’s Comprehensive Plan on Wednesday, reducing the preserve by 14 acres to allow water tanks and other facilities to be constructed.

“This is in my district, actually my backyard. A preserve is a preserve, is a preserve.”

— Rachel Kaduk, councilmember, District 7, who voted no along with Councilmember Keith Long on using 14 acres in Yellow Fever Creek Preserve for water tanks, a pumping station and more

Councilmembers Rachel Kaduk and Keith Long voted against the two enacting ordinances – 85-24 and 6-25.

Cape Coral Breeze

Ordinance 85-24 is a city-initiated text change to reduce the 200 acre site by ap-

EHL Fragile X Foundation fundraiser offers free admission

By CJ HADDAD cjhaddad@breezenewspapers.com

n annual event that raises funds for a genetic disorder while giving children a chance to play with real, full-sized “toys” returns to Cape Coral this weekend. The eighth annual EHL Touch A Truck takes place this Saturday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Lafayette Street in downtown Cape Coral, where children and their families can engage and get an

up-close-and-personal experience with a wide variety of large vehicles, trucks, buses, fire engines, construction equipment, and more. Originating in 2015 through a collaboration between the South Cape Hospitality & Entertainment Association, and Fran and Steve Marsino’s EHL Fragile X Foundation, the event was inspired by their grandson Ethan, who has the syndrome. The event’s aim is to raise awareness

See TOUCH A TRUCK, page 26

proximately 14 acres for Utility Expansion Project infrastructure for water storage and a water pumping station to provide water and sewer to the northeastern portion of the city, Principal Planner Chad Boyko said.

“This proposed change would remove the acreage from the park,” he said.

The ordinance amends three chapters: n Chapter 2 – Coastal and Conservation Element, by “adding language allowing a

See PRESERVE,

By MEGHAN BRADBURY news@breezenewspapers.com

The Boathouse Tiki Bar & Grill will be back as an integral component of the city’s redevelopment of the Yacht Club park. To that end, city staff continues to have weekly or biweekly meetings with the Kearns Group regarding the construction of the new Boathouse, City Manager Mike Ilczyszyn said in an update to Cape Coral City Council Wednesday.

The popular waterfront eatery, which was destroyed by a fire after it rebuilt and re-opened following Hurricane Ian, will reopen when the park at the end of Driftwood Parkway fully opens again to the public, Ilczyszyn said, adding an interim option that would allow Kearns Group to provide its services sooner also is in discussion.

The city and the company with which it has a public-private partnership for food concessions at the park, is in regular contact and is working with Zak Kearns, who is rebuilding the Boathouse.

No major modifications for Jaycee Park plans, cost would be too high, Cape Council decides

By MEGHAN BRADBURY news@breezenewspapers.com

Although the city has terminated its agreement with the concessionaire it chose, the motion to remove the related building from the Jaycee Park redevelopment plan was not supported by Cape Coral City Council Wednesday.

After citizen input concluded, Councilmember Laurie Lehmann brought up what she said is a safety issue — putting a volleyball court and lawn games in the center of Jaycee Park by the splash pad and kid’s playground is “not exactly a safe situation.”

“I would like to make a motion to get rid of the building completely and not have a concessionaire at all at Jaycee Park and move the volleyball court and lawn games over to where the building was and then have a playground with the way it is,” Lehmann said. She said the city should also work quickly to get the pavilions and trees back so people can enjoy the park again.

“We need to do something,” she said. She was the only one in favor of the motion.

The conversation came in the wake of the city not receiving funds due from The Reef Cape Coral LLC by its deadline. The Reef Cape Coral LLC is the city’s approved and contracted concessionaire for the commercial component of the redevelopment plan for the riverfront park at the end of Beach Parkway.

Councilmember Jennifer Nelson-Lastra seconded the motion for discussion.

“I feel like we keep saying the same thing over and over again,” she said.

The public-private partnership concessionaire agreement is separate from the construction agreement.

Lastra said the city has already made $1.2 million in payments on the construction side. She said if they start changing plans it will be very costly.

City Attorney Aleksandr Boksner said council could make alterations, but there would be financial consequences, as well as delays, for the city. He said the amount, at this time, would only be speculation.

“As of the 16th when I did a legal analysis on this, there is commitment of $7.5 million for subcontractors,” Boksner said, adding that two and a half months later they are still engaged in this conversation. “Jan. 16 we were looking at $7.5 million of authorized work.”

Many councilmembers spoke against the motion, saying they could not provide support.

“It’s not just as simple as saying not put it here, over here instead,” Councilmember Bill Steinke said, adding that the city would have to start over again with permitting and the design process. “I want the park open as fast as it can be for the public. Any delays are purposeless.”

Steinke said another concessionaire can be brought in.

Mayor John Gunter said the concessionaire agreement is a lease of a building that the city owns.

“This particular agreement has been terminated because they didn’t provide the necessary funding that they were required to do,” he said. “Where that leaves us now is we do not have a lease for that particular structure for that building. We could put it out for an RFP to invite other organizations and businesses to bid to be a concessionaire at the park. There could be another, not saying there is, another business out there that they could put in an unsolicited bid.”

Gunter said he had no desire to make a decision that could cost the city millions of dollars.

“I do not personally have the appetite to lose money,” he said. “All we are talking about is a concessionaire agreement that fell through. I would not support the motion. I want the project to continue. Let the construction continue.”

City employees get new contract, raises

By MEGHAN BRADBURY news@breezenewspapers.com

Cape Coral City Council approved a new union contract Wednesday, providing raises for city employees.

The contract was negotiated with

International Union of Painters and Allied Trades, Local 2301.

Resolution 85-25 provided a new agreement for the general union representing the blue collar, white collar, non-supervisor professionals and su-

pervisory units.

The general employee step plan

“shall be adjusted upward by 10% and all employees may advance one step within their pay range, provided it does not exceed the maximum step in their pay range. Employees who do not receive a step advancement because they are at the maximum step in their pay range shall receive a one-time lump sum amount equal to 3.25% of their base pay. This payment shall be made within six weeks from contract ratification.”

The second, Resolution 99-25 approved salary increases for classified, non-bargaining positions.

In addition, “the salary ranges for classified, non-bargaining positions also received an increase of 4%, as well as a corresponding 4% increase for employees within those ranges.”

The raises, which were part of the consent agenda, were not pulled for discussion by any member of Council, and were approved unanimously.

IUPAT Local 2301 President David Jimenez said the contracts were a year’s work of hard work, negotiating and compromise.

He said the outcome will keep them competitive, as well as help retain skilled employees.

“We are getting to the 75th percentile with this contract,” he said.

The increases are effective retroactively to Jan. 4.

OpiniOns

CApe COrAl Breeze

RAYMOND M. ECKENRODE Publisher

VALARIE HARRING, Executive

Editor

CHRIS STRINE, Editor

2510 Del Prado Blvd. • Cape Coral, FL, 33904

• Phone 239-574-1110 – Fax 239-574-5693

Member Florida Press Association

It’s how you listen

While Wednesday’s Cape Coral City Council agenda was diverse, the primary issue, at least from the residents, was singular: Does Council listen to the public it is elected to represent?

The consensus shared at the meeting was a resounding no.

The answer, for us, though is an easy yes.

This council, and the previous one, and the one before that, we can comfortably say listens or listened to comments made at meetings.

We say with ease that the individual members who make up the current elected board take their responsibilities seriously and do weigh information received.

The issue, though, is not do they listen, but how they listen — who they listen to, how they evaluate the input received and how they weigh it in light of what they believe is right for the city.

Here, as always, from the lowest level of local government to the highest at the federal level, the process varies.

We have members who hold town hall meetings, members who have open office hours, members who return calls and emails, who attend functions, dedicate hours to boards and committees.

These are all listening sessions and it is fair for those who take part in any, some combination, or all of the above to affirm that they do listen.

But again, that is not the point, not from the perspective of residents and taxpayers who feel that the input they provide falls on deaf ears.

Not from our perspective, either, for that matter.

The issue is that Council — this council and the one before that and the one before that — is and has been so focused on the “I represent the city as a whole” big picture and the facts as presented by its most listened-to source, city staff, that the comments of individuals often get lost in the noise.

Cases in point:

— The redevelopment of the Yacht Club Park where the upgrade showcased in the funding allocation in the voter-approved Parks Master Plan burgeoned from a $10 million upgrade to a now-estimated $180 million or more

See EDITORIAL, page 24

This week’s poll question:

Are you concerned about the U.S. economy? ∫ Yes.

∫ There may be short-term issues I am confident our country is on the right track.

∫ Too soon to tell.

∫ No. Vote at capecoralbreeze.com. Previous poll question: Is the deportation of alleged Venezuelans to a “terrorism confinement center” in El Salvador without legal review an issue that gives you cause for concern?

∫ Yes.3.4%

∫ No. 96.6%

∫ No opinion. 0%

* Total votes at press time: 618 votes. Percentages

April 4, 2025

No greater time than now

Did you know the last time Lee County voted for a Democrat for President of the United States was Franklin Roosevelt? Currently, Republicans outnumber Democrats by about a 2 to 1 margin here in Lee County and those numbers are growing. These facts state a great deal about the residents of Lee County. Lee County has been Republican for decades and it looks like it will continue to be Republican for decades to come. This is why I am honored to be elected chairwoman of the Lee County Republican Executive Committee (LCREC).

One of my many goals as the newly-elected chair is to increase our precinct committee membership to meet the growing needs of our massive Republican population. The LCREC is not a Republican Club, it is a business committee that works directly with the Republican Party of Florida (RPoF), which, in turn, works with the Republican National Committee. Together, with other county executive committees throughout the state, we help implement the missions and decisions of the Republican Party by focusing on seeking and electing qualified Republican candidates, fostering party loyalty, engaging in voter education and growing the number of Lee County Republicans in our individual voting precincts. Why? Because local leaders today generally climb to larger state and federal positions that can impact us significantly. Being engaged now lays the groundwork for a freer and more prosperous future.

Commentary

major actions such as endorsing candidates require a formal vote of the precinct committee members. These committee members must take oaths to support the Republican Party. Committee members carry great responsibilities as well. They must, after deliberation and discussion, vote on motions, various business issues, resolutions, and endorsements that impact Lee County and the state of Florida at large. The Committee meets as a whole often throughout the year to vote on these matters and represent the voters in their respective precincts. We are the delegates at the Presidential Conventions every four years, we are the voice of the Party! We are always looking for new Republican members who are desirous of sharing their talents with us to advance and maintain our values. There is no greater time than now to help us save our country from the ground up. Help us build a strong foundation that will leave an America we can pass on to our children and grandchildren. If you feel inspired to inquire more about the LCREC visit www. LeeGOP.org or call us at our headquarters in Fort Myers at 239.936.8779. We will gladly answer any questions you may have. On behalf of myself and my board I welcome Lee County Republicans to join us, and we hope to hear from you soon.

Our Lives, our Fortunes, and our Sacred Honor. Isn’t America worth it?

The LCREC has a County Model Constitution as well as Party Rules and Procedures bu which we must abide. All

— Mercedes Price-Harry is the Lee GOP Chairwoman, Lee County Republican Executive Committee.

Letters to the editor

Urge Council to support recommended denial of Redfish Pointe proposal

To the editor:

In July 2024, attorneys for the property owner submitted a revised amendment request to Cape Coral’s Future Land Use Map (FLUM) for their proposed Redfish Pointe development among 350 acres of wetlands south of Rotary Park. The city staff have finished their analysis of the request and have published their recommendations. It bears out many concerns residents have long expressed and recommends denial of the proposed changes to the city’s future land use map.

Among other things, staff says it does not meet the city’s requirement that the amendment “protects the health, safety, and welfare of the community… Development in this area, particularly the roadway, could negatively impact the protections offered by the substantial wetlands in this area as well as place commercial and residential development for this area in harms’ way.”

They say more than once that “The placement of a mixed-use development in an isolated upland pocket surrounded by wetlands is wholly incompatible with the protection and conservation of nearby wetlands.”

They say that “the current Natural Resources/ Preservation future land use map classification that was placed on this property in 1989 was appropriate then and continues to be appropriate today.”

Here is a good part of city staff’s conclusion: “The historical background of this site fails to show that the applicant had development rights to mixed-use development, or that a reasonable investment-backed expectation for mixed-use development exits. Development of the site as Mixed-use would intrude upon the well-established residential neighborhood and have negative impacts on nearby wetlands. Staff recommends denial of the proposed future land use map amendment.”

We urge residents to attend meetings and voice their opposition to the proposed development.

We advise residents to write to their city council members and urge them to heed staff’s recommendation when

it comes time to vote and to pursue the purchase of the property with county and state funding to be preserved permanently for conservation, our ultimate goal.

Tell city council members that if they permit a change in the classification of this property from “Preserve” to “Mixed Use,” the property owner might argue that the property is worth tens of millions of dollars, and taxpayers will unnecessarily pay an exorbitantly inflated price for the property.

Readers can access the full report, obtained through a Public Records request on Match 24, at ProtectOurWetlandsinCapeCoral.org. Please note that the PDF contains a watermark, indicating its status is “Draft” as is policy until a public hearing date is scheduled.

Joseph Bonasia Cape Coral

Judicial override puts U.S. democracy at risk

To the editor:

I read the editorial in The Breeze last Friday, “Honor and defend.” That is a challenging article. The part that is most challenging is the all-encompassing idea that anyone in America is given constitutional rights. That would include aliens, illegal migrants, illegal migrant criminals, terrorists and must also include supposed enemy combatants that are fighting in America against Americans.

The latter poses the idea that any retaliation against the enemy combatants could only be done after going to court and obtaining permission. They would have to find an un-American judge of course. No doubt they could find one.

I did just a little bit of research on line and what I found so far agrees with The Breeze’s first paragraph. Somehow I don’t think that can be the right interpretation. To give terrorists (or dug in criminal organizations such as the Venezuelan gangs) the constitutional rights of American citizens is just very hard for me and I think most other Americans to accept.

See LETTERS, page 6

Mercedes Price-Harry Guest

Make Citrus Great Again, one tree at a time

Mark my words, Florida Citrus is not going down on my watch. This heritage industry is not only vital to our state’s economy, but it is truly a part of the DNA of Florida. Citrus has been a pillar of our state since the 1500s, serving as a key economic driver within our vital agricultural industry. In fact, Florida Citrus provides more than $6.9 billion in economic impact and employs tens of thousands of Floridians across the state. Citrus matters.

To those growers who are left in the business, hear me when I say, you are not forgotten, you are not alone, and the Florida Senate is running to this fight. I know the challenges you face all too well. As a 4th generation citrus grower, I face them myself. Greening, canker, hurricanes, and foreign competition have wreaked havoc on our industry; there is no hiding the fact Florida Citrus is on the verge of a full-scale catastrophe. We simply can’t let that happen to Florida’s signature crop.

Thoughtful investments in research and new technologies offer renewed hope for

the future of citrus. Florida will lead the way in pursuing these opportunities. We will find innovative solutions to the problems that have plagued us for years. We will lead the revitalization of Florida’s citrus industry.

In fact, previous investments in research have already yielded significant results.

Growers today have a better understanding of how to fight greening than five years ago, bringing hope to the entire industry. Groundbreaking research has led to treatments that mitigate the symptoms of greening, new studies have produced disease-tolerant and disease-resistant varieties, and innovative therapies are helping to prevent fruit drop and increase fruit size.

In the Senate’s proposed

Commentary

Letters to the editor

budget, we are investing $200 million in key funding for this iconic industry — including $190 million to help our growers put more trees in the ground and an additional $10 million to support the supply chain here in Florida. The industry needs support from all angles. Growers, packers, and distributors have all suffered as a result of the challenges we’ve faced in recent years. We’re also investing in long-term solutions to issues such as greening

that non-citizens do not have an absolute right to enter or remain in the U.S. in Harisiades v. Shaughnessy, 1952.

and canker. By implementing large-scale field trials, we will have a better understanding of the best practices for both the planting of new trees and the rehabilitation of exiting trees. We will leave no stone unturned. Grove design, planting preparation, pest management, disease management, pest and disease exclusion structures, and post planting production practices are all on the table. With the information gathered from these field trials, we will know how to deliver better outcomes for growers and save Florida’s signature crop. We’re on the edge of something special. Florida Citrus is making a comeback, one tree at a time. I am running to the fight to save Florida Citrus, and I ask you to join me in that fight. Together, we’ll make citrus great again.

— Sen. Ben Albritton represents Hardee, DeSoto, Charlotte, and portions of Polk County. He is a 6th generation Floridian and 4th generation citrus grower and is currently the President of the Florida Senate.

Even our own American criminals don’t have that privilege.

I went through the Constitution and noted that Amendment 14 defines a US citizen. Amendments 15, 19, 24 and 26 specifically use U.S. Citizens as those amendments being applicable to them. How can one interrupt that the constitution applies to everyone who is in the boundary of the United States rather than just to the citizens who deserve that privilege?

I don’t see how even a fine illegal immigrant can receive rights of true Americans. An American citizen is special. He has either been born as an American or obtained the legal right to be one.

Of course more and more injunctions against almost everything Trump is doing reveals a systemic attempt to stop Trump from almost everything he is doing to root out crime, fraud, and excesses to special interest that has grown into our government to the point where we cannot afford the mammoth amount of money used. Those on the left never mention the many corrections Trump is making to immigration, crime, trade, education and the list on.

Our budget last year was $4.9 trillion and our expenditures were $6.8 trillion. Over $1 trillion was just servicing the debt so debt is a self-propelling machine.

Without taking strong actions that Trump is taking, we will someday have no constitution. We will be a weak socialistic state.

What the justice system is trying to do is be president. When a lowly federal judge can govern Trump’s actions to this degree, we have lost the presidential power that a president must have to govern America. The president was elected, not the lowly judges. Granted there needs to be some limits but we are in a zone of no limits for the judiciary.

I hope The Breeze will explain how this can be and how we can be a democracy with a lowly judge becoming president when an extreme group uses an insignificant, unelected judge to thwart the president.

John Benedict Cape Coral

National security comes first

To the editor:

In the Breeze opinion article, “Honor and Defend,” published last week, the Editorial Board seems to believe that our Due Process protections should apply to national security threats.

The recent deportation of 300 Venezuelan nationals from the United States to El Salvador were removed under the Alien Enemies Act. This Act allows the President to unilaterally detain, remove, or restrict non-citizens originating from a hostile foreign nation during wartime or a national security crisis. The President has deemed our border crisis a national security threat.

The Due Process Clause should not apply here because the Alien Enemies Act operates outside the normal constitutional framework of individual rights, prioritizing national security over procedural protections. If we do not protect our national security, we will not have any fundamental rights to protect.

To answer the question posed by the Editorial Board, I would respond that I absolutely would be willing to defend our fundamental rights of Due Process but not to the point where national security is endangered.

Arthur E. Amidano, Committeeman Pct. 111 Cape Coral

More enforcment needed to make Lee County roadways safer

To the editor:

When we decided to move to Southwest Florida five years ago to be closer to our grandkids, we were warned about Hurricanes and Gators (not the sports teams). Well, what we weren’t told was the real danger—Lee County roads! With an average of 123 deaths a year, there could be two Hurricane Ian’s (supposedly 50 deaths in Lee County), and it wouldn’t match the traffic carnage on our roads. Plus, if you figure in the 8,670 people hurt in accidents annually, it looks like over 1% of the population in Lee County are maimed or killed each year.* Wow —that beats all the murderers, terrorists, and alligator hassles put together! Florida prides itself in having more freedoms; hence, less ticketing, and while I agree conceptually, it comes with a deadly cost.

How can we fix this?

First and foremost, put more police on the road with radar and give out expensive citations for driving badly. Easy-peasy and a great revenue source! Secondly, install cameras on all busy intersections. At $100 for every car caught running a red light, you’d have the cameras paid for in one day! Plus, you could defer property taxes and use the income to fund local government activities.

*https://www.flhsmv.gov/pdf/crashreports/crash_ facts_2023_ada.pd

Paul Dellva Cape Coral

Recent proposals to eliminate property taxes, what’s behind the push?

To the editor:

Recent proposals to remove property taxes sounds like a good thing. No one wants to pay taxes, period. But money to run the government has to come from somewhere and without a scorecard to see how those funds would be generated the public is in the dark about how to respond to this legislation.

pay larger property tax bills. That would be corporations that own homes, banks, nonresident owners, and owners of large homes. Also benefiting would be commercial real estate, which would apply to owners of car washes, strip malls, storage units, hotels, and shopping centers. It could also assist large property speculators for housing development, where land would be bought up for future development but held tax free.

So how does Florida generate the revenue that will be required to run our government, fund schools and libraries, and pave roads? A huge reduction in government provided services could be expected. Or, consumption taxes would have to be raised as well as shifting and raising fees for services. The pool of property tax dollars does help offset the cost of these services for the lower income groups. Renters may see a reduction in the pass through of costs if the apartment owners are not paying property taxes but that is not a guarantee.

Recent projections show our consumption tax would go from 6% to 12%. Will the higher cost of goods and services be absorbed by tourists, or will it drive them away?

Floridians will be paying more for groceries, gas, clothing, and the necessities of life. Low-income earners would need a larger chunk of income to purchase the basics for subsistence by paying higher taxes. If a low-income earner owns a home and homesteads it, will the property tax savings offset the higher cost of necessities? The social construct of Florida would change by pushing out the lower- income population except those that are needed as service workers and field hands. These “servants” could be provided corporate housing and subsidies but essentially be tied to the company store. Think coal mining towns of the 1800s.

Lower- to moderate-income retirees would move or shelter in place while reducing spending on commodities in order to survive. Transportation taxes on gas, vehicle registrations, insurance and tolls would have to go up. Dining out would be reduced as well with 12% tax on top of a 20% gratuity. This would reduce the need for service workers.

Florida could change dramatically catering only to the rich and corporate entities. Without knowing more about how government revenue and offsets would be generated one has no clear idea of what the impacts will be. Rest assured that either government services are going to be reduced dramatically or the funding shift will come at a cost to favor some at the expense of others. I am not a fan of taxes but we must fund our government. We need to do this in an equitable manner that does not destroy jobs or households.

This proposal needs to be under the microscope to see the how, why and what is driving this property tax removal. The scorecard needs to consider the real economic impacts to Floridians and tourists.

J. Caplin Cape Coral

LETTERS, page 7 From page 4

U.S. Courts have always given broad discretion to the Executive Branch in matters involving immigration. The United States Supreme Court has previously ruled

Peeling the onion, property tax relief would be good for all property owners but more relief would go to those that

Sen. Ben Albritton Guest

From page 6

We must protect our civil liberties

To the editor:

I’m writing in response to the Cape Coral Breeze’s online publication of Councilmember Giraldo’s statement on March 21, 2025: Statement from Diana Giraldo, Ward 2 Councilmember, City of Fort Myers.

I am deeply disturbed that the Fort Myers City Council continues to support a Florida law—namely, the 287(g) program—that has been proven ineffective in improving the detainment of immigrants who are in the country without legal status. The 287(g) program authorizes local law enforcement officers, in the course of routine policing, to question and arrest individuals they suspect of violating federal immigration laws and to issue ICE detainers.

A study analyzing data from 2005 to 2014 found that immigrant and Latino communities experienced increased victimization under the 287(g) program. The analysis showed that the immigration enforcement cooperation frameworks examined failed to reduce violent crime. In fact, “the only statistically significant findings were associations between the Section 287(g) and Secure Communities initiatives and an increased risk of violent victimization. Secure Communities raised the risk for the general population and especially for Latino respondents. Section 287(g)’s task force model was similarly associated with greater risk of violent victimization for Latinos.”

Current executive-level efforts to target so-called “violent offenders” who are undocumented appear to be little more than a smokescreen for the surveillance and targeting of visible minority communities. The role of law enforcement is to reduce crime and detain individuals who break the law—regardless of immigration status. Police already possess the tools and authority to carry out this responsibility. Diverting resources to immigration enforcement under the guise of public safety doesn’t make communities safer—it places families, especially those of mixed immigration status, at greater risk of being torn apart. It enables ICE raids that ensnare long-time residents, even those

Letters to the editor

married to U.S.-born citizens.

Immigrants, like all people, cannot be neatly categorized as “good” or “bad.” Like U.S. citizens, they sometimes make mistakes—such as DUIs, often committed by migrant farmworkers who labor under some of the harshest conditions and thus may turn to alcohol to cope with their living and work conditions. They continue to work under these conditions because they are desperate as in their home countries jobs do not exist for them, and the low wages we offer to harvest crops many Americans refuse to pick at these same wages, yet still expect to purchase at low prices–is better than nothing. Others charged with violent crimes may be youth who arrived in this country as children and, like many American youth, have been shaped by socio-economic hardship, gang recruitment, and lack of access to mental health care. Furthermore, undocumented immigrants contribute significantly to our social services: $25.7 billion in Social Security taxes and $6.4 billion in Medicare taxes in 2022. Both these programs undocumented immigrants are ineligible for.

ICE has a long history of employing racial profiling and intimidation tactics that instill fear, confusion, and mistrust in communities. I fear those tactics will continue—and even intensify—given today’s political climate. Local police may feel pressured to follow suit, resorting to deceptive practices such as impersonating probation officers or initiating unnecessary traffic stops. This erosion of trust will only deepen the divide between police and the communities they are supposed to serve.

Training local officers under the 287(g) program does not improve the apprehension of undocumented immigrants who have committed serious crimes. Florida has benefited economically and culturally from its diverse population—especially from Latino communities that have enriched our food, music, agriculture, and entertainment sectors. That so many in our community, including elected officials, would support such programs is deeply troubling.

As someone who has witnessed harsh immigration

enforcement firsthand—being questioned as a Latinapresenting person in the 1990s, and later profiled as Middle Eastern in airports post-9/11 and today—I can attest to the widespread use of racial profiling in immigration enforcement. It has little to do with legitimate suspicion and everything to do with appearance.

It has long been shown that immigrants are not just vital to our economy—they are often the engine behind the revitalization of struggling cities. Yet immigration is being weaponized to halt the “browning” of America, a demographic shift that is both natural and inevitable. It is also being used to suppress dissent, particularly among those who challenge the government’s stance on crises like Gaza.

We are seeing these tactics extended to universities, where academic freedom, campus protests, and DEI policies are under attack. Even law firms are being pressured, and journalists from disfavored outlets are being silenced.

Councilmember Giraldo claims this is simply a vote on training. But it is more than that. When intimidation is reportedly being exercised by the Governor we should all be concerned about threats to home rule and democratic governance.

Many Fort Myers and Cape Coral residents may view immigration, campus protests, and media suppression as distant issues. But that’s precisely why these measures are being tested—because many assume they won’t be affected. But if we allow these civil rights to be chipped away unnoticed, it won’t be long before we all feel their loss. The right to travel freely, to protest unjust laws, to question authority—these liberties are fragile and can disappear before we realize it.

I’ll always remember what my first-year criminal law professor told us: “Once we allow our civil liberties to be taken, it is a steep and dark road to regain them.”

We must not go down that road.

Aishia Glasford Cape Coral

Carson Scholar Fund honorees announced

Ida S. Baker’s Alexis Klutsarits among five eight-time recipients of annual award

By MEGHAN BRADBURY news@breezenewspapers.com

Alexis Klutsarits, is among five students in the School District of Lee County to be an eight-time recipient of the Carson Scholar Fund.

Eight-time recipients have earned the honor every year since the first year of eligibility, one student per school.

“Being an eight-time recipient of the Carson Scholarship is a huge honor. I believe this accomplishment represents all of the hard work and dedication I have put into my schooling and community over the past,” Klutsarits said. “Being an eight-time recipient is not an easy feat, and I am extremely proud of myself and grateful for the support system that has led me here. Being a Carson Scholar has taught me many valuable lessons, such as how to manage my time and how to continuously give back in all my actions. It has been such an honor to be a Carson Scholar, and I will forever be grateful for what they have provided me.”

To be eligible, students must maintain a minimum of 3.75 GPA, exemplify strong humanitarian values through community service and be nominated by a current educator. Each student earns a $1,000 college scholarship.

Recipients will be invited to an awards banquet on April 13.

Klutsarits said she is always finding ways to give back to the community by volunteering for school-driven service projects, beach clean-ups, and at a local church.

“Additionally, as part of my medical class at Ida Baker, I have completed my clinical hours at Cape Coral High School in order to get my CNA license,” she said. “This has been an amazing experience, as I am able to shadow local CNAs to acquire more knowledge not just about the job, but about the patients as well. I have learned so many valuable lessons at the hospital about how to give back, how to provide comfort, and how to provide quality care.”

Klutsarits is a senior with an unweighted GPA of 4.0, and weighted GPA of 5.10.

“I was initially nominated by my fifth grade teachers

PROVIDED

Alexis Klutsarits, an Ida S. Baker High School senior with an unweighted GPA of 4.0, and weighted GPA of 5.10, was first nominated in fifth grade.

to apply for the Carson Scholarship because of my involvement in the school and community. After receiving

it in fifth grade, I have reapplied and earned it every year since,” she said. “The first time I applied, I had to write an essay responding to the given prompt, and I had to list all of my extracurriculars, community service, and academic accomplishments in the application. I was selected in fifth grade to represent my school: Skyline Elementary. Every year since, I have applied for the renewal/recognition, where I have to list my extracurriculars, community service, and academic accomplishments I have earned from the year of which I am applying.”

Other eight-time recipient students include Aubrey Beougher from North Fort Myers High School, Nikita Danesh from Cypress Lake High School, Natalia Gonzalez from Estero High School and Alexander Mankin from Fort Myers High School.

Students who have been a recipient more than once also include seven-time recipient Charlotte Swank from Riverdale High School, six-time recipient Boone Stewart from Riverdale High School, two-time recipient Annabelle Marsh from Fort Myers High School and two-time recipient Landon McCarthy from North Fort Myers High School.

Klutsarits said the scholarship will help her further her education at the University of Florida in the fall.

“It is helping me on my academic journey to pursue my dream of becoming a pediatrician. I am extremely excited for the opportunity I have been presented with, and extremely grateful that The Carson Scholar Foundation has believed in me for the past eight years,” she said.

While at the University of Florida, she will major in health sciences on the pre-med track. Her goal is to work as a CNA at the University Hospital during her first four years of undergrad and then UF’s College of Medicine to become a pediatrician.

“Afterwards, I am aiming to become a pediatrician in a children’s hospital, where I aspire to make a positive change in our healthcare system. I intend on doing so by

See SCHOLAR, page 9

Museum’s Classic Car Fest at Cultural Park set for April 12

By CJ HADDAD cjhaddad@breezenewspapers.com

Car enthusiasts have one last chance to enjoy a popular even in Cape Coral where vintage vehicles are displayed amidst a day of fun and entertainment.

Put on by the Cape Coral Museum of History, the final Classic Car Fest at Cultural Park of the season takes place April 12 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., where attendees can enjoy a morning of classic cars, music, food trucks, a merchant vendor village, hands-on activities, and free mu-

seum tours. The event is free and open to the public, with this month’s theme being “Spring Fling.”

“Everyone should come out for the final classic car fest of the season for a day filled with beautiful cars, fun music, delicious food, and unique shopping,” said Cape Coral Museum of History Executive Director Janel Trull. “This is the end of our second season of Classic Car Fests, and each one has grown. It is becoming an event that not only car owners but vendors and the general public want to be at as well. Our fest in February had 150 cars on

display.”

All three museum buildings will be open for touring, as well as the Museum Store where guests can pick up local history books, vintage photos and maps, as well as museum branded items making great holiday gifts.

Anyone interested in showcasing a vehicle can pay the $10 fee at the entry tent. Show vehicles will be parking from 8 to 10 a.m.

“Classic cars due tend to continually arrive so the display is constantly expanding,” Trull said. “We will have food trucks

on site to grab a bite from as well as our vendor village to shop. You can even stop into the Museum and see the new exhibit ‘Suitable for Framing: A collection of Cape Coral Cartoons by Doug MacGregor’ for free.”

Pre-registration for show cars is preferred, though individuals can show up day-of. To register online, visit to www. capecoralmuseum.org/classic-car-fest.

Trull said the museum will “absolutely” be bringing the Classic Car Fest back again starting in the fall of 2025, running through spring of 2026.

Scholar: National recognition program provides youth scholarships

From page 8

taking time to hear my patient’s concerns. I believe this is the key to minimizing accidents caused by overlooking symptoms or doctors feeling rushed for time. I dream of using my experiences in order to give back to my community to make the most of families’ time and money. I always look forward to challenging myself, and I believe UF will provide me with an abundance of unique opportunities to do so. I believe this will set me up for success in schooling, the medical field, and life itself,” Klutsarits said.

There were also 41 new students honored as Carson Scholars this year:

Those new students honored this year include:

n Ella Alfaro-Maldonado, seventh grade at North Fort Myers Academy for the Arts

n Brynlee Alvarez,5th grade at The Alva School

n Ava Andrews, 8th grade, The Sanibel School

n Emma Bala, 8th grade, Caloosa Middle School

n Sophia Brown, 5th grade, Dr. Carrie D. Robinson Littleton Elementary School

n Trinity Brown, 5th grade, Franklin Park Magnet School

n Peyton Burton, 10th grade, Island Coast High School

n Victoria Busch, 11th grade, Fort Myers High School

n Olivia Da Silva, 5th grade, Orangewood Elementary School

n Madelyn Debiram,5th grade, Tanglewood Elementary School

n Heloisa Dos Santos, 5th grade, Colonial Elementary School

n Silas Dylan, 4th grade, Veterans Park Academy for the Arts

n Reagan Felt,5thgrade, Heights Elementary School

n Rylee Freeman, 5th grade, Gateway Elementary School

n Raynor Friedman, 5th grade, Gulf Elementary School

n Efrain Garcia, 5th grade, Tice

Elementary School

n Brooklyn Gianelli, 5th grade, Skyline Elementary School

n Zaya Haas, 8th grade, Oak Hammock Middle School

n Melissa Hernandez, 5th grade, Villas Elementary School

n Brianna Hopkins, 5th grade, Treeline Elementary School

n Jake Kearney, 5th grade, Orange River Elementary School

n Austin Khin, 5th grade, Pelican Elementary School

n Blake Kowalski, 5th grade, Rayma

C. Page Elementary School

n Keegan Lee, 8th grade, Lehigh

Acres Middle School

n Kael Manning, 5th grade, Pinewoods Elementary School

n Connor Martin, 5th grade, Pine Island Elementary School

n Reef Mertz, 5th grade, San Carlos Park Elementary School

n Lauren Mickuleit, 4th grade, Lee Virtual School

n Cassidy Ordetx, 8th grade, Bonita Springs Middle Center for the Arts

n Alyssa Person, 5th grade, Edgewood Academy School

n Ryan Prianti, 5th grade, J. Colin English Elementary School

n Madiline Pritchett, 5th grade, Bayshore Elementary School

n Savannah Sepulveda, 5th grade, Diplomat Elementary School

n Chiersten Sodergren, 5th grade, Sunshine Elementary School

n Giada Stanfield, 5th grade, Edison Park Creative and Expressive Arts School

n Laila Tamburri, 5th grade, River Hall Elementary School

n Noelle Trujillo, 5th grade, Lehigh Elementary School

n Melia Wolter, 5th grade, Tropic Isles Elementary School

The Carson Scholars Fund, Inc was founded by Johns Hopkins Pediatric Neurosurgeon Benjamin S. Carson, M.D., and his wife Candy, in 1994.

Workforce housing project breaks ground in North Fort Myers

Bayshore Pines to offer 180 units in amenity-plentiful community

By CHUCK BALLARO news@breezenewspapers.com

Lee County has been striving to make housing more affordable. On March 31, another complex — one with a 99-year commitment to workforce housing — broke ground in North Fort Myers.

Onda Housing Group ceremoniously began work on Bayshore Pines, a 180-unit community at 5361 Bayshore Road.

Andrew Cribbs, CEO and co-founder of Onda Housing Group, said his group has more than 2,000 units in development.

“These developments are for working class people and families making under $65,000 per year. They will be one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments, with plenty of room for the family,” Cribbs said. “I’m excited to bring this important project to North Fort Myers.”

Bayshore Pines will provide affordable housing for qualified Lee County residents, with rent on a two-bedroom set to be about $1,200 per month as opposed to $2,000 per month for a unit at the current market rate.

The complex will feature a clubhouse, fitness center, a pool, playground and other amenities. The complex also will be elevated an additional four feet above flood plain to reduce the risk of flooding and block construction.

“We’re building for the long term. We’re expecting it to be affordable for 99 years. We’ve committed to doing that with Florida housing,” Cribbs said. “This is going to be a real market driver to the community.”

The total construction cost is about $70 million. Onda secured $17 million in disaster recovery funds from Lee County from Hurricane Ian. The state added $3.2 million in tax credits.

In close partnership with Lee County, Florida Housing Finance Corporation delivered $33 million in bonds, Citi Community Capital and RBC Community Investments.

Ryan Benson, who is on the board of directors on the

RENDERING PROVIDED

Onda Housing Group ceremoniously began work on March 31 for Bayshore Pines, a 180-unit community at 5361 Bayshore Road. The workforce housing initiative is projected to open some time next summer.

Florida Housing Finance Corporation, the state’s affordable housing agency, said this project will serve a muchin-need group.

“They’re making 60 percent of the area’s median income or less. We need this. Look at what the rents are doing. With the disparity of what people are earning and what they can afford, we need a correction and the only way to do that is more units,” Benson said. “The more affordable units we get, the faster we get there.”

The complex is expected to be completed some time

next summer. Applications will be accepted in the months before opening. Benson said it is advisable that applications are put in ASAP, as previous affordable housing projects have seen applications exceed units as much as tenfold.

“We have a multi-billion-dollar problem as a state. The governor has filled the need to get us out of this hole. But it’s a big hole we got ourselves into and it’s going to take a while to get out,” Benson said.

The Winslow expected to open by late summer

By MEGHAN BRADBURY news@breezenewspapers.com

A project that broke ground a year ago in North Fort Myers is set to open late this summer, offering 320 units in an upscale rental community called The Winslow.

The project, which broke ground in March 2024, has reached the “topped off” point of construction and the developers are looking forward to their introduction of contemporary residences to what they say is a rapidly developing neighborhood that is close to downtown Fort Myers.

“Reaching this milestone in the construction of this exceptional rental community is a significant achievement for our team and a testament to our commitment to delivering high-quality, amenity-rich communities that meet the growing demand for housing across Florida,” said Camilo Miguel, Jr., CEO and Founder of Mast Capital in a prepared statement. “As we approach the final stages of this project, we are excited to offer residents in the North Fort Myers area a vibrant and highly designed residential community in one of Southwest Florida’s most dynamic neighborhoods. We look forward to welcoming our first residents by late summer and contributing to the continued economic growth and development of Fort Myers.”

Jordan Kornberg, chief investment officer at Mast Capital, said they saw the growth in the area and an opportunity to deliver quality housing that is in demand and fill a need in the market.

“I think for us it is very clear that the jobs are moving into the market and it’s very clear that this location has great proximity to downtown,” Kornberg said.

The construction for the project is led by general contractor Kaufman Lynn and will feature a garden-style residential community of three- and four-story apartment buildings at 13370 Magnolia Oak Circle.

The rental housing includes 116 units for affordable housing; the rest will be market rate.

He said the project is in an area of the county that has a Revitalization Pilot Program.

“That is exciting and interesting,” Kornberg said. “In terms of Mast, we are hoping this is the first of many projects for us in Southwest Florida.”

The project, designed by Humphrey’s & Partners

Architects, will feature modern apartments.

Units have high end finishings such as quartz countertops, vinyl plank floorings, full- size washer and dryer and stainless steel appliances. Bathroom will have backlit mirrors and soaking tubs. There are also large balconies.

An abundance of amenities will also be offered.

“The amenities create senses of place more than a unit to live in — a real community that has an experiential component,” Kornberg said.

There will be a full-service fitness center, resident lounge, a large entertainment kitchen, marketplace, a dog spa, and a dedicated workspace for people who work re-

motely and want something out of their unit. A resort style pool with sundeck cabanas, fireplaces and grill stations, dog park and activity and fitness lawns.

“All the amenities will create a great sense of place and engaging community atmosphere,” he said.

Mast Capital is a real estate investment and development firm that does residential and hospitality projects primarily across the state of Florida.

The company has $4 billion in total capitalization with 4,000 units from Miami to Palm Beach County, down to the Keys and up into Fort Myers and Tampa.

PHOTO PROVIDED

The Winslow, a 320-unit multi-amenity complex in North Fort Myers, has reached the “top off” point of construction and expects to be open by late summer. The community will feature a garden-style residential community of three- and four-story apartment buildings at 13370 Magnolia Oak Circle.

Butterfly Garden Open House and Tours set for Saturday

By MEGHAN BRADBURY news@breezenewspapers.com

The Garden Club of Cape Coral will hold its first Butterfly Garden Open House and Tours at the Cape Coral-Lee County Public Library on Saturday.

The event, which will include butterfly eggs and chrysalis on display, some host plants as well as, hopefully, some butterflies in mesh habitats, will run from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on April 5. There also will be crafts for children.

Garden Club of Cape Coral President Donna Schmidt said since she likes to promote what the members are doing and approached the team lead of the Butterfly Garden, Sherie Bleiler.

“Wouldn’t it be nice to have an open house to spread the word about what you are doing and promote the garden club,” she said. “She agreed.”

The butterfly garden has deep roots.

The Friends of the Cape Coral Library, then named the Little Acorns, approached the Garden Club to design and

maintain a garden in the “U” shaped area in the back of the library, in 2002. Garden Club members Ginny McCarthy and Paula Novander, along with a few others, designed and planned the garden in 2003, and it has been maintained by the group ever since.

“There are about eight members on the butterfly team. They are going to be there to do a tour of the garden. Other members will be inside the media room to give more information to people who are visiting,” Schmidt said.

The library will have books on gardening and butterflies available for children and adults to check out.

“We are trying to promote how people can protect monarch butterflies and other butterflies that we don’t see as much anymore,” she said.

The Cape Coral-Lee County Public Library is at 921 S.W. 39th Terrace.

For more information, email president@gardenclubofcapecoral.com.

If You Go:

What: Butterfly Garden Open House and Tours

When:

Saturday, April 5, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Where:

Cape Coral-Lee County Public Library, 921 S.W. 39th Terrace

City responds to state DOGE letter: No issues to report

By MEGHAN BRADBURY news@breezenewspapers.com

The city of Cape Coral is among local government statewide to receive a letter from Gov. Ron DeSantis’ office inquiring about municipality’s financial condition.

“After careful evaluation, we confirm that our municipality has not encountered any conditions of financial emergency or distress, as outlined in the letter, since fiscal year 2018-2019. Furthermore, the city does not anticipate any potential financial distress in the next six months.”

The city was asked to identify any of those conditions encountered since state fiscal year 2018-2019 and to disclose whether the city foresees potential financial distress in the next six months.

The letter, which was sent electronically on March 18 stated “pursuant to executive order 25-44, the executive office of the governor has established an EOG DOGE team, which will use advanced technology to identify, review, and report on unnecessary spending within county and municipal governments and recommend legislative reforms to promote efficiency, maximize productivity, and eliminate waste in state and local government. These efforts are focused on ensuring fiscal responsibility through Florida.”

— Mark Mason, interim assistant city manager

It also stated that the EOG DOGE team is “assessing compliance with the financial management requirements set forth” in Florida statues.

The city was asked for confirmation “any instances of financial emergency or distress,” which included five areas – fail-

ure to pay short-term loans or obligations when due, failure to make debt service payments on bonds, loans, or other debt instruments; failure to timely pay uncontested claims from creditors, failure to transfer taxes, social security contributions, or retirement play contributions and an unreserved or total fund balance deficit in the general fund or any major operating fund.

Interim Assistant City Manager Mark Mason responded to the letter on March 20, saying the city had no reportable issues.

“After careful evaluation, we confirm that our municipality has not encountered any conditions of financial emergency or distress, as outlined in the letter, since fiscal year 2018-2019. Furthermore, the city does not anticipate any potential financial distress in the next six months,” Mason wrote.

Bohanon to coach football for Canterbury Cougars Weekly B reeze Recap

North High School grad and former NFL fullback returning to the gridiron

By CHUCK BALLARO news@breezenewspapers.com

Since retiring from the NFL after the 2020 season, Tommy Bohanon has mostly concentrated on his foundation to help young athletes reach their potential on and off the field.

As far as football goes, the North Fort Myers High graduate and former pro fullback and special teamer has limited himself to his annual summer youth football camp and preparing running backs for the NFL combine at a local training facility in Fort Myers.

Until now, with Bohanon back in the game with a new role.

Bohanon has agreed to become the running backs coach and offensive coordinator at Canterbury, a private school in Fort Myers. The Cougars are looking to improve upon a 4-7 season in 2024.

Bohanon said he has always wanted to coach kids and be a positive influence on them, even though he wasn’t really looking to become a coach right now.

“It happened to be a perfect situation to walk in and mentor these young men,” Bohanon said. “Talking to the administration and staff, it seemed to be a good situation for me and my family.”

Bohanon said he discussed it with his wife and decided it would be the “right time to take that step to jump into the coaching world.”

Bohanon said the team has some good athletes to build around. His job will be to install an offense that can put points on the board and win games. He believes the team will be competitive this coming year

As far as the foundation, Bohanon believes the new gig won’t impact it at all. The foundation has strong support from his wife, Katie, and many volunteers. Though it will make his life much busier than it already is.

“Me and Katie have run on three jobs now. What’s adding one more?” Bohanon said. “I’m really excited to jump in with these boys and make an impact with them.”

Everything the Tommy Bohanon Foundation — which strives to mentor and support at-risk youths in Southwest Florida — offers isn’t going to change, though.

The annual Playmakers Tailgate Party at The Ranch is set for April 11, which funds all the programs the foundation runs throughout the year.

Bohanon will begin coaching at Canterbury during spring practice later this month.

Bohanon was a star running back at North Fort Myers High School and played in college at Wake Forest.

He was drafted by the New York Jets in 2013 and spent three season there before being cut before the 2016 season.

A year later, he signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars and played two seasons there. In 2019 he signed with the Green Bay Packers but was waived. In 2020 he was briefly on the Baltimore Ravens practice squad but was released.

Community Cooperative announces April Mobile Food Pantry schedule

Community Cooperative has released its April 2025 Mobile Food Pantry schedule. For many in the community, putting food on the table is a constant struggle, which Community Cooperative recognizes and steps forward to help alleviate the burden.

Mobile Food Pantries are an essential service that brings fresh produce, staple foods, and vital resources directly to neighborhoods and rural areas where traditional food distribution methods may fall short. By meeting people where they are, the mobile food pantry ensures that families, seniors, and individuals facing economic hardship can access the nourishment they need with dignity and ease. Beyond alleviating hunger, this initiative fosters a sense of community and resilience, demonstrating that together, we can overcome challenges and support one another in times of need. In a region as diverse and dynamic as Southwest Florida, the Mobile Food Pantry stands as a beacon of hope and solidarity.

For any questions or further information please contact Community Cooperative’s

Food Pantries Coordinator at 239-3327687.

Community Cooperative’s Mobile Food Pantry Schedule for April 2025: Note: Please check our website and social media pages for any updates or changes to the schedule.

Tuesday, April 8

Bonita Springs YMCA

27200 Kent Road, Bonita Springs 9:30-11:30 a.m.

Wednesday, April 9

Cape Coral Technical College

360 Santa Barbra Blvd., N., Cape Coral 3-5 p.m.

Thursday, April 10

Fellowship Church of Immokalee 1411 Lake Trafford Road, Immokalee 3-5 p.m.

Friday, April 11

North Fort Myers Regional Park

2000 N Recreation Park Way, North Fort Myers 10 a.m. - 12 p.m.

Tuesday, April 15

Pine Manor Community Center 5547 Tenth Ave, Fort Myers 10 a.m. - 12 p.m.

Wednesday, April 16

VA Healthcare Center

2489 Diplomat Parkway, E., Cape Coral (For veterans and veteran families only) 9-11 a.m.

Thursday, April 17

Lehigh Senior High School 901 Gunnery Road, N, Lehigh Acres 3-5 p.m.

Monday, April 21

Mariner’s Landing 2120 Carrell Road, Fort Myers 10-11:30 a.m.

Tuesday, April 22

Veterans Park Lehigh Acres 55 Homestead Rd. S, Lehigh Acres 3-5 p.m.

Wednesday, April 23

North Fort Myers High School

5000 Orange Grove Blvd., North Fort Myers 3-5 p.m.

Thursday, April 24

Island Coast High School 2125 De Navarra Parkway, Cape Coral 3-4:30 p.m.

Note: Limit ONE Mobile Food Pantry per month per household address. ID is required and bringing your own bags is encouraged.

About Community Cooperative

Since 1984, Community Cooperative has worked to effectively eliminate hunger and homelessness in Southwest Florida while simultaneously inspiring and supporting sustained positive change in its clients by delivering innovative food, education, and social service programs. Through collaboration and ongoing education, Community Cooperative supports and strengthens those whose lives have been affected by hunger and homelessness, ensuring that they have access to the resources necessary to transform their lives with dignity.

City of Cape Coral to host free vendor information event April 18

The city of Cape Coral is inviting businesses and vendors to a free, informative session designed to guide them through the process of working with the city.

The Vendor Information Event will be held Thursday, April 18, from 9 a.m. to noon, at Mercola Market, 125 S.W. 3rd Place, near the intersection of Pine Island Road and Santa Barbara Boulevard in the Cape.

This event will help vendors learn about the city’s procurement process, registration requirements and upcoming contract opportunities. Attendees will be provided valuable insights into the policies and procedures governing procurement and will have the chance to network with

city department representatives. Topics covered during the event include:

n How to Register as an Approved Vendor: Step-by-step guidance on becoming an approved vendor and accessing city contracts.

n Key Procurement Policies and Procedures: An overview of essential procurement guidelines and regulations.

n Upcoming Contract Opportunities: Insight into current and future projects, contracts and bidding opportunities.

n Networking with City Department Representatives: A chance to connect directly with city officials to build relation-

ships and better understand the vendor partnership process.

Businesses interested in attending are encouraged to RSVP by emailing eprocurement@capecoral.gov.

To register as a vendor with the city of Cape Coral, please visit https://www. capecoral.gov/department/financial_services/procurement/vendor_ registration. php

Cape Coral Cultural Fest April 26 at Cultural Park

The city of Cape Coral invites the public to the third annual Cape Coral Culture Fest, which will be held Saturday, April 26, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The special celebration will be held at Cultural Park at 528 Cultural Park Blvd., north of Cape Coral City Hall in the park behind the Cape Coral Museum of History and Cultural Park Theatre.

This free, family-friendly event is

geared toward residents and visitors of all ages.

During the festival, the city will celebrate different cultures through live music, performances, international food, a variety of vendors and much more.

For additional information about the 2025 Culture Fest or to complete a craft vendor application, please visit www. capeculturefest.com

PHOTO PROVIDED Tommy Bohanon carrying the ball for the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Blueberry Bunch Farm offers

By MEGHAN BRADBURY news@breezenewspapers.com

Blueberry Bunch Farm is ready for the community to come out and pick blueberries, as the weather has turned ideal for the sweet fruits to be picked.

U-Pick Manager Kris Velasco said this season’s blueberries are three weeks behind due to the cold weather late last year.

This season marks the sixth year Blueberry Bunch Farm has opened for U-Pick. It opened on the fourth Thursday of March this year, as they now have a great number of blueberries to pick.

“A lot of people are excited to come back,” Velasco said.

There is no entrance fee to visit the farm, which is at 2754 Howard Road, LaBelle. Blueberries are $7 a pound, or $30 for a full bucket. He said they provide buckets and plastic bags.

The U-pick is available from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursdays through Sundays until the middle of May.

“We added on Thursday last year and it has been a great success,” he said. “Every year we try to see if we can improve something from season to season.”

April marks the peak of the blueberry season.

“The first five seasons it was the beginning of March to mid-May,” he said. “We hope we can extend the season. We will take it week by week.”

After May the weather becomes too warm, and blueberries begin to rot fast.

After Hurricane Ian, Velasco said they had to replant 25,000 new plants – half of the farm – which includes four new varieties they did not have before. The good news –the plants that survived the hurricane are doing better than before.

“A lot of them are young. Some don’t have names. We will see how they do – if they produce more and are better for this climate,” he said.

Blueberry Bunch Farm typically has 50,000 blueberry

PHOTOS PROVIDED

This season marks the sixth year Blueberry Bunch Farm has opened for U-Pick. It opened on the fourth Thursday of March this year, as they now have a great number of blueberries to pick.

plants on its acreage. The farm is currently concentrating on U-Pick and providing blueberries for farmer markets and local produce. The hope is to bring some of its commercial production back soon.

“Last year we had a little bit more and this year we have a little bit more than last year,” Velasco said. “Everything is a little bit behind. The warm weather will start ripping them fast.”

Once the weather reaches the 60s at night, and the sun shines all day, the blueberries ripen faster.

The farm has been owned by his wife, Jessica Molzan’s family, for the past 15 years.

“It used to be only commercial, but just before COVID, in 2020, we started the U-Pick,” he said.

His wife makes blueberry popsicles and blueberry lemonade, and his mother-in-law, Leslie Ann, makes blueberry soap, blueberry jam, tea towels and pottery. This year they have added blueberry barbecue sauce.

Individuals can also purchase blueberry plants to bring home for their garden. They come with directions on how to care for them.

“We only sell the strongest. It is the one that survives the best,” Velasco said.

Another addition this year is an expanded parking area.

“We have a lot of return customers. A lot of custom-

ers coming two or three times during the season. It’s a nice farm to have a good time, pick blueberries and get a little bit out of the city,” he said.

The great part about the farm is every age can pick blueberries, as there are lower bushes for younger kids and higher bushes for adults to pick the variety they choose.

“They have different flavors,” Velasco said.

For more information, visit www.blueberrybunchfarm. com, or visit www.facebook.com/blueberrybunchfarm/.

The

CommuniTy

PHOTO PROVIDED

Butterfly Garden Tour Saturday

By SHERIE BLEILER news@breezenewspapers.com

You are invited to tour a butterfly garden, located at the south Cape Coral Library, 921 S.W. 39th Terrace. This Open House will be Saturday, April 5, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. There will be butterfly caterpillars in cages and activities for children inside the library. Outside, behind the library, will be tours of the garden. Tours will showcase the plants that attract butterflies.

Monarchs are the most abundant butterfly in Cape Coral and can be seen occasionally gently flying through during the warm parts of the day. There is no cage to keep them within the garden!

Garden Club of Cape Coral

For 22 years, this garden has been growing at the library, so many plants are well established and mature in size. Plants you might see in a nursery 6-inch pot may grow to be 15 feet tall, which is good to know before you purchase it! So come to observe how mature plants fit into a landscape.

The library garden includes plants with special appeal to butterflies. Since butterflies come in a variety of sizes, the flowers available for them to feed on need to be varied. Thus, this garden aims to have many kinds of flowers, large and small. In addition to flower size, the quantity of nectar is also important. Many hybrid flowers have less nectar than the original native plant. Over time, flowers and their pollinators have adapted to each other for the optimum success. The more nectar a flower has, the more likely it will attract a butterfly, bee or fly to pollinate it. Garden plants with appealing flowers include firebush, porterweed, jatropha, native coffee, panama rose, sweet almond and others.

The best way to attract butterflies is to include host plants in the garden. “Host” means those plants on which the butterflies want to lay eggs. The adult butterfly’s primary purpose in life is to find a mate and locate their specific host plant so the female can lay eggs. For monarch butterflies, this must be milkweed. For a zebra longwing, our state butterfly, this must be a passionvine. No other plant will do. For yellow sulphur butterflies, this must be a senna bush. For black swallowtail butterflies, this must be parsley, dill or fennel plants. These plants are sprinkled throughout the library garden, with holes in their leaves or even bare stems from caterpillars eating their food.

Covering the back fence is a Dutchman’s Pipe vine, which has large 5-inch-wide purplish flowers. Soon the polydamas swallowtail butterflies will arrive and begin laying eggs on it. The vine will feed several generations of these large butterflies spring through summer. By the

April 4, 2025

Friends of the Cape Coral Library Spring Book Sale next weekend

The Friends of the Cape Coral Library Spring Book Sale fundraiser will be held Friday and Saturday, April 11 and 12. The book sale will be held in the meeting room at the library located at 921 S.W. 39th Terrace.

The sale will be open to the public from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. both days. A special “Members Only Preview Sale” will be held the day before on Thursday, April 10, from 10 a.m. to 3. p.m. Non-members may join the Friends of the Cape Coral Library non-profit organization at the door by paying the annual dues of only $20 per family.

The Friends’ book sale fundraisers are held twice per year and are immensely popular. The huge meeting room of the library will be filled this spring with thousands of quality used books arranged according to category by the group’s crew of member volunteers. There will be lots of fiction for adults and a section for children and teens. Find non-fiction sorted by subject. Shoppers will also find music CDs, plus movies on DVD.

Most items are $1 or $2, with small paperbacks at less than a buck! The Friends will also highlight a large selection of “Special” books (such as those by Florida authors, autographed books, collectibles and more) that are priced somewhat higher, but are still an incredible bargain.

Proceeds from the event are used to support the Cape Coral Public Library branch.

Bring cash or personal checks only. (Credit cards are not accepted.)

Donations of gently used resale quality books, CDs and DVDs for the Friends book sales are accepted year-round. Call the Friends’ phone message service at 239-3492572, leave a clear message with your phone number, and we will return your call.

For more information, visit us at www.capefriends.org and follow us on Facebook.

Library are excited about their book selections.

Cape Friends of Wildlife meeting to feature presentation by CREW’s Jones

The Cape Coral Friends of Wildlife meeting Tuesday, April 8, will feature a presentation by Piper Jones, the education coordinator at the Corkscrew Regional Ecosystem Watershed.

Established in 1989, the CREW Land & Water Trust is a nonprofit organization dedicated to coordinating land acquisition, land management and public access for the 70,000+ acre Corkscrew Regional Ecosystem Watershed. CREW’s mission is to preserve and protect the water resources and natural habitats within this vital ecosystem.

During her presentation, Jones will guide the audience through the diverse habitats of Florida, highlight the significance of water flow and lead a journey through the

expansive CREW Trails

The meeting will be start at 7 p.m. at Rotary Park at 5505 Rose Garden Road, Cape Coral. Doors will open at 6:30 p.m.

Cape Coral Friends of Wildlife is an all-volunteer organization dedicated to preserving and enhancing the habitats of protected wildlife species in Cape Coral. Through education, advocacy, and community involvement, CCFW strives to promote awareness and appreciation for the area’s rich wildlife resources.

For more information about CCFW, to donate, or to learn about membership and volunteer opportunities, please visit ccfriendsofwildlife.org or call 239-980-2593.

Jehovah’s Witnesses hosting two special events this month

Jehovah’s Witnesses recently launched a month-long campaign to invite Cape Coral residents to two special events in April 2025.

On the evening of Saturday, April 12, Jehovah’s Witnesses around the world will gather for their annual commemoration of the death of Jesus Christ. In previous years, the event has drawn some 20 million people globally.

The annual observance of the Lord’s Evening Meal will feature a talk highlighting the importance of Jesus’ death and how all mankind benefits from his sacrifice.

The event is one hour in duration and is free and open

to the public. For more information about how Jehovah’s Witnesses observe the Lord’s Supper, please visit the event’s online invitation on jw.org, the official website of Jehovah’s Witnesses.

In addition, a special talk titled “Can Truth Be Found?” will be delivered at local Kingdom Halls this weekend, April 5 and 6.

The 30-minute, Bible-based public talk will highlight what Jesus said about truth and where it can be found in this time of increasing misinformation. The talk will be followed by a one-hour discussion of a scriptural topic featuring audience participation.

Epiphany Episcopal Church in Cape to hold English Tea April 12

Epiphany Episcopal Church will hold a traditional English Tea Saturday, April 12, from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., serving a three-course luncheon with traditional English tea, music and silent auction.

Dressy attire encouraged.

The cost is $25 per person, seats are limited. Contact

Lori Brown at 239-218-7556 or Arlene Steller at 239770-4468 for tickets

Epiphany Episcopal Church is at 2507 Del Prado Blvd., S., Cape Coral. Visit https://www.epiphanyepiscopalchurch.org/ for additional information about the church or its services and programs.

5-inchwide flower of the Dutchman’s Pipe vine.

PHOTO PROVIDED Two young readers at a previous Friends book sale at the Cape Coral

Fallen firefighters to be remembered with memorial

By MEGHAN BRADBURY news@breezenewspapers.com

The city of Cape Coral wants to construct a memorial for firefighters and consider another for city personnel who die in the line of duty.

Mayor John Gunter said he added the firefighter memorial discussion to Wednesday’s agenda, as five individuals have lost their life in the line of duty.

“We do not have a memorial in the city for those individuals,” he said. “I think since the police department does have a memorial at their facility, hopefully we can facilitate some type of path for a memorial to be constructed.”

Gunter said the general cost for a memorial a few years ago was between $75,000 to $100,000.

Cape Coral Professional Firefighters Local 2424 President Mark Muerth said there was a 501c3 – Citizens of the Cape Coral Firefighter Memorial, who raised money, but slowly phased out. He said after discussions, they gave the money to

their firefighter benevolent fund.

Muerth said they could so contribute about $30,000 for the firefighter memorial.

“We are willing and able to move money forward,” he said.

With those funds, Gunter asked if Council wanted to move forward and the answer was a unanimous “yes.”

“Mr. Muerth had explained their union had set aside approximately $30,000. The ask that I was going to ask this body, if we had an appetite, to direct a portion of our monies that we have over budgeted for our personnel cost. We could direct the city manager to transfer a specific dollar amount to a restricted fund solely for the purpose of building a memorial,” Gunter said.

The request was to transfer $150,000, out of the close to $300,000 from a council fund for the memorial.

The construction of the memorial would not be done until the Emergency Operations Center expansion was underway, he said,

so they would not damage something already built.

Councilmember Dr. Derrick Donnell threw out a more holistic approach to include a memorial for city personnel as well.

City Manager Mike Ilczyszyn said a water plant operator passed away on duty.

Gunter said he certainly would not have any objections for a memorial at City Hall for any deaths of general employees killed in the line of duty.

“It’s a good thing to consider while making this decision,” he said.

One of the council members gave pause to where the funds were coming from, but loved the idea, and was in full support of a memorial.

“The public was pretty clear in regard to support or lack of support for the project,”

Councilmember Keith Long said of the stipend fund, adding that he was a little uneasy saying ‘hey we are not utilizing those funds, let’s pick what we want.’ Let them go back at the end of the year to the general fund – wash our hands clean for those par-

ticular funds. Bring it back into the budget, I would fully support it. We start a clean slate with the budget.”

Gunter said he moved well past the issue of the council stipend, which was budgeted but has since been rescinded.

“It’s a great opportunity. One of the issues of not having the memorial is funding,” he said, adding he’s trying “to make something good out of an issue that was controversial.”

Interim Assistant City Manager Mark Mason said the city’s financial policies restrict the use of salaries in case there is an emergency.

“We don’t transfer money out of salaries for operating expenses, capital expenses, or otherwise,” he said.

Instead, Mason said funds for the memorial can come out of reserves.

“We have a capital project for the EOC. Set aside the funds in that fund and be restrictive for the use of the memorial,” he said.

Council agreed to use those funds.

Three council members have town halls scheduled

By CJ HADDAD Cjhaddad@breezenewspapers.com

A trio of Cape Coral City Council members will host Town Hall meetings over the next week, starting this Saturday.

Cape Coral District 2 Councilmember Laurie Lehmann is inviting residents to a meeting from 10 a.m. to noon on April 5 at Sands Park, at 2718 S.W. 43rd Terrace, in Pavilion 5.

The topic of the town hall meeting will Code Compliance, and staff will be present to answer residents’ questions. Pavilion 5 is the largest pavilion near the pickleball courts.

Due to limited seating, attendees are encouraged to bring their own beach or camping chairs.

Cape Coral District 4 Councilmember

Jennifer Nelson-Lastra invites residents to a Town Hall for “Cupcakes With Your Council Member” on April 8 from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at LadyCakes Bakery, at 447 Cape Coral Parkway E.

Cape Coral District 5 Councilmember Joe Kilraine invites residents to a Town Hall meeting on April 12 at 9:30 a.m. at the Northwest Regional Library, at 519 Chiquita Boulevard N, in Meeting Room

A.

This event will allow include information on the Utilities Extension Project. These town hall events are offered to encourage resident to share their concerns, ask questions, discuss ideas for their district and/or the city of Cape Coral at large, officials said.

Three Cape students among Kids Tag Art top honorees

By MEGHAN BRADBURY news@breezenewspapers.com

Three fifth grade students from Cape Coral schools were among four who received a special recognition for their themed designs for the Lee County Tax Collectors Kids Tag Art Program.

“This program is about helping students to see how creativity connects to real-world opportunities,” said Noelle Branning, spokesperson for the Lee County Tax Collector, in a prepared statement. “Through their designs, these students learn that their artistic talents can make an impact, and we’re proud to support both them and their teachers.”

The Kids Tag Art program, which began in 2016, is open to fifth grade students. They are asked to design a decorative, front-end license plate.

The program has raised more than $291,000 for local elementary art programs. The success has also resulted in 45 elementary art teachers receiving $600 each to enhance their classrooms this year.

Ninety-one artists were recognized on March 26, at Cypress Lake High School with Awards of Distinction.

“Kids Tag Art is a perfect example of how partnerships can strengthen education,” said Marshall Bower, president & CEO of the Foundation for Lee County Public Schools in a prepared statement. “This initiative connects students, teachers, businesses, and the community to ensure the arts remain a vital part of a student’s education.”

The four students who received special recognition were Celina Dominquez of Trafalgar Elementary School for the Suncoast Credit Union’s Florida Explorers Award; Giovanni Rivera from Patriot Elementary School for the School District of Lee County’s School Spirit Award; Adrian Castillo of Trafalgar Elementary School for the Foundation for Lee County Public Schools’ Community Heroes Award and Adriana Valdez of Allen Park Elementary School for the Tax Collector’s Choice Award.

The Teacher’s Tag Art Award went to Michele Sipos from San Carlos Elementary School as a recognition of her unique plate design and dedication to arts education.

Dominguez said she is very grateful to be recognized.

“My family and I hung it up in my room that night and it has inspired me to do more art,” she said.

The submission of Celina Dominquez of Trafalgar Elementary School whvch took the Suncoast Credit Union’s Florida Explorers Award. The design is a replica of her favorite beach — Bowman’s Beach and the Sanibel Lighthouse.

Dominguez’s design is a replica of her favorite beach — Bowman’s Beach and the Sanibel Lighthouse.

“My design is really beachy because I love how many beaches we have in our area. Follow your dreams. Mine is to become an oceanologist one day,” she said.

Rivera said the award means a lot of

pride and happiness.

“When I got picked for one of the winners, I felt very proud of myself,” he said.

He drew an eagle with an American flag and the math equation 10x3=30.

“I drew it . . . it kind of looks good, and I just went with it,” Rivera said.

Castillo said he was so glad that he won

the fantastic award.

“I was surprised when I heard that I was nominated. I’m so grateful to have won this award,” he said.

The license plate showcases community heroes — a soldier, a police officer, a firefighter, a teacher and a doctor all standing at the beach in front of ocean waves.

“I want to thank everyone for choosing me as one of the winners. Special thanks to my art teacher because without her I wouldn’t have this amazing award,” Castillo said.

More than 4,000 students participated in the Kids Tag Art Program this year. The student’s artwork can be viewed, and purchased at www.LeeTc.com/202425schools. The proceeds will support elementary art education in Lee County.

The Awards of Distinction winners for the West Zone:

Cape Coral:

Caloosa Elementary: Maya Soto and Anthony Perez

Cape Elementary: Carly Templeton and Aaliyah Mattox

Diplomat Elementary: Miley Garcia and Charlie White

Gulf Elementary: Isabella Cunha and Summer Chastain

Hector A. Cafferata Jr. Elementary School: Brianna Martinez Lopez and Max Santerre

Patriot Elementary School: Jazzileen O’Hara and Elaina Kitson

Pelican Elementary School: Kora George and Moxley Jannings

Skyline Elementary School: Gisselle Leon and Adriana Sanchez

Trafalgar Elementary School: Ashely Espinoza and Aubree Melendez

North Fort Myers: Dr. Carrie D. Robinson Littleton Elementary School: Bruno Finamore and Violette Caron

Hancock Creek Elementary: Mika Smith and Bella Hall

J. Colin English Elementary School: Joselynn Walls and Axel Miranda Herrera

North Fort Myers Academy for the Arts: Haley Pinault and Amanda Camacho

Tropic Isles Elementary School: Ely Chester and Aleah Hernandez

Pine Island

Pine Island Elementary School: Georgia Smith and Clayton Lehman

The submission of Giovanni Rivera from Patriot Elementary School, which took the School District of Lee County’s School Spirit Award.

The Breeze educATion

April 4, 2025

Education BriEfs

Local students named to Dean’s List at Palmer College of Chiropractic

DAVENPORT, Iowa— The following students from Cape Coral were named to the 2024 fall trimester Dean’s List at Palmer College of Chiropractic’s Florida Campus in Port Orange

n Sofia Alonso

n Jeslyn Kolasa

n Joseph Perez

n Brooke Reilly

Palmer College of Chiropractic, the first and largest college in the chiropractic profession, has campuses in Davenport, Iowa, and Port Orange, Florida.

For additional information, please visit https://www. palmer.edu/

Jasinski accepted for enrollment at Palmer College of Chiropractic

DAVENPORT, Iowa— Claire Jasinski of Cape Coral has been accepted for enrollment for the 2025 spring trimester in the doctor of chiropractic degree program at Palmer College of Chiropractic’s Florida Campus in Port Orange.

Palmer College of Chiropractic, the first and largest college in the chiropractic profession, has campuses in Davenport, Iowa, and Port Orange.

For additional information, please visit https://www. palmer.edu/

IMAG to hold its STEMsational Summer Camps June 9 through Aug. 9

The IMAG History & Science Center has announced it will be holding its STEMsational Summer Camps, spanning 10 weeks from June 9 through Aug. 8, at the IMAG in Fort Myers and STEMLab in Estero. IMAG Camps bring inspiration to life for campers with science, technology, engineering, math and art.

Each themed week of Camp IMAG camp promises to offer campers unique programs and activities, including museum explorations, interactive science shows and experiments, live animal encounters, touch tank-times, 3D movies and more.

This summer, Camp IMAG is offering themed camps that include Animal Adaptations Camp, for animal and pet lovers, where campers learn about and care for the wonderful world of animals and pets; Grossology Camp where campers encounter slippery and slimy, gooey and gross science in a disgustingly fun week; and, a big favorite with kids, STEM POP, where campers create science experiments, become mathmagicians, and encounter engineering and technology challenges.

In addition, other themed activities include Build -A-Bot Camp, where campers create circuits, construct robots and program machines to mimic and act like humanoids; Maker Minds Camp, where campers are inspired by what they can imagine and what they can create; Our Backyard Florida Camp, where campers learn about the wonders of nature in a variety of creative projects; and, Your Busy Body Camp, where campers learn about the wonders of our anatomy also in a variety of creative projects.

And finally, other themed Camp IMAG camps include It’s Not Rocket Science Camp, where campers blast off rockets, shoot for the moon and learn about astronomy; and Stones and Bones Camp, where campers become junior archaeologists / geologists creating all kinds of exciting projects.

When school is out, camp is in.

For more information and to register for camp at IMAG in Fort Myers or STEMLab in Estero, please visit theIMAG.org.

The IMAG History & Science Center is at 2000 Cranford Ave., in Fort Myers. For more information about the center, please visit theIMAG.org or call 230243-0043

STEMLab is located at Miromar Outlets at 10801 Corkscrew Road, Suite 192, in Estero. For additional information about the STEMLab, please call 239-3195820.

Dollars for Scholars golf classic April 26 at Palmetto Pine Country Club in Cape

By MEGHAN BRADBURY news@breezenewspapers.com

The Southwest Florida community has the opportunity to support youth’s higher education through participation in the Dollars for Scholars annual golf classic.

Dollars for Scholars Golf Tournament chair Charlie Pease said the goal is to raise $25,000 through sponsorships, player registration and activities at the golf scramble.

“It’s a substantial fundraiser for us to be able to give away approximately $50,000 per year. This is a big one. We typically have two major fundraising events – the golf tournament, which is usually in April, and the Mayor Scholarship Ball (which this year is held at) the Westin on Oct. 11,” he said.

Pease said the nonprofit organization, Cape Coral Mayor’s Scholarship Fund, which has been awarding scholarships since the early 1980s, was started by then Mayor Joe Mazurkiewicz, as an all-volunteer board.

“We currently give out approximately $50,000 in scholarships annually,” Pease said, for graduating high school seniors and current students in Lee County technical colleges and vocational programs

There are 10 scholarships for graduating high school seniors, $1,000 per year for a total of $4,000 per student.

There are five $1,500 scholarships for technical and vocational school students, with three of them dedicated to Cape Coral Technical College and the remaining for Fort Myers Technical College and Southwest Florida Public Service Academy.

“The only requirement is they are a Cape Coral resident,” Pease said.

Pease said when former Mayor Joe Coviello passed away, they formed a scholarship in his name.

The event kicks off with check-in at 7:30 a.m., followed by a shotgun start at 8:30 a.m., Saturday, April 26, at Palmetto Pine Country Club, 1940 S.W. 9th Court. The fee is $150 per player which includes the round of golf, practice range, a few drink tickets, lunch and other activities out on the golf course.

There are sponsorship opportunities ranging from $1,500 for the lunch and awards sponsor, to $300 for hole sponsorships. Tickets and sponsorships can be purchased at www.capecoralmayorscholarship.com.

“Our goal is to get at least 100 players, 25 teams, but we can go beyond that. If we could get 32 teams that would be amazing,” Pease said, adding that on March 31 they had 14 teams registered. “The sooner people can sign up the better. It’s very possible we will fill up.”

He said the event is a great time and the more they can make the community aware of the organization the better.

“It’s a great way to get out and have fun,” Pease said.

To register or for additional information, visit https:// www.capecoralmayorscholarship.com/golf-tournament/

Acclaimed pianists perform for Diplomat Middle students

Students of Diplomat Middle School had a rare opportunity to hear nationally acclaimed pianists Andreas Kern and Paul Cibis Tuesday, March 25, when the duo performed a private concert for the students in the school auditorium.

The concert was provided courtesy of the Fort Myers Community Concert Association as part of its outreach program for Lee County public school students.

“We provide seats for each of our concerts at no cost to students in Lee County public schools, but we realize that

not all students have the ability to get to our weeknight performances. To expose as many young people as possible to classical music, our Board of Directors decided to take some of our concerts to the students,” said Community Concert Association President Mary Lee Mann.

The musicians performed for about an hour and answered questions from students interested in the arts and music.

Mann said the Community Concert Association Board of Directors chose Kern and Cibis for its school outreach because “they have been so well received by other communities and we thought they would be perfect for our student outreach program.”

The school performance preceded the duos’ performance that night at the Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall

Born in South Africa, Kern has extensive experience as a soloist and chamber musician in Europe, Canada, Hong Kong, China, Japan, India and South Africa. He created the critically acclaimed “arte lounge” for the FrenchGerman TV channel Arte and served as its co-host. He also was the architect of the Piano City Berlin Festival in 2010, which featured more than 100 piano performances within one weekend. Kern recorded an album of original piano creations in 2014.

Cibis has performed at international festivals in the United Kingdom, Germany, the United States, South Africa, Hong Kong, China, Taiwan, Australia and New Zealand. In addition to his many concert performances, he has been featured in radio and television programs around the world. Cibis has released several albums, including a collection of French melodies and piano works. He also has taught at Trinity College of Music in London and frequently gives master classes in Germany, China, Hong Kong, Taiwan and South Korea.

About the Fort Myers Community Concert Association

The Fort Myers Community Concert Association, now in its 75th concert season, is an all-volunteer not-for-profit organization founded by the legendary Barbara B. Mann in 1949 to bring world-class entertainment to Southwest Florida at affordable prices. The association consists of more than 1,200 members, underwriters and sponsors. For membership information, visit www.fortmyerscommunityconcerts.org

PHOTO PROVIDED

Andreas Kern and Paul Cibis of “Piano Battle” at Diplomat Middle School. The nationally acclaimed pianists performed for the students.

Xello now available to all students in School District

By MEGHAN BRADBURY news@breezenewspapers.com

A program that rolled out last year for middle and high school students to help with college and career readiness is now available for every grade level across the School District of Lee County Xello, which provides age-appropriate lessons and activities for students from kindergarten through high school seniors, is provided by the Florida Department of Education at no cost to the district.

Career and Technical Education College and Career Specialist Bethany Lloyd said the programs that were recently used were sunset when the realization was had around the depth and breadth of Xello.

“The nice thing is it helps build a comprehensive portfolio, even in kindergarten,” she said.

For students in K-2, Xello is a gamification program, that is engaging for students as they can pretend they are a detective while visiting career town. There are different scenarios that the students solve while exploring different careers by going into different buildings to explore.

“It’s more about interests and skills, things they enjoy doing and are interested in,” she said of kindergarten through second grade students.

For third through fifth graders, Xello leads students through interactive missions to encourage them to think about interests, talents and aspirations. The interactive missions take them through career and interest explorations, goal setting and story-driven lessons. It gives them an opportunity to talk about themselves in a manner of setting goals that will correlate into a career, college, military or entrepreneurship, Lloyd said.

Once students enter middle and high school, Xello becomes more career specific of what students may be interested in, so they can dig a little deeper into interests and what skills connect to a career path.

“At the high school level, the program provides a resume writer,” she said, helpful as students may begin working.

Currently Xello has scholarship opportunities available for high school students.

“It gears up the older that they get,” Lloyd said of the program. “It’s built to be engaging and interesting.”

The program will help students think about jobs that they did not know existed through the skills they have, as well as colleges that offer that degree, she said.

Eventually Xello will input business opportunities from local companies.

Students at Diplomat Elementary School use Xello, a college and career readiness program.

The implementation of the program varies by the school and teacher.

“There is no set directive of when and how to use it,” Lloyd said. “Teachers can use it as part of their curriculum if they want to move it in. It’s their decision of how to implement it in their classroom.”

The program is available on the students Launchpad and, beginning on April 14, parents will have the opportunity to view what careers and skills their child is interested in through the parent portal.

“It’s a great tool to spark interest, creativity and conversation,” she said, adding that drawing parents in will help guide the conversation when talking about college and career readiness.

Lloyd said Xello is about “every student future ready” for whatever direction they take – enroll in college, enlist in the military, start a business through entrepreneurship or entering directly into the workforce through employment.

“We are excited to bring this platform to the students of Lee County,” said Director of Adult and Career Education Brian Mangan in a prepared statement. “Xello provides age-appropriate lessons and activities so kindergarten students through high school seniors can create and adjust their plan for what we call one of the Four E’s: Enrollment, Enlistment, Entrepreneurship, and Employment. Parents can also get involved in their child’s plans and see how to support their future goals through a portal designed just for them.”

Editorial: Does City Council listen?

From page 4

raze-and-rebuild.

— The redevelopment of Jaycee Park, which included a “cone of silence” requirement while an unsolicited public-private partnership agreement was negotiated for a commercial component.

— The taking of 14 acres in a designated preserve for utility infrastructure that was not disclosed at public input sessions for the Parks Master Plan nor included on the on-site billboard even as plans to construct water tanks in the park’s midst — and viewable from neighboring homes — was ongoing at the staff level with council members looped in. Other city-owned and available site options were discarded because of city fears it would impact private development options.

In each of these cases individual neigh-

FINANCIAL WELLNESS

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10, 2025 9 A.M. -12 P.M.

FLORIDA SOUTHWESTERN STATE COLLEGE BUILDING U, 8099 COLLEGE PKWY, FORT MYERS

borhoods and individual residents have been significantly impacted.

In none of these cases did they buy or build near undeveloped tracts without checking what could be built nearby: They bought near developed parks, or in the latter case, near land the city designated for passive use as a preserve.

Residents made their arguments.

When they felt ignored, they protested long and hard.

In response, there was little offered to address their key concerns.

We’ll not debate here whether Council made the proper decisions.

We will, though, agree with those affected that all of their input was a whisper in the wilderness and mattered not one whit when all was said and done.

— Breeze editorial

Get expert tips to help improve your overall financial wellness while learning how your tax dollars are managed, spent and invested.

Light refreshments will be provided. Space is limited and registration is required.

Register at www.leeclerk.org/events

PHOTO PROVIDED

County to conduct traffic studies for Midpoint Bridge

Traffic flow considerations part of the process as construction costs climb for planned lane expansion

By CJ HADDAD cjhaddad@breezenewspapers.com

During a workshop on Wednesday, the Lee County Board of County Commissioners discussed ways they can improve traffic flow at each end of the Midpoint Bridge that connects Cape Coral and Fort Myers.

Labeled as a “Tier 1” project, the total cost of widening of the Midpoint Bridge to six lanes has increased since 2022, with an estimated cost of $193,416,426 three years ago, to $588,696,299 in 2025.

Lee County Director of Transportation Director, Rob Price, said during the workshop said that cost estimates have been updated as a result of the Cape Coral Bridge project, using the refined data and applying that to the Midpoint project.

“Lee County discussed exploring alternative approaches to alleviating traffic congestion, particularly in the area along Colonial Boulevard and Summerlin Road over the river to Country Club Road. This effort is aimed at identifying cost-effective and practical solutions to improve traffic flow.

“There was no vote taken, as no votes occur at workshops.

“The bridge project remains a Tier 1 project.”

— Betsy Clayton, Lee County spokesperson

Price said, “One of the things that we’re asking the board’s concurrence with us is to let us move forward with a traffic engineering study that’s going to look at the corridor as a whole. Perhaps the study can come back and tell us maybe there’s some intersection improvements at Del Prado (Boulevard) and Veterans (Boulevard) and at Summerlin (Road) and Colonial (Boulevard) that can address the congestion.”

Price said he hopes the study, which has the potential to look all the way to County Club Boulevard, could bring back some recommendations to the board for further discussion.

“Right now, there hasn’t been any money spent on it anyway,” Price said.

As of Wednesday’s meeting, there are

10 “Tier 1” projects in the pipeline, with talks of an additional project featuring Burnt Store Road to upgrade from Tier 2.

According to data presented at the workshop, the county has $1,009,594,328 marked as “spent/budgeted,” with $986,575,6654 as “unfunded balance,” and total project costs of all 10 projects at $1,996,169,902.

Lee County spokesperson, Betsy Clayton, in an email reiterated, “Lee County discussed exploring alternative approaches to alleviating traffic congestion, particularly in the area along Colonial Boulevard and Summerlin Road over the river to Country Club Road. This effort is aimed at identifying cost-effective and practical solutions to improve traffic flow.

“There was no vote taken, as no votes occur at workshops.

“The bridge project remains a Tier 1 project.”

Temporary closures for roadway construction to begin on SR 31

Motorists can expect to see some temporary closures on Saw Palmetto Parkway starting April 9 as construction of a new $85 million four-lane thoroughfare necessitated by Babcock Ranch ramps up along and near State Road 31.

The 4.91-mile construction began on SR 31 from Bayshore Road to Horseshoe Road/Lake Babcock Drive in August 2024.

The temporary closures for the eastbound lanes on Saw Palmetto Parkway

from Babcock Ranch Road/State Road 31 to Amethyst Boulevard at the entrance to TerraWalk will begin April 9 and last until April 20.

Beginning on April 21, the westbound lanes will be temporarily closed on Saw Palmetto Parkway from Amethyst Boulevard at the entrance to TerraWalk to Babcock Ranch Road/State Road 31. This is anticipated to last until May 4.

The project updates regarding traffic

shifts and lane closures are published on the weekly Road Watch report at www. swflroads.com/project/442027-2.

“The improvements associated with this construction include building a new fourlane roadway east of the existing SR 31 roadway (in Lee and Charlotte Counties) which will tie-in to the existing two-lane roadway. As part of the new roadway, three roundabouts and new traffic signals will be installed. Additional improvements

CCB0002133.crtr - Page 1 - Composite

to the project corridor include separated multi-use trail facilities along both sides of SR 31, lighting enhancements at all major intersections, and significant enhancements to stormwater facilities north of CR 78,” Florida Department of Transportation District One spokesperson David Scarpelli said.

The project is anticipated to be completed in the spring 2027.

Touch A Truck: Trucks and vehicles

in Southwest Florida.

“It’s a lot of work to put this together, but on the day of the event, to see the expression and the faces of the children and family members, makes it all worthwhile,”

Steve Marsino said.

EHL Touch A Truck sparks children’s imaginations, exposes them to new experiences, and inspires creativity. Children can climb, honk horns, and pretend to drive various trucks, fostering cognitive development, problem-solving skills, positive social interactions, and even career exploration.

“We will refer those on the spectrum to organizations that can help with life skills,” Marsino said. “Which is great. We try to point individuals in the right direction.”

The foundation was created by Fran and Steve, with the EHL letters in the title representing Ethan’s initials.

This year’s event will feature more than 60 trucks for children to climb on and explore spanning roughly onethird of a mile. Attendees can witness their favorite toys come to life as they interact with dump trucks, explore fire trucks, and honk horns.

“We have police coming in with a marine boat, motorcycles, and ATV,” Marsino said. “The fire department will be there with a ladder truck. Preferred Materials is bringing a purple cement mixer for Alzheimer’s which falls into neurological disorders. LeeTran is bringing a bus. Circle K is bringing a big tanker gas truck. We’ll have a bunch of military vehicles, tractors, swamp buggies, and an airboat. It goes on and on.”

food trucks will be on hand to satisfy appetites and add to the festive atmosphere.

Families attending the event will receive an event passport, encouraging them to explore and support local businesses by collecting stamps. Upon completing the passport, families can exchange it for a prize suitable for children, adding an extra element of fun to the day.

The event will kick off with local singer Katy Sumrow performing the National Anthem, followed by a flag presentation by a local Girl Scout troop.

Marsino said there is also a “horn free” hour from 9 to 10 a.m. to accommodate those with sensitive ears. He also encouraged some attendees to bring a lawn chair and watch the trucks come in and out.

“For some of the kids, it’s more exciting than actually going up there and seeing the trucks,” Marsino said.

Last year’s Touch A Truck event drew more than 6,500 attendees, and this year, EHL Fragile X Foundation aims to surpass that number with an anticipated attendance of over 7,000.

Fragile X is caused by a mutation of the X chromosome, making one unable to produce a protein called FMR1, which aids brain and muscle development. Symptoms include delays in talking, anxiety, and hyperactivity.

“Fragile X is the leading known inherited intellectual and behavioral disability,” Marsino said. “All of the money raised for this goes towards (organizations that are working to find a cure and spread awareness).

What: EHL Touch A Truck

When: Saturday, April 5, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Where: Lafayette Street in downtown Cape Coral

In addition to the exciting truck exhibits, the event will showcase more than 45 local businesses, providing a unique opportunity for community engagement. Several

From page 1 Ilczyszyn said the existing structure building is not salvageable.

“We continue to negotiate what will be a replacement of the old Boathouse,”

All children from all walks of life are welcome to attend.

To date, EHL has donated more than $50,000 towards Fragile X research.

“Why we advocate to get tested, is because they’re working on a cure. There are clinical studies and trials. One of them... (the study saw an individual) go from full mutation to pre-mutation. Cognitive ability just went off the charts. Now what are the long-term effects of this? We don’t know. But they’re moving in the right direction. It gives you hope.”

For more information on EHL and the Touch a Truck event, visit www.ehlfragilex.org. From page 1

Boathouse: Opening of new building expected to coincide

Ilczyszyn said.

The fire happened after closing on Thursday, Oct. 17, 2024.

A large “fuel load,” including a fully

re-stocked bar, and wind fed the blaze, which was tackled by land and water by the Cape Coral Fire Department which had responded quickly when employees of the restaurant discovered the fire and called it in.

“It was a fire. There was no sprinkler system,” Ilczyszyn said. “A new building will have a sprinkler system.”

The new building, in the planning stages, will be built to current floodplain and flood standards, he said.

It will take nine to 12 months to design

park re-opening

the new two-story building, which has the intention of being built with the new Yacht Club motif. It will take between 18 to 24 months to build.

“That will not reopen until the entire park and restaurant reopen,” Ilczyszyn said.

Discussions with the Kearns Group includes an interim opportunity to bring food and beverage to the community at that location, he added.

The Kearns Restaurant Group could not be reached for comment by press time.

Cape Coral animal Shelter

Looking for a loving home

Susie Q is a 1 to 3-year-old female. She is a sweet girl with a heart full of love and energy to match. Susie Q absolutely adores her people and just wants to be by your side. She is still learning her manners, so she’ll need some guidance to help her be the best pup she can be — but we promise she is eager to learn! If you’re looking for a fun, loving companion who will always keep you on your toes (and give you endless affection), Susie Q is your girl!

Ice Cube (Kelce) is a 1 to 3-year-old female. She is a super sweet kitty with a lot to say — she loves chatting with her humans and making sure they know

how much she adores them. People are her favorite, and she’ll soak up all the love and attention you have to give. Ice Cube (Kelce) is on a special diet to keep her feeling her best, but don’t worry — it doesn’t slow her down one bit! If you’re looking for a talkative, affectionate companion, she just might be the perfect fit.

The shelter is located at 325 S.W. 2nd Ave., Cape Coral, and hours of operation are Tuesday and Thursday, noon to 5 p.m., and Friday through Sunday, noon to 4 p.m.

Please call 239-573-2002 for additional information.

34th Annual India Fest Saturday at JetBlue Park

The 34th Annual India Fest will be held Saturday, April 5, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., at JetBlue Park in Fort Myers,

Hosted by the India Association of Fort Myers, residents and guests are invited to “immerse yourself in the colors, flavors and rhythms of India.”

This year, seven renowned food vendors will bring authentic flavors from different parts of India. They include Honest Restaurant, Aroma Indian Cuisine, Woodlands Express, Indian Grocery and Cafe, Minerva Indian Restaurant, Rangoon Sweets and I Love Curry.

Children can cool off with sweet treats such as shaved ice and boba tea from Disha’s Shaved Ice & Treats and Share Tea

Drinks & Desserts, while adults can enjoy ice-cold beer and cocktails from JetBlue’s concession stands.

There will be nine vendors featuring clothing and merchandise and seven service vendors, including the always-popular henna station. Three specialty vendors will also be offering hand-carved marble moorthys (idols) and hands-on Indian-themed arts and crafts.

JetBlue Park, the Spring Training home of the Boston Red Sox, is at 11500 Fenway South Drive, Fort Myers.

For additional information about the special event, please visit www.iaftmyers. org/india-fest-2025 or indiafest@iafortmyers.org

Butterfly Garden Tour: Saturday

From page 17

end of last summer, it was leafless. Today, it is lush and full again.

The Garden Club of Cape Coral helped design and plant this garden in 2003 and continues to maintain it today. Members of the Friends of the Cape Coral Library have funded it. Together, under the administration of the County Library system, this garden has grown, with added seating, tables, shade cloth and umbrellas.

It has a butterfly identification sign and is certified by the North American Butterfly Association. Many plants are labeled also so that you may look for them to purchase

at a nursery.

This garden is open to the public during normal library hours. It closes at sunset. You are welcome to visit anytime, to sit outside and enjoy nature. The garden is alive with ever-changing plants, many varieties of flowers and the movements of butterflies and bees. With luck, you may even see the bunny!

Sherie Bleiler volunteers at the Cape Coral Library Butterfly Garden, the Sands Park Butterfly Garden and is past president of the Garden Club of Cape Coral. Visit www.gardenclubofcapecoral.com. Like us on our Facebook page.

Susie Q Ice Cube (Kelce)

Corps adjusts releases from Lake Okeechobee

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Jacksonville District reported that it began reducing releases under the Lake Okeechobee Recovery Operations on March 20 and it made further reductions beginning on March 29.

“Current projections show conditions are favorable for successfully reaching recovery metrics if dry conditions continue,” it said in a prepared statement on March 27.

Consistent with the Lake Okeechobee System Operating Manual (LOSOM), the maximum allowable releases under Recovery Operations are:

∫ Up to 2,100 cubic feet per second (cfs) at S-79 to the Caloosahatchee River Estuary (CRE)

∫ Up to 1,400 cfs total St. Lucie

Estuary (SLE) inflows (to include S-80, S-97, S-49 and Gordy Road)

∫ Up to 300 cfs to the Lake Worth Lagoon (LWL) at S-271 and S-352

∫ Up to maximum practicable south at S-351 and S-354

On March 20, the district reduced releases through S-80 into the St. Lucie Estuary from a pulse release of 1200 cfs to a target pulse of 500 cfs and through the S-79 into the Caloosahatchee River Estuary from pulse release of 2100 cfs to a target pulse of 1400 cfs. Releases to Lake Worth Lagoon were also reduced from 300 cfs to releases up to 120 cfs. Maximum practicable releases south continue.

On March 29, it further reduced the Lake Okeechobee releases through S-80

into the St. Lucie Estuary and releases to Lake Worth Lagoon to 0 cfs and maintain releases through the S-79 into the Caloosahatchee River Estuary at a target pulse of 1400 cfs. Maximum practicable releases south will continue.

The district reported that it began releases under Recovery Operations on Dec. 7. The goal of recovery is to lower the lake’s water levels before the onset of the wet season to allow for recovery of the lake ecology, specifically submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV). The operational strategy for the operations slowly brings water levels down by making moderate, non-harmful releases to the estuaries, while also sending maximum beneficial flow south to the Everglades.

Lowering water levels allows light to

penetrate to the bottom and allow SAV to regerminate and regrow during the spring and summer. Regrowth of SAV in Lake Okeechobee will reduce water turbidity and nutrient concentrations. A healthy amount of SAV in the lake is key to the health of the lake fisheries, and improved water quality within the lake benefits the estuaries if significant releases are necessary in the coming seasons/years.

“We continue to monitor the environmental conditions in both estuaries and will adjust Lake Recovery Operations as needed,” it said. “Even if flows are reduced or halted, this does not end Recovery Operations. Recovery Operations conclude with the start of the wet season.”

Preserve: Utility project in Yellow Fever Creek Preserve gets Council nod

From page 1

portion of the Yellow Fever Creek Headwaters Area to be utilized for an essential service.”

n Chapter 4 – Future Land Use Element, to “reduce

Fill in the blank cells using numbers 1 to 9. Each number can appear only once in each row, column, and 3x3 block. Use logic and process of elimination to solve the puzzle. The difficulty level ranges from Bronze (easiest) to Silver to Gold (hardest).

the size of the Yellow Fever Creek Park from 200 acres to 184.5 acres.”

n Chapter 7 – Recreation and Open Space Element –“to reduce the size of the Yellow Fever Creek Park from

198.70 acres to 184.5 acres.”

Boyko said Public Works identified this project as crucial for the future development of the UEP.

The city’s Planning and Zoning Commission recommended approval 4-2.

Ordinance 6-25 accomplished an amendment to the future land use map from Parks and Recreation to Public Facilities for 14.2 acres of the Yellow Fever Creek Park.

Many members from the Village of Entrada community spoke Wednesday, expressing their disapproval and unhappiness about the ordinances saying the project will directly affect their homes and the animals at the preserve. They said they do not disagree with the need, as water is a necessity, but disagree with the construction of four, 45-foot towers being built 200 feet from their backyard in what was designated as a preserve.

Those speaking begged council members to move the project down a little to a new area.

After the residents spoke, Kaduk made a motion to deny Ordinance 85-24, which was only supported by herself and Long.

She said she could not vote yes in good conscious, as the preserve should not be repurposed.

“I have not received one email saying yes. They don’t want it. For that reason I am definitely not supporting this,” she said.

Councilmember Bill Steinke asked when the project began — the thought of its location.

Utilities Director Jeff Pearson said staff first started trying to find a site eight to 10 years ago. He said the previous parks director was approached, as they had a grant and wanted to build a retention pond on the site.

“I presented that to council back in 2019 and said here is what we are doing. It’s been a long time in the planning. We had a town hall meeting with folks in Entrada with Councilmember Cosden, that was in 2020,” Pearson said. “We selected this site because it is in an upland portion of that area.”

He said it is needed to meet the water demands and the location within the hydraulic distribution transmission is ideal.

“That location would save millions of dollars as in utility ratepayer costs. When projects go over budget it could increase rates,” Pearson said. “We try to do a good job to make sure whatever we are constructing, it’s not impacting future utility rates.”

Steinke emphasized such decisions are not easy ones to make. He said the city has a number of citizens who are in a water crisis right now.

“To stop it right here at the end, I think it would be a bad decision,” Steinke said.

Councilmember Jennifer Nelson-Lastra said they are talking about 14.2 acres and using it for a necessity.

“There is no other option. This is a necessity, and I don’t see where else we can put it; that is going to be extremely costly to us, the taxpayers,” she said, adding that they are looking at alternatives and some sort of compromise to give acreage back somewhere else in the city.

With the passing of both ordinances, Noelle Tolbert asked the council about mitigation. She said the Village of Entrada can possibly negotiate for tree buffers between the current community and the proposed project. In addition, Tolbert said she would like to know mitigation is taking place to ensure the lighting is consistent with lighting in a nature preserve.

Local grouper guru

Roy Bennett with a recent catch.

SporTS

Preparing rigs for grouper fishing

You’ve finally got your dream boat in the water and a friend has let you in on a few hot Gulf of America GPS numbers and now you’re ready to get in on some choice grouper fishing this coming weekend, but have no idea how to rig up your hook and leader to make it happen.

Local grouper guru Roy Bennett and crew did make it happen this past week off Sanibel Island out in the 100foot zone catching beautiful red grouper up to 29 inches along with a load of Lane snappers. Local salts all have their favorite way to rig up for bottom or structure fishing to attract grouper to the hook. Let’s take a look at this experienced local bottom angler’s basic rigs to give you a few ideas on setting up for success.

One method is set up a two-hook combo with a 10ounce bucktail on the bottom of your leader. Two feet above the bucktail is attached another leader sporting a 7/0 circle hook using a dropper rig or three-way swivel with a live or dead pinfish, grunt or ladyfish head for bait. If desired, add another dropper, hook and bait above that.

Another more basic rig would be to attach a strong barrel swivel to the end of your line after first threading on an 8 to 10-ounce sliding sinker. Current flow will determine your sinker weight. Add a 3-foot section of 80-pound test leader material to the bottom of the swivel then to that, add your 7/0 circle hook. Add a live

April 4, 2025

The Low-A affiliate of the Minnesota Twins, the Fort Myers Mighty Mussels, start the season this Friday on the road.

Pictured from left are Twins’ No. 13 prospect, lefthanded pitcher

Dasan Hill; catcher Poncho Ruiz; Fort Myers native and third baseman Peyton Carr; and first-year manager Seth Feldman.

CJ HADDAD

Mighty Mussels ready for today’s season-opener at Palm Beach

Team’s first home game April 8

By CJ HADDAD cjhaddad@breezenewspapers.com

Baseball fans across Southwest Florida have lots to look forward to over the next six months, as the boys of summer are back in Fort Myers for another season of Mighty Mussels baseball.

The Low-A affiliate of the Minnesota Twins, this year’s Mighty Mussels squad is chalk-full of talent, including three of the top 30 prospects in the organization starting the year with the club.

Tonight marks the 32nd season of the team being affiliated with the Twins, as the Mussels start the year in Palm Beach taking on the Cardinals. Last year, Fort Myers finished the season in fourth place in the Florida State League West with a 66-59 record.

The club begins its home slate with a six-game set against the Tampa Tarpons starting April 8.

The Mussels are being led by a new skipper this season, as Seth Feldman, who had managed the Twins’ affiliates at the complex level for five years, will take the reins.

Former manager Brian Meyer has been assigned as manager for High-A Cedar Rapids after four straight winning seasons.

“We’re really looking forward to it,” Feldman said of the upcoming season. “It’s an exciting group of players. We’re all ready to get going with the season.”

With a winning percentage above .450 in three seasons with the FCL Twins, the 32-year-old oversaw the development of many of the Twins’ key prospects while working with many former and current Mussels’ players. He also played an integral role in player development during Spring Training, extended Spring Training and Instructional League.

“I think it’s going to be a really cool experience,” Feldman said of sort of “moving up” with many of the guys he’s already worked with. “You see these guys grow

up, see how they’ve developed, some guys even from two, three, four years ago and where they’re at now.”

Minor League Baseball is all about improving and perfecting a craft to reach the next level. Oftentimes, a stop in Fort Myers is the first time a player will experience professional baseball after coming out of college or high school.

“It’s all about growth. It’s all about development at these levels,” Feldman said. “It’s all about helping push these guys forward in their careers. Our organizational philosophy is we care more about the person than just about the baseball player. We want to take care of these guys and help them develop as people and as players.

“Our job as coaches is to continually teach and take pride in our ability to connect with these guys.”

So, what should fans know about the team?

“There’s some young, really exciting players on this team,” Feldman said. “We have a lot of guys on this team that are going to be playing baseball for quite a while. I think this is going to be a fun team to watch, and a team that is going to play hard night in and night out.”

Southpaw Dasan Hill is the top-ranked prospect on the roster, coming in at No. 13 in the Twins’ organization, according to MLB Pipeline.

The 19-year-old was selected 69th overall in the 2024 MLB Draft out of Grapevine High School in Texas. The 6-foot-5 starter did not compete at any level following the draft, but has turned some heads this spring with his fastball that has jumped from the low-90s to as high as 98 mph.

“I would say the coaching staff here is just insane,” Hill said of his leap in velocity. “They’ve just been putting all their energy into us. And just getting bigger with the strength coaches.

“A lot of the drills that I do kind of make it so I’m not having to think about what I’m doing on the mound. It’s just doing those drills to where it’s just a natural change

See MIGHTY MUSSELS, page 31

Forbes selected March Athlete of the Month

The votes are in for the Cape Coral Breeze’s March Athlete of the Month, and the winner is Oasis High School standout Jazlyn Forbes.

The junior finished first in the mile with a time of 4:59:03 in a stacked field of elite runners at the Guy Thomas Memorial Classic at Dumbar High School in Fort Myers.

“It is always great to win any race, especially against a talented field of athletes,” Forbes told The Breeze during her nomina-

tion week. “I plan to continue working hard in every workout to accomplish my season goals.”

Voting for April’s Athlete of the Month will open toward the end of the month. Stay up to date with Athlete of the Week selections on capecoralbreeze.com.

Jazlyn Forbes

Capt. George Tunison

Wednesday Boys Tennis

North Port 4, Oasis 3: Nate Orozco and Michael Abreu won their singles matches and teamed up for a doubles victory for the Sharks.

Baseball

North Fort Myers 3, Island Coast 2: The Red Knights (12-7) spotted the Gators (15-6) two runs in the top of the first, then blanked them the rest of the way. Jakob Wagner had an RBI in a three-run North fourth inning. Both pitching staffs held their opponents to three hits. Matthew Blasena picked up the victory for the Red Knights. Austin Schoolcraft had an RBI for the Gators.

Mariner 14, Cape Coral 4 (5 innings): Xavier Muentes homered, doubled and drove in four Tritons runs. PJ Marino, Ryan Kotarski and DJ Dwire also hit home runs for Mariner (14-7). Jacob Gorra, Kelan Jamison, Kotarski and Marino had two RBI each. For the Seahawks (5-14), Collin Thess, Jordan Lambing and Landon Frazin each drove in a run.

Bishop Verot 8, Gulf Coast 2: The Vikings reached the 20-win (20-2) plateau, thanks in part to five Gulf Coast

errors. Verot’s Nick Raber doubled and had two RBI, while Joey Lawson hit a solo home run and a double. Raber also pitched 6 1/3 innings for the win.

Flag Football

North Fort Myers 7, Mariner 0: Still undefeated (7-0, 4-0 District 3A11), the Red Knights scored on Kenlee Dominguez’s 30-yard interception return. The loss dropped the Tritons to 4-2, 2-1.

Beach Volleyball

Lemon Bay 3, Mariner 2: The loss dropped the Tritons to 5-7.

Cardinal Mooney 3, Bishop Verot 2: Verot lost its first match this season (8-1).

Tuesday

Baseball

Ida Baker 9, Cape Coral 5: The Bulldogs (8-11) were powered by Robbie Hensley, who had three hits and drove in four runs. Ely Mora and Cole Lewis had an RBI each. Landon Frazin drove in two runs for the Seahawks (5-13).

North Fort Myers 9, Riverdale 6: A six-run first inning gave the Red Knights (11-7) a lead they would never lose. Junior

Tome and Karter Long had two RBI each. Matthew Blasena had three hits, including two doubles, and scored two runs.

Bishop Verot 10, North Port 2: The 19-1 Vikings held North Port to two hits.

Sarasota Riverview 11, Mariner 5: Trenton Taylor drove in two runs for Mariner (13-7). Ryan Kotarski had a double and an RBI.

Softball

Mariner 5, Port Charlotte 0: Gabi Winters struck out 19 batters, allowing one hit and no runs, as the Tritons (9-4) picked up the win. Morgan Tucker tripled and had two RBI, and Kylie Dominello and Winters each drove in a run.

North Fort Myers 10, Riverdale 0 (6 innings): Jordyn Prado had two hits, including a triple, and three RBI for the Red Knights (10-3). She also pitched a three-hit shutout.

Cape Coral 15, Ida Baker 2 (5 innings): Allie Buice tripled twice, bringing in four runs for the Seahawks (12-3). Jocelyn Slater homered and had two RBI.

St. John Neumann 3, Oasis 0: Kaitlyn McGee doubled for one of the Sharks’ two hits. Oasis slipped to 9-6 with the loss to the 9-2 Celtics.

Boys Tennis Dunbar 4, Mariner 3

Singles: Aiden Persaud (D) d. Damien Gleason 3-6, 6-4, 14-12. Neil ChaungSaladin (D) d. Ryan Hunter 6-3, 6-1. Carlos Gonzalez (M) d. John Courtney 6-3, 6-2. Emanuel Barros (M) d. Garry Belcher 3-6, 6-0, 10-2. Jayadev Kona (D) d. Brody Bixler 6-4, 6-2. (exhibition match: Hudson Belcher (D) d. Mason Earley 6-1 6-4). Doubles: Chaung-Saladin/Kona (D) d. Hunter/Bixler 8-3. Gonzalez/Barros (M) d. Courtney/Belcher 8-6.

Flag Football

Bishop Verot 20, Lake Placid 0: Verot (6-2) defeated Lake Placid for the second time this season.

Girls Lacrosse

Cape Coral 9, Cypress Lake 2: Bailey Bianchi scored four goals for Cape (6-5). Five Seahawks added a goal each. Barron Collier 15, Bishop Verot 9: Lily Lockard had five unassisted goals and four ground balls for the Vikings (4-8). Samantha Till had two goals, one assist and nine ground balls.

Mighty Mussels: Fort Myers club to open season on the road today

From page 30

for the better.”

Hill said it’s a “dream come true” to start his professional career, and that he’s enjoyed facing top competition early on prior to the season starting.

To go along with his newfound heater, Hill features a devastating low-80s sweeper that he said is a go-to out pitch for him.

“It’s a relatively new pitch I developed my junior year,” Hill said. “I’m fine-tuning it even now to make it better. It’s my swing-and-miss pitch. To be able to have that weapon in the back of my pocket -- I feel confident I can always throw it for a strike and it’s awesome to have.”

Hill has also been working on a curveball and changeup, the latter of which can play even more with a fastball in the upper-90s.

As for being the top prospect on the

club, Hill said it’s in the back of his mind, but something he’s trying not to think about too much.

“You can’t think of it, you have to compete the same whether you’re a top prospect or just signed as a free agent,” he said. “Just keep competing and have the same mentality either way.”

Durability, especially for a pitcher that will throw more innings than he ever has before, is a vital piece of the puzzle for success. Hill said there’s been “huge” changes to his routine from high school to professional baseball with his workouts and conditioning.

“It’s about being a lot more consistent,” Hill said. “Our trainers and strength coaches definitely do a great job.”

Hill has been in Fort Myers since last year, and said he can’t wait to feel the experience of a live crowd and to make his pro debut, which is slated for Saturday.

A hometown kid will suit up for the

Grouper: Tips for preparing rigs

From page 30

pinfish or sand perch to the hook then drop it down and hang on. Hooking multiple grouper at the same time will test not only your knots and gear but will also give your arms a real workout.

If you’ve been nicknamed Freddy Fumblefingers because making up leaders and tying reliable knots in mono isn’t your deal, most tackle stores sell pre-made leader set-ups. You will still need to learn at least one reliable knot to attach this rig to the end of your line. Ask a friend or check out YouTube for tons of free instruction and practice till you master a few basic knots.

One good knot to master is the Uniknot which has many applications. Keep in mind that some knots work best with all mono and others with thinner diameter braided lines. Choose carefully especially when typing mono to braid.

There’s nothing worse than to set the hook or fight the fish then to suddenly have your line go slack because of a bad knot you’ve tied, especially bad, considering the time, effort and money it took you to get out to the fishing grounds in the first place. If the end of your line comes back in what

I like to call curly-ques, this always means the knot didn’t break, it simply became undone. Practice knots and rigging tackle at home before the big trip.

If you do get on the grouper, remember that the battle is almost always won or lost in the first seconds of the fight as these fish head back into cover and try to break you off. Put on the power instantly to get these bulldozers away from line shredding structure or stop at the fish store on the way home.

Make sure to check your FWC website for the latest info on open and closed grouper regulations as it often changes. Also remember that state rules apply out to the 9-mile mark then federal rules take over.

With hot weather and hot fishing in the spring forecast, take the time now for basic boat, trailer and safety gear maintenance. Save big engine repair bills by changing out that fuel/water separating filter. Inspect all wiring and top off lead-acid batteries with distilled water only and make sure your tow policy is up to date.

Capt. George Tunison is a Cape Coral resident fishing guide. You can contact him at 239-579-0461 or via email at captgeorget3@aol.com.

Mussels this season, as Fort Myers native Peyton Carr starts the season in a stadium just 10 minutes from his childhood home.

Carr, a third baseman, was drafted in the 10th round of last year’s draft out of High Point University where he was First Team All-Conference in the Big South.

The 2020 graduate of Fort Myers High School said it’s a blessing to be able to suit up so close to home and continue his baseball journey.

“I grew up coming to games here -Spring Training games, Low-A games, so, it’s just such a blessing to look up to those guys growing up and now being in that spot is a blessing,” Carr said.

The 23-year-old said his family is “pumped” about him getting to return home and play out his baseball dreams, as well as a large group of friends that will surely venture to Lee County Sports Complex to see him compete.

In 2024, Carr started 27 games as a designated hitter and batted .417 with 13 home runs and 30 RBI. He posted an eye-opening 1.380 OPS and slugged .864 with just 12 strikeouts in 124 plate appearances. Carr battled through misdiagnosed abdominal muscle tears in 2023 and early 2024, but overcame the adversity to put up numbers that resulted in hearing his name on draft night.

“Coming back, I dealt with a misdiagnosed injury for quite a while,” Carr said. “Made a little bit of a swing change, saw a new hitting coach, and it all clicked. I decided to give everything to the Lord when I went down again. My relationship with (God) has advanced so much, and I decided to just give the whole season to (God). I give (God) all the glory and the praise.

“It was tough (to battle through injuries). I got a few different opinions and diagnoses. It was mentally taxing for sure.”

Carr said while he certainly wanted to

be on the field with his teammates, being able to take in the game from the sidelines gave him a different perspective that ultimately benefited his game.

“It teaches you a lot,” Carr said. “Baseball is the best game in terms of relating it to life. You fail three out of 10 times and you’re a hall of famer. There’s a lot of failure that goes on in this game, and that relates well to life. You can’t be successful without failure.”

One of the 13 returning players on the roster is catcher Poncho Ruiz.

The 23-year-old San Diego State University product appeared in 71 games for the Mussels last season, hitting .256 with four home runs and 36 RBI. He was even promoted to High-A Cedar Rapids, logging 21 appearances.

“I’m ready for a new season,” Ruiz said. “I’m excited to be in this league and give 100%.”

Being a catcher is a taxing position on the body, especially in the Florida heat, but is also quite a cerebral position having to work seamlessly with each pitcher on the staff.

“It starts in Spring Training catching all of these guys,” Ruiz said. “Knowing their pitches. I love catching. It’s a passion for me to learn pitchers, what they have -- I love pitch calling. It’s one of my favorite things.”

What does Ruiz think about this year’s team compared to last season?

“We have a really good team this year,” he said. “We have some more experienced guys, combined with the younger guys, we’re going to be able to help those guys develop into better baseball players and win some ball games.”

Feldman has served as the catching coach throughout the spring, working with Ruiz on blocking and pop time.

“I’ve been around him since the beginning of spring,” Ruiz said. “We work hard and we’re ready to go.”

Other top prospects on the Mussels roster to begin the year are outfielder Yasser Mercedes (No. 20) and infielder Dameury Pena (No. 25).

For more information on this year’s schedule, promotions, and tickets, visit www.milb.com/fort-myers.

Hammond Stadium at Lee County Sports Complex is at 14100 6 Mile Cypress Parkway in south Fort Myers.

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Obituaries

Cape Coral

Geraldine J. (Elkins) Lowman

Cape Coral, FL – Geraldine J. (Elkins) Lowman, 94, of Cape Coral, FL, formerly of Lincoln, IL, passed away peacefully on Thursday, March 20, 2025, at Volante Assisted Living, Fort Myers, FL.

Geri was born on February 5, 1931, in Lincoln, IL to William and Catherine (Gillard) Elkins. She was united in marriage to Wayne H. Lowman on January 26, 1952. He proceeded Geri in death in August of 2011.

Geri is survived by her three sons, Robin (Margaret) Lowman, Todd (Georgia) Lowman, Scott Lowman and daughter-in-law Marleena Lowman; six grandchildren, Cole Lowman, Kelsey (Matt) Boyer, Samantha (Jon) Siemers, Melanie Lowman, Sydney Lowman, Aaron Lowman and four great-grandchildren, Bryce Boyer, Brinley Boyer, Jett Siemers and Griffen Siemers. She is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews that she loved deeply.

Geri was the tenth of eleven children and the last survivor of her immediate family. She was proceeded in death by her parents; husband, Wayne; an infant daughter; and siblings, Beulah Sutherland, Burl Elkins, Conrad “Doc” Elkins, Elizabeth Schaub, Bertha Laun, Dale Fields, Lucille Buesking-Brown, Bailey Elkins, James Elkins, and Jack Elkins.

Geri spent many years employed at Lehn & Fink before leaving to raise her family. Geri then spent her time as a seamstress and ran an in-home day care where she made lifetime friends in the children she cared for. Upon retirement in 1990, Geri and Wayne moved to Cape Coral, FL to enjoy the sun and warmth of, in Mom’s words, “beautiful southwest Florida”. She was a member of the First United Methodist Church, Lincoln, Il and Cape Coral First Methodist Church, Cape Coral, FL.

She was an avid Cubs fan and could always be found with a smile, laughing, and holding a cup of black coffee.

Cremation rights have been respectfully observed and a private family graveside service will be held at a later date in Lincoln, IL. Please visit www.fullermetz.com to leave a condolence.

Cape Coral

Ms. Louise Rose Fagan, 70, of Ormond Beach, FL, died on March 24, 2025 at Advent Health Memorial Hospital in Daytona Beach. Born in Brooklyn, NY, she moved to Cape Coral in 1983, and then to Ormond Beach in 2015.

She is survived by her brother Joey LoForte, her brother-in-law Glen Fagan, her nephews Connor and Liam Fagan, and many cousins. She was preceded in death by her husband, Loren D. Fagan in 2002.

Death Notices

Cape Coral

Robert William Enrico Sr, 78 of Cape Coral, passed away on March 18, 2025. Arrangements are by Coral Ridge Funeral Home, Cemetery and Cremation Services, Cape Coral. Please visit www.coralridgefuneralhome.com for additional information.

Peggy-Anne DiGiacomo, 85, of Cape Coral, Florida passed away March 28, 2025. Arrangements entrusted to Lee County Cremation Services-Cape Coral.

Louis Felice Hroncich, 79 of Cape Coral, passed away on March 18, 2025. Arrangements are by Coral Ridge Funeral Home, Cemetery and Cremation Services, Cape Coral. Please visit www.coralridgefuneralhome.com for additional information.

Robert Gambee Sanders, 84, of Cape Coral, Florda passed away March 31, 2025. Arrangements entrusted to Lee County Cremation Services-Cape Coral.

John Rusyn Jr, 67 of Cape Coral, passed away on March 19, 2025. Arrangements are by Coral Ridge Funeral Home, Cemetery and Cremation Services, Cape Coral. Please visit www.coralridgefuneralhome.com for additional information.

Edith Marie Pelletier, 68 of Cape Coral, Florida passed away on February 26, 2025. Services entrusted to Fuller Metz Cremation and Funeral Services.

Kathryne Scofield MacDonald, 101, of Cape Coral, Florida passed away March 27, 2025. Arrangements entrusted to Lee County Cremation Services-Fort Myers.

Carole Rae Ortinau, 87, of Cape Coral, Florida passed away March 26, 2025. Arrangements entrusted to Lee County Cremation Services-Cape Coral.

Robert Allen Brown, 87 of Cape Coral, passed away on March 17, 2025. Arrangements are by Coral Ridge Funeral Home, Cemetery and Cremation Services, Cape Coral. Please visit www.coralridgefuneralhome.com for additional information.

Lorraine Rose Walsh-Mooney, 96 of Cape Coral, passed away on March 18, 2025. Arrangements are by Coral Ridge Funeral Home, Cemetery and Cremation Services, Cape Coral. Please visit www.coralridgefuneralhome.com for additional information.

Kevin James Callaghan, 71 of Cape Coral, passed away on March 20, 2025. Arrangements are by Coral Ridge Funeral Home, Cemetery and Cremation Services, Cape Coral. Please visit www.coralridgefuneralhome.com for additional information.

Richard “Dick” Parry, 93, of Cape Coral, Florida passed away on March 30, 2025. Services entrusted to Fuller Metz Cremation and Funeral Services. www.fullermetz.com

Death Notices

Cape Coral

Bernard D Gorniak, 88 of Cape Coral, passed away on March 15, 2025. Arrangements are by Coral Ridge Funeral Home, Cemetery and Cremation Services, Cape Coral. Please visit www.coralridgefuneralhome.com for additional information.

Fannie Zummo, 80 of Cape Coral, passed away on March 14, 2025. Arrangements are by Coral Ridge Funeral Home, Cemetery and Cremation Services, Cape Coral. Please visit www.coralridgefuneralhome.com for additional information.

Burton James Nelson, 86 of Cape Coral, passed away on March 20, 2025. Arrangements are by Coral Ridge Funeral Home, Cemetery and Cremation Services, Cape Coral. Please visit www.coralridgefuneralhome.com for additional information.

Janet Louise Elmore, 84, of Cape Coral, Florida passed away March 31, 2025. Arrangements entrusted to Lee County Cremation Services-Fort Myers,.

Fort Myers

Johnnie M. Thopson, 67, of Fort Myers, Florida passed away Mach 31, 2025. Arrangements entrusted to Lee County Cremation Services-Fort Myers.

Hal Dickson Tray, 91, of Fort Myers passed away March 31, 2025. Arrangements entrusted to Harvey Engelhardt Funeral Home.

Charlotte County

Walter B. Mitchell, 94, of Punta Gorda, Florida passed away March 23, 2025. Arrangements entrusted to Lee County Cremation Services-Cape Coral.

Hope W. Crocker, 81, of Punta Gorda, Florida passed away March 31, 2025. Arrangements entrusted to Lee County Cremation Services-Cape Coral.

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Agreement always better than a lawsuit when heirs disagree

Dear Mr. Feichthaler:

My brother and I inherited our mother’s home in Cape Coral earlier this year. I live here in Florida, while my brother lives in Wisconsin. I would like to sell the property, but he wants to use it as a vacation rental, and for his own use each February. With us having equal ownership, who makes the decision?

-Charles M.

Real Estate Law

Dear Charles:

Our condolences on the passing of your mother. I am sure it is dif-

As equal owners, not only do you both have an equal say of what occurs with the property but you also both have the right to use the property. You could both decide to move in, if you wanted. Hopefully, you are both still on speaking terms and may be able to reach an agreement that is fair for both of you. Ideally, your brother would purchase your interest in the property for fair market value. He could purchase your 50% interest with his own funds, rental payments to pay the mortgage to you. If you reach agreement, you will action in the circuit court. A partition is a legal proceeding when the owners of property cannot decide the disposition of real estate. This will ultimately lead to a settlement where one buys out the other, or a forced sale. As you may expect, a forced sale almost never results in more money than if willing parties make an agreement on price. If your settlement negotiations do not lead to an agreement, a partition action is your only alternative for resolution.

I caution my clients when making their estate plans to consider the relationships of those that may inherit real estate. If there is likely to be disagreement, I recommend attempting to split assets in a way that does not force direct ownership on people that are likely to have disputes. I wish you all the best in reaching an amicable resolution with your brother.

Backyards have undergone quite a transformation over the last decade-plus. The days when patios and decks were all a backyard living space had to offer are largely a thing of the past, as homeowners have realized just how valuable it can be to commit to a stunning backyard.

The real estate experts at Zillow estimate that homes with backyard features such as outdoor televisions, outdoor showers and outdoor kitchens command 3.1 percent more than expected upon reaching the market. If 3.1 percent doesn’t sound like a lot, it actually equates to nearly $11,000 on a typical home. But there’s more to gain than money when converting a backyard space into a relaxing respite. Such spaces can provide a welcoming escape from the hustle and bustle of daily life, all the while giving homeowners and residents a comfortable space to soak in the great outdoors. With that in mind, homeowners can take the following steps to establish a peaceful backyard retreat.

• Refresh the landscape. Even if your vision is centered on outdoor furniture and a space that accommodates movie nights under the stars, it’s still best to refresh the existing landscape if it needs a little upkeep. Overgrown trees, hedges and bushes can create the same cluttered vibe that dominates interior spaces overrun with items. If necessary, work with a local tree service or landscape architect to trim, or even remove, trees and hedges that are crowding the backyard and making it feel claustrophobic or giving it an unkempt look. Aim for a landscape that affords a balance of sun and shade so the space is as comfortable as possible throughout the day.

Eric P. Feichthaler has lived in Cape Coral for over 37 years and graduated from Mariner High School in Cape Coral. After completing law school at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C., he returned to Cape Coral to practice law and raise a family. He served as mayor of Cape Coral from 2005-2008, and continues his service to the community through the Cape Coral Caring Center, and Cape Coral Kiwanis where he serves as president. He has been married to his wife, Mary, for 24

Law from the Florida Bar, and primarily practices in real estate law and wills and trusts. He is AV Preeminent rated by Martindale-Hubbell for professional ethics and reached at eric@capecoralattorney .com, or 239-542-4733. This article is general in nature and not intended as legal advice to anyone. Individuals should seek legal counsel before acting on any matter of legal rights and obligations.

Eric P. Feichthaler

• Set up multiple gathering spaces, if possible. Once a backyard retreat is hard to resist. Keep this in mind when planning the space and aim to set up multiple gathering spaces. An outdoor kitchen with a nearby dinner table can be a great space to enjoy al fresco dining, but a separate area to read a book or watch a movie or ballgame can make the space more versatile. Some may want to relax away from the noise of the grill area, and multiple gathering spaces ensures there’s always a peaceful spot to unwind out back.

• Add a water feature. Running water has a way of calming the nerves, and that’s good to keep in mind when planning a backyard retreat. Water features run the gamut from garden ponds to koi ponds to fountains to hot tubs. Homeowners can identify which feature best aligns with their idea of relaxation and then work with a landscape architect to ensure it’s installed in their backyard oasis.

• Don’t forget shade. Temperatures are rising in many areas of the globe, and that’s worth noting when planning a backyard retreat. Even the most ardent sun worshippers likely won’t want to be exposed to the sun at all times when relaxing in their backyards. Strategically chosen means of providing shade can make spaces enjoyable all day long. Consider umbrellas, gazebos, pergolas, and even retractable awnings to cover patios and decks when the sun is at its highest each afternoon. If you plan to spend ample time in the grass, make that more enjoyable by planting shade trees, which also can protect the grass from drought and make it more comfortable underfoot.

A relaxing backyard retreat can make for an ideal space to escape the hustle and bustle of daily life.

Article from Metrocreativeconnection.com. Photos from Shutterstock.com

PROPERTY TRANSFERS

Source: Lee County Property Appraiser

PROPERTY TRANSFERS

Are we there yet? Top of mind in our local market

Are we there yet? Ah, that pesky little million dollar question that is top of mind with a lot of buyers, sellers, and truth be told, virtually every Realtor in arrived at their bottom, or is there another leg down to this housing market correction? And if there is another leg down, how long will it last and how deep will it go?

If these questions are not top of mind, then they are at least lingering somewhere in the back of just about everyone’s mind. Anecdotally, based on our “boots on the ground” observations and conversations with a variety of potential buyers, sellers and Realtors, most sellers want to believe that the worst is over and that their home is somehow immune to the downward price pressures of the past 2+

either needs or really wants to buy a home now and they know that not only have prices already come down, but they will probably be able to buy the home of their choice for below the list price. The other group of buyers are patiently waiting for home prices to crash before they make their move. And for their part, frustrated Realtors are being humbled by the market forces of deteriorating home values on their listings while dealing with a growing number of highly frustrated sellers.

So let’s get to the question of the year, are we there yet? Our best guess as to whether or not the current home price correction is over is to say, probably not yet. But at the same time, after enduring a stealth-like slow motion price correction with origins tracing back to around the summer of 2022 (and prior to the damaging effects of Hurricane Ian), we can say we are closer to a bottom right now than we have been at any time in the past 2 1/2 years. However, what happens from here is anyone’s guess and there are a lot of moving parts to the economy and the housing market right now, so we will choose to defer to the market numbers to paint a picture for you.

median sales price in the overall Cape Coral single-family home market hit its all-time single month record high of $470,000 back in April 2022. That time frame just happened to correlate directly with the launching of the Federal Reserve’s war on

jack-up their ultra short-term Federal Funds Rate beginning in mid-March 2022. This series of Fed rate hikes ultimately led to substantially higher mortgage rates, which has weighed heavily on the housing market. We can also tell you that 33 months after setting this record high for median sales prices in 2022, the median sales price for Cape Coral homes posted their monthly low

in 20.2% below the April 2022 high. The median sales price bounced up a bit to $400,000 this February, but the preliminary

just about everything else over the past four years, along with having a glut of homes listed for sale, the argument can be made that home prices are still overvalued. At some point in this price correction process the downward pressure on home values and sales prices will likely give way to a period of consolidation where we would start to see broadly sideways price action to allow our real estate market to “catch its breath” in more of a healthy pause to refresh. We do not think we are there yet, but that is what we are looking for as we track the monthly market data.

Current active listings and pending sales

We have seen a nice little surge in pending home sales in the month of March, along with the typical month end decline in active listings connected to listing agreements that expired on March 31. As of Tuesday, April 1, there were 3,383 active listings for Cape Coral single-family homes in the MLS at prices ranging from $159,900 to $6.985 million. The current median list price came in at $485,000. Two weeks ago there were 3,499 homes listed for sale and the median list price was $484,900. One year ago on April 2, 2024, there were 2,807 Cape Coral single-family homes listed for sale in the MLS at prices ranging from $225,000 to $10.9 million, and the median list price was $499,900. As a side based on our daily market surveys we reached a peak of 3,520 homes on the market on Feb. 24.

There are currently 724 Cape Coral homes under contract with buyers as pending sales at prices ranging from $169,900 to $4.759 million, and the median pending sales price is at $379,900. Two weeks ago there were 735 pending home sales in the Cape and we reached this season’s high of 768 pending sales on March 25 and 26. One year ago on April 2, 2024, there were 802 homes under contract with buyers and the median pending sales price was at $419,000. Back on March 19, 2024, there were 845 pending sales in the pipeline. As a side note, buyers.

termined, but we will not be surprised to see prices break down below $375,000 sometime later this year.

months of 2025 has averaged $385,167 per month, which is 6.4% lower than the -

liminary number of closed home sales in March will have increased by more than 53% from the 326 sales in February and they look like they may approach the 536

three months of this year will probably still come in about 7% below the 1,205

Another aspect of our market that could point towards more pain ahead for sellers is the fact that we probably have not worked off all of the excesses from the 12-month average median sales price for Cape Coral single-family homes which was at the tail end of the post-COVID market boom, the monthly average median sales price peaked at $430,833 per month for a dollar amount increase months of this year the average median sales price will be around $385,167 per month, so we are only down $45,666 or 10.6% from the peak while remaining $140,363 or 57.3% above the average of $244,804 per month at the end of 2019. When we add in some of the other factors that are impacting home affordability, such as higher mortgage rates, higher insurance costs and higher prices on

Next week we will continue our quest to answer the million dollar question of “Are we there yet?” by identifying some of the potential “canaries in the coal mine” that could be foreshadowingtate markets. However, the thing to keep in mind throughout this market correction is that homes are still being sold, but getting your home priced correctly to the current market is the key.

The sales data for this article was obtained from the Florida Realtors Multiple Listing Service Matrix for Lee County, Fla., as of April 1, 2025, unless otherwise noted. It was compiled by Bob

Coral single-family homes, and does not include condominiums, short sales or foreclosures. The data and statistics are believed to be reliable, however, they could be updated and revised periodically, and are subject to change without notice. The Quinns are a husband and wife real estate team with the RE/MAX

years. Geri has been a full-time Realtor since 2005, and Bob joined Geri as a

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