\With the 2024 Atlantic Hurricane season having made its mark as the third-costliest on record featuring multiple Category 5 hurricanes, top forecasters are predicting yet another active season.
Researchers at Colorado State University, one of the leading entities in hurricane season forecasts (now in its 42nd
year), are predicting an “above average” season in their initial 2025 estimate.
The team points to an above-average subtropical eastern Atlantic Ocean and Caribbean Sea surface temperatures as a primary factor for its forecast number this year.
The CSU Tropical Weather and Climate team is predicting 17 named storms during the Atlantic hurricane season, which runs
from June 1 to Nov. 30. Of those, researchers forecast nine to become hurricanes and four to reach major hurricane strength (Saffir/Simpson Category 3,4,5) with sustained winds of 111 miles per hour or greater.
“Our analog seasons ranged from having slightly below-average Atlantic hurricane activity to being hyperactive,” wrote Phil Klotzbach, a senior research scientist in
the Department of Atmospheric Science at CSU and lead author of the report. “While the average of our analog seasons was above normal, the large spread in observed activity in our analog years highlights the high levels of uncertainty that typically are associated with our early April outlook.” CSU experts state when waters in the eastern subtropical Atlantic are much
By PAULETTE LeBLANC pleblanc@breezenewspapers.com
The community of Matlacha is remembering legendary artist and islander extraordinaire Leoma Lovegrove.
Lovegrove, 72, died April 10 with her husband, Mike Silberg, at her side.
She was diagnosed with and had battled Stage 4 breast cancer since 2018 but the disease neither defined nor deterred her: She often employed her art, using it to promote awareness and early detection.
Close friend and fellow Matlacha business owner Chardayne Seuffert, speaking affectionately of Lovegrove said, “she chose to live,” in the midst of her years-long battle, never complaining or relenting.
While recognized for her colorful and easily distinguishable paintings as well as a featured fashion and product line at Bealls, Lovegrove will be most remembered on the island she loved for her tremendous generosity, even in the face of disaster in the aftermath of Hurricane Ian. She lost her gallery and their home in Matlacha in the Category 4 storm that
DeSantis slams Florida House Republicans amid budget clashes, probe into Hope Florida
By NATHAN MAYBERG nmayberg@breezenewspapers.com
Gov. Ron DeSantis was in Fort Myers at the Florida Highway Patrol station Wednesday as part of an appearance to talk up raising the pay for state troopers and law enforcement, while also using the opportunity to lash out at House Republicans who have been investigating the Hope Florida Foundation created by his wife and who have been clashing with the governor over the state budget.
DeSantis put down Republican state legislators in the House, calling them “disgraceful.”
“This is a donkey in an elephant suit,” DeSantis said in his reference to House Republicans with whom he is clashing. He called them “the swamp in action.”
“They never ran on joining with Democrats to try and manufacture smears,” DeSantis said in a reference to the investigations of the Hope Florida Foundation. DeSantis accused Republicans in his own party of working to benefit “liberal trial lawyers,” personal injury law-
Gov. Ron DeSantis is pushing to increase the pay for all new state law enforcement and state firefighters by 20% and by 25% for all veteran state law enforcement and firefighters. He criticized some Florida House Republicans who he said are not supporting the increases but are instead seeking cuts. DeSantis noted that his administration has instituted $5,000 signing bonuses for all new local and state police officers hired in Florida, an initiative on which the state has spent $53 million on since 2022. DeSantis also said the state used federal funds it received during the COVID pandemic to pay $1,000 after-tax bonuses to police officers three years in a row thanks to those federal funds.
yers and special interests.
“They are effectively stabbing voters in the back with this terrible agenda,” he said.
He criticized fellow Republicans for working to restore funding for programs that he had vetoed last year in the state budget. DeSantis said he had made $60 million in spending cuts through the line-item vetoes last year.
DeSantis defended the Hope Florida Foundation, which is a division of the Florida Department of Children and Families and was set up as a nonprofit charity by his wife, Casey DeSantis.
Although a nonprofit charity, the Hope Florida Foundation technically operates as a government entity and Florida House Republicans have been investigating the foundation’s ties to the DeSantis administration and millions of dollars in funds it has distributed. Among the investigations is whether the foundation worked together with the DeSantis administration to oppose a state bill on legalizing marijuana.
DeSantis has said he supports his wife succeeding him as the next governor of Florida when his term expires in 2026.
DeSantis talked up the foundation’s work with connecting those in need of government assistance with churches
throughout the state and placing foundation offices in all of the state’s colleges.
DeSantis is pushing to increase the pay for all new state law enforcement and state firefighters by 20% and by 25% for all veteran state law enforcement and firefighters. He criticized some Florida House Republicans who he said are not supporting the increases but are instead seeking cuts. DeSantis’ communications office did not respond to messages seeking specifics regarding the allegations by DeSantis and requests for the base pay for troopers and firefighters, or how much the increases would add to the budget.
DeSantis said Wednesday there has been an attempt by some Florida House Republicans to not support funding the replacement of Florida Highway Patrol vehicles with more than 100,000 miles and ballistic armor.
“This is a sabotage of law enforcement,” DeSantis said. The press conference featured speeches from state law enforcement, the widow of a trooper killed in the line of duty and the spouse of a trooper who was shot while pursuing a fleeing vehicle. All spoke in support of the funding initiatives sought by DeSantis.
DeSantis talked up his support for law enforcement and noted that his administration has instituted $5,000 signing bonuses for all new local and state police officers hired in Florida, an initiative on which the state has spent $53 million on since 2022. DeSantis also said the state used federal funds it received during the COVID pandemic to pay $1,000 after-tax bonuses to police officers three years in a row thanks to those federal funds.
DeSantis made repeated mentions of his efforts to “fight the woke” and to not “defund the police” in terms that echoed stump speeches he made in his presidential bid. DeSantis is expected to run again for president with his term in office ending in 2026.
Messages left with members of Lee County’s Southwest Florida State House delegation seeking comment were not returned as of press time.
DeSantis spoke more positively of the Florida Senate, which he said he has been getting along with.
“We are going to be bulldogs. We are not going to back down from a fight,” DeSantis said.
— Gov. Ron DeSantis
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
Parks protection bill a ray of light
It’s not often we get a press release from both a state rep and an environmental group applauding the same piece of legislation.
But this week, we received releases from the office of Rep. Peggy Gossett-Seidman and the Sierra Club, each praising the unanimous passage in the House of HB 209 entitled State Land Management.
HB 209, sponsored by Sen. Gayle Harrell and State Representatives John Snyder and Gossett-Seidman, all of Palm Beach County, is intended to protect state parks.
The legislative effort comes in the wake of a statewide outcry last year over the not-so-great “Great Outdoors” plan that was touted as an “initiative to increase public access, recreation and lodging at Florida State Parks” by ensuring that “Florida’s conservation lands can be enjoyed by Floridians today and tomorrow.”
Why the controversy?
No one — not the public, not various environmental groups, not even the elected officials in and around the nine state parks targeted for rollout — bought the bushwa packaged as “conservation.”
For Jonathan Dickinson State Park, which is in the district represented by Sen. Harrell and Rep. Snyder, for example, the “Great Outdoors” plan meant adding two 18-hole and one 9-hole golf courses to a park that currently is mostly preserved as natural habitat. It meant a clubhouse and ancillary structures. It meant removing the Hobe Mountain observation tower, one of the most popular observation sites in the state. It meant hotels, the aforementioned additional “lodging.” It meant a pickleball complex.
It also meant protests with Rep. Gossett-Seidman and Rep. Meg Weinberger saddling up “alongside dozens of concerned Floridians in a horseback protest through the park” with “Protect Our Parks” signs and flags and a pack of mules draped in banners.
This effort, and others like it, led to the “temporary
This week’s poll question:
Should state parks be protected against development?
∫ Yes. I don’t want to see things like sports facilities and hotels.
∫ No. I’d like to see more to do.
∫ This is not an issue for me. Vote at capecoralbreeze.com.
Previous poll question:
Are you concerned about the change in school bell times?
∫ Yes. 6.75%
∫ They will affect my family but I have no issue with the changes. 4.5%
∫ No. 20.5%
∫ I don’t have childen in the public school system. 68%
* Total votes at press time: 44 votes. Percentages are “rounded.”Poll results are not scientific and represent only the opinions of Internet users who have chosen to participate.
April 18, 2025
How you can help ‘rescue’ food in Southwest Florida
Nationwide, 38% of the food supply is wasted, according to Feeding America. That equates to 92 billion pounds of food each year – or roughly 145 billion meals – that ends up in trash cans, incinerators and landfills.
It’s not just consumers putting too much food on their plates or buying too much at the grocery store (although those are problematic, too). Supermarkets, retail stores and distributors often throw away food that is approaching its expiration date or simply doesn’t look as good as other products. Stores even discard perfectly good food just to clear shelf space for the next truckload.
Food waste is a massive problem, one that persists despite the hunger crisis spreading in communities across the U.S., including right here in Southwest Florida where one in eight people – including one in six children – are considered food insecure.
For years, Harry Chapin Food Bank has redirected millions of pounds of food through its Retail
The more things change...
To the editor:
Store Pick-Up Program, which has become a major source of food that eventually makes it way to the plates of neighbors experiencing hunger. Every week, the Food Bank collects shelf-stable and perishable food items from more than 140 retailers across Southwest Florida, including Publix, Walmart and Sam’s Club locations. Donations include fresh produce, frozen and refrigerated meat and deli items, baked goods, breakfast cereals, snacks and other nutritious goods that retailers planned to remove from store shelves. The Food Bank intercepts and redirects this food, bringing pallets of items to the warehouse for inspection, packaging and redistribution through a Feeding Network that includes more than 175 agency partners. The Food Bank also operates a Fresh Produce Rescue Program, going straight to farmers and distributors for fruits and vegetables that weren’t sold to retail stores. Perfectly good produce should never end up in a compost pile; this program ensures it ends up on a dinner plate somewhere in Southwest Florida.
Letters to the editor
When the Rosen brothers were preparing what is now Cape Coral in the 1950s, they bulldozed all the trees... even the one on Pelican, under which was found a giant skeleton, according to one history book.
Now comes city government doing the same a second time in Jaycee Park.
All the trees are gone, as one can see in the aerial photo on the city Facebook page that I have asked to be shared here.
Cal Skinner
Cape Coral
‘Tarrified?’ Speak out.
To the editor:
We are all tarrifying. What changes are you making to live in Lee County?
I see the biggest issue is the economy.
We were hit with high tariffs and losses in the stock and bond markets at the same time!
Make your voices heard. This is a tax on all of us . Be heard by writing letters to the editor, by videos and we must not let up
Kathleen
Callard
The Boathouse Restaurant lease with Cape Coral
North
Fort Myers
To the editor:
Why is the city talking changes and options to the lease with the Boathouse at the Yacht Club? Is the city blocking the rebuild of the Boathouse Restaurant?
According to the city manager the fire has caused the building to be “untenantable” to be repaired promptly to the value prior to the fire. The statement by the city manager that the property will need to be replaced per the latest building codes, and it will take three years to design and build makes the current lease problematic. The Boathouse
was a complete loss after Hurricane Ian, was the rebuild then brought up to code? Three years from now there will only be six years left on the Boathouse 20-year lease. It would most likely be uneconomical to construct a building to new requirements and recover its costs in the remainder of the lease time frame.
The lease is clear, the best solution is for the Kearns Group (which owns the Boathouse) to cancel the lease and forfeit the insurance money to the city per the lease provisions. The city can use those funds to prepare the site for a new restaurant with desired features and issue an RFP for a new 20-year lease to the restaurant industry. The Yacht Club is a premier site and should attract many parties to bid. The city should expect a 10% return on gross sales ($1 million a year). It currently only receives 5% sales revenue on the lease with the Boathouse.
We can all empathize with the loss of the Boathouse business, but a competition should be held for a new lease that will maximize revenue for the residents and taxpayers. Negotiating a new sole source agreement with the Kearns Group will not result in the best deal for the public. Holding weekly or biweekly meetings with the Kearns Group gives a bad perception that special treatment is being given to them. It is often stated by the council that we need to act within the “4 corners” of the contract. The See LETTERS, page 6
Richard LeBer Guest Commentary
Fair Housing: A right for all Floridians
In 1983, Florida lawmakers enacted the Florida Fair Housing Act, reinforcing the state’s commitment to ensuring all residents receive fair and equitable treatment in housing transactions. This legislation mirrors the federal Fair Housing Act of 1968, adapting its provisions to address the unique needs of Floridians.
Under the Florida Fair Housing Act, individuals are protected from discrimination in housing based on race, color, national origin, disability, sex, religion, and familial status. This applies to renting, buying, financing, and advertising housing.
The Florida Commission on Human
Relations (FCHR) is the state agency responsible for enforcing these fair housing laws. FCHR investigates complaints of discrimination, provides mediation services, and educates the public on their rights and responsibilities. These education services are available for those renting or buying, landlords, real estate agents, property managers, mortgage lenders, and other housing providers across the state of Florida.
If you believe you have faced housing discrimination within the past 365 days, FCHR is here to help. Complaints can be filed at no cost, and our team works to resolve cases efficiently. To learn more about your rights or
current lease needs to be cancelled per its provisions and a new one created and competed for the best value to the residents. As long as the Boathouse lease is still active, the Kearns Group should be paying roughly $5,000 in monthly minimum rent regardless of its usability. Are they?
Tom Shadrach Cape Coral
You don’t have to be an environmentalist to support clean water
To the editor:
The term “environmentalist” evokes emotionally charged reactions.
Let me say I’ve always felt I was not one of “them.” And yet…
Environmental laws exist for good reasons (mostly). Some will argue there are too many laws (I tend to agree). Regardless, what is missing here in Florida is enforcement and action with regard to existing laws protecting water quality. Enforcement is the missing link.
The word enforcement contains “force” in it for a reason. A Florida constitutional amendment would give Floridians the Right to Clean Water and help “force” the state to address water quality issues. Honestly, I can’t believe this is something that the state must be forced to do but here we are.
This constitutional right does NOT add more cumbersome laws. It does NOT add more unnecessary litigation. So what does it do? A Right to Clean Water constitutional amendment provides citizens the right to force the state (using injunctions) to take action where no action is being taken now. The Legislature (no matter who is in power) cannot take this right away from its citizens if we embed this into our constitution. Several states have already done this, I’m not sure why Florida has not. We’re all about the water here.
This petition and constitutional amendment are about enforcing existing laws meant to protect our water. What is the argument against that?
Go to: https://bit.ly/FRTCW-petition and download, sign and date a pre-filled petition with your info on it. Take 3 minutes right now and do this, please! Next year, with enough signatures on this petition, voters here in Florida can cast their vote to protect our waterways. I have faith in my fellow Floridians to make this happen. We must!
June Hunter-Clarke Cape Coral
to file a complaint, visit fchr.myflorida.com or call (850) 488-7082.
Together, we can ensure equal housing opportunities for all Floridians.
— Larry Hart is the chair of the Florida Commission on Human Relations. He previously served as Lee County Tax Collector.
Guest Commentary
Larry Hart
Letters to the editor
Social Security fears
To the editor:
Americans are rightly worried about their Social Security. On one hand, DOGE has been hacking away at the Social Security Administration with a plethora of cuts and changes to the federal agency and Trump even hints on changing the program’s future. I think that the Democrats with a little help from the Republicans that are not transfixed in the MAGA movement, will see to it that this program is preserved. If they can’t stop him, I think that 70 million American retirees and millions of Americans about to retire can change Trump and Musk’s direction if they band together.
So now we look to the other major issue plaguing Social Security; will Social Security run out of money? According to the 2024 annual report of the Social Security Board of Trustees, the surplus in the trust funds that disburse retirement, disability, and other Social Security benefits will be depleted by 2035. Without congressional intervention, retirees would only be able to receive 83% of their full benefits. You then, can clearly predict that this percentage will decline rapidly thereafter.
Congress has attempted to apply several bandages to the hemorrhaging Social Security coffers. One of them, was applied in 1983 when Congress passed the law to raise the full retirement age from 65 to 67 because people are living longer. Another, which has actually been a set of bandages, is that Congress raised the CAP (the maximum amount of earnings subject to Social Security tax) several times. In 1950 and earlier, the tax cap was $3,000. In 1990, it was $51,300. In 2022, it was raised to $147,000, In 2024 it was raised to $168,600, and for 2025, the cap has been raised to $176,100. This seems to be an on-going BandAid, rather than a true fix.
Congress is on the right track, but has not been aggressive enough to actually solve the problem. The issue with their incremental CAP adjustment is that it continues to put the burden of making Social Security solvent on the working- and middle-class Americans. Simply removing the CAP would start bringing in additional funds from the Upper Class and the Rich. Today, employees across the board, pay 6.2% of their salary up to the CAP into Social Security, with the Employer paying an additional 6.2% of the Employees salary up to the CAP.
Based on the U.S. Bureau of Labor numbers, you can see what each level of Americans actually pay to SS: n Working class – % of populations = 35%, income
Guest Commentary: Cutting
From page 4
Harry Chapin Food Bank serves 250,000 neighbors each month across Charlotte, Collier, Glades, Hendry and Lee counties. Food insecurity should not be a problem in a community as affluent as ours... but it is.
Southwest Floridians should consider their role in protecting and preserving natural resources and the environment.
This year, consider your role in the food chain and turn that into a promise to the environment, almost like a New Year’s resolution. Commit to cutting down your household’s food waste while also ensuring that nothing in your cabinets sits untouched before hitting its expiration date.
$24k to $75k, % paid to SS = 6.2%
n Middle class - % of population = 32%, income $75k to $120k, % paid to SS = 6.2%
n Upper class – % of population = 20%, income $121k to $431k, % paid to SS = 6.2% to as low as 2.5%
n Top 10% class – % of population = 1%, income > $431k, % paid to SS = 2.5% to less than .004%
This highlights that the working- and middle-class Americans are carrying the burden of keeping the Social Security funded. If Congress, which, unfortunately, is mainly made up of millionaires would take on the bold stand and cut the CAP so that the high earning upper class and the Top 10% rich class would pay 6.2% of their total earnings, the entire Social Security coffers would be filled and this problem would be resolved.
One should be aware, that all Americans that have contributed to Social Security qualify to receive Social Security when they reach the defined retirement age. That means the millionaires, who really don’t need Social Security can get the same payment as the person who made $176,100 per year for their last five years when they retired.
The Maximum Social Security benefit based on 2024 qualifications, that one can receive is:
n Full retirement age in 2024, the maximum benefit was $3,822 per month
n Age 62 in 2024, the maximum benefit was $2,710 per month
n Age 70 in 2024, the maximum benefit was $4,873 per month.
I would suggest keeping the maximum Social Security benefit payout as it is currently defined as it is adjusted annually based on changes to the national average wage index.
With this simple change of removing the CAP on earnings, the high-earning upper class and the top-10% rich class will then pay their fair share to Social Security, and our Social Security solvency issue is resolved.
Americans need to give our Republican and Democratic representatives feedback on Social Security, telling them to “CUT the CAP” but, because it will impact the rich, and Congress has not in general wanted to go down this path, we need 70 million Americans to stand up and make Congress act on what Americans want.
Ronald Swan Cape Coral
See LETTER, page 7
waste can help feed those who are hungry
Check the labels, and if it’s not something you’ll probably consume, consider donating it to Harry Chapin Food Bank or one of the 175 agency partners working tirelessly to end hunger in Southwest Florida.
Below is a list of the most-needed and most-requested food items:
n Breakfast bars
n Canned fish or chicken
n Dry or canned beans
n Canned vegetables and fruits
n Pasta
n Bottled pasta sauces
n Cooking oil
n Dry milk
n Peanut butter and jelly
n Rice
n Canned soups
— Richard LeBer is president and CEO of Harry Chapin Food Bank, Southwest Florida’s largest hunger-relief nonprofit and the region’s only Feeding America partner food bank. Visit HarryChapinFoodBank.org for more information.
From page 6
Don’t buy into anti-tariff ‘news’
To the editor:
Interesting how people can become so excited over an event, major as it is and display such a lack of knowledge about what is happening.
The new tariff action by Trump is long overdue. China charges 67%, Japan charges 46%, South Korea charges 50% and the European Union charge 39%. These countries have almost no American automobiles while 45% of all the cars Americans buy are made by these countries. If those foreign cars average $40,000 that means that each year, we spend $286.2 billion on foreign cars.
Americans buy 15,900,000 cars each year at $40,000 that is $636 billion. We only sell $63 billion of American cars overseas and that predominantly to countries that do not make cars.
Why do other countries that make cars have no American cars? Because those countries double the cost of American cars with tariffs.
Compare $286.2 billion that we pay for foreign cars versus $63 billion for American cars that we sell overseas. We are essentially giving those countries hundreds of billions of American dollars every year.
Realize that this is only for cars. For all products, we export $300 billion less than we import.
I was surprised to look at Trump’s chart on what new tariffs he is adding. Surprisingly Trump is proposing tariffs that are only about half of what those countries have
Letters to the editor
been charging us for decades.
Does anyone think adding more tariffs is a bad move? Sure, there might be pain for a short time but this will be a huge benefit down the road and the biggest one is more high-quality jobs for Americans.
Why wasn’t this done before? Lack of courage by past presidents and some politicians thinking that their favorite voter struggles with 2+2 so leftists’ fake news can scare people.
Note already Apple and many others are moving plants to America. We will have a construction boom and many new jobs.
The only way we can lose on this is if fake news convinces voters to panic causing them to put socialist back in office so we can continue to send money to other countries leaving America with more low-paying service jobs, a skyrocketing debt and more Judges like Boasberg on the bench helping terrorists to grow in our country.
Relax Americans. America is coming up roses.
John Benedict Cape Coral
Trump the golfer
To the editor:
On April 10, Trump’s 69th day in office, convicted felon Trump played golf at the course he owns in West Palm Beach here in Florida. Since his inauguration on Jan. 20, it is his 18th time he has played at one of his golf courses.
That means he has played golf on more than a fourth of the days since he was sworn in.
Based on a 2019 Government Accountability Office report which detailed the cost to taxpayers for moving his motorcade equipment and security personnel around as well as the immense cost of flying Air Force 1 for each of Trump’s first term golf trips, the total cost to date for Trump’s second-term golf outings is now up to $26,127,531.
Billionaire authoritarian oligarch Elon Musk, whom Trump appointed to ferret out “waste and fraud” in government, hasn’t said a word about it. He is apparently too busy firing essential federal workers and veterans and destroying government services which Americans depend on to notice that the president’s devotion to his hobby instead of his nation has cost taxpayers more than $26 million in little more than two months.
Yet Musk, whose companies rake in an estimated $8 million PER DAY from government contracts, keeps complaining about how other Americans with government contracts and those who receive government benefits are the “parasitic class.”
Lastly, DJT is planning a military parade for his birthday celebration on June 14. The cost will be $93 million of our tax dollars!
The views expressed on the Opinions pages are just that — opinions. These pages are intended to convey a range of viewpoints; opinions printed on this page do not necessarily reflect the views of this newspaper. Opposing views are welcome. Letters to the editor or guest columns may be e-mailed to vharring@breezenewspapers.com. All letters and guest opinions must be signed and must include a phone number for verification purposes. Readers are also invited to comment on any letter or editorial opinion online at: capecoralbreeze.com.
Remembered: Celebration of Life planned for April 28;
From page 1
made landfall on Cayo Costa.
“She gave her boots away—she gave her glasses away— she was very kind. A lot of people will never know how kind she was, because she never put that stuff out there for recognition. Her heart was always Matlacha, always,” Seuffert said, adding that Lovegrove was an avid angler, taking every chance she had to fish.
CW Fudge factory owner William Tidball emphasized Lovegrove’s abundant love for Matlacha, saying she had been a staple in the community for as long as he has been her business-neighbor and friend.
“Everything she did was what she felt was best for Matlacha. Once she knew you and she knew that you also loved Matlacha, she loved you as well. She’s always done everything possible to promote Pine Island and Matlacha,” Tidball said.
When Tidball arrived at his business on the island, it was Lovegrove who explained much of how things worked for businesses on Pine Island, explaining the on and off season aspects. He said he also gave much thought to the fact that Lovegrove’s work was tangible evidence of her ability to touch those who lived with her work throughout the globe.
“She showed me nothing but goodness. She did anything to help anyone succeed in business in Matlacha. She was a great person. She would buy candy and donate it anonymously to folks. I have the deepest respect for her as a person and a business owner. I don’t think she’ll ever know how much she touched people. She will truly and sadly be missed,” Tidball said.
Bert’s Bar and Grill and Bert’s Pine Gallery owner Bernard Johnson said he was deeply saddened by friend and fellow Matlacha business owner Lovegrove’s
death.
‘What a shock it was when I first heard. I was aware that she wasn’t well, but we all have our ups and downs and she’s had some rough ones. What I can say is as far as Matlacha, she really brought a lot of the love of art in Matlacha and she really brought a lot of people to her store. Her waterways and sunsets are everything. It was game-changing—what she did for Matlacha and what people got out of art. For decades, we did business together— probably at least 20 years,” Johnson said.
He also described her husband, Mike Silberg, as a wonderful person, commenting on how well the couple complemented one another in life, in events and in their relationship.
“I can’t tell you how many places I’ve been in the country where I’ve seen her work—a Leoma shirt. It’s amazing. Sometimes I would take down people’s numbers and she (Leoma) would talk to them—she kept in touch with so many people,” Johnson said.
The community is invited to attend a celebration of life 2 p.m. April 28 at Broadway Palm Dinner Theatre. For planning purposes, RSVP’s are kindly requested by Wednesday, April 23, at https:// www.eventbrite.com/.../leoma-lovegrove.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made on Leoma’s behalf at www.collaboratory.org/LeomaLovegrove.
Leoma Lovegrove
Above, Leoma Lovegrove’s “Matlacha Island.” At right, Leoma in her element in Matlacha.
Cape Council interviewing Youth Council applicants
Councilmember Nelson-Lastra appointed liaison; city looks
By MEGHAN BRADBURY news@breezenewspapers.com
With graduations pending, Cape Coral City Council is gearing up for Youth Council changes.
An amendment to the enabling ordinance for the appointed panel will come before the Cape Coral City Council at its next voting meeting and a new Council liaison was tapped Wednesday.
Council appointed Councilmember Jennifer Nelson-Lastra as its Youth Council liaison.
Dr. Derrick Donnell will serve as the alternate.
Councilmember Bill Steinke, the former liaison, brought forth a discussion following the vote regarding the process of se-
lecting students for the Youth Council. He said the panel is open to incoming junior students for a two-year commitment. There are 14 members.
City Council has begun the process of interviewing student applicants.
Steinke said there is an imbalance with representation due to a lack of applicants from each school.
“The senior project this year was geared around an outreach to all the schools, so the school understands. A product of that is we got applications from a broader base of schools. The trouble is a couple (applications) came in as seniors. They have been determined ineligible” he said.
The two schools were Island Coast High School and Bishop Verot High School, as
to adjust member rules
next year Verot would not have a student representing that school.
City Attorney Aleksandr Boksner said the Youth Council is established by an ordinance, which states that only juniors are appointed for a two-year period of time to allow them to be seniors their second year.
“We appoint juniors, seven of them,” Boksner said.
He said the ordinance can be amended to keep everything intact and create a provision under exceptional circumstances giving the authority to accomplish what Steinke is looking to do without upending the entire process.
“If there is consensus, I think I have a mechanism to accomplish that,” Boksner said.
He said if the event arises it will be permitted to exceed 14 members, but only under exceptional circumstances.
“That way it won’t be a recurring problem,” Boksner said.
Nelson-Lastra said she would like for it to be fluid.
“I interviewed 14 students. I didn’t find one dud,” she said. “We should be appointing based on merit.”
Steinke said he does not agree with limiting it to just seniors, which the council agreed.
The first reading of the amendment to the ordinance will come before the City Council’s next meeting.
Woman accused of pepper-spraying dogs at park
By CJ HADDAD cjhaddad@breezenewspapers.com
A Cape Coral woman was arrested after police said she sprayed multiple dogs at a local park with pepper spray despite not being in any immediate danger.
Charlene Tedesco, 67, was charged with one count of animal cruelty for an alleged incident Saturday morning at Rotary Park.
Cape Coral Police Department officials said officers were called to the park before 9 a.m. in answer to a report that a woman walking a medium-sized dog was “spray-
ing something at multiple dogs.”
According to police, a witness told them that a woman, later identified as Tedesco, was walking outside of the dog park, which is enclosed by a 5-foot fence on all sides, and then when a dog within the park approached her and her dog, she “would spray some kind of chemical at the dog.”
Police said additional witnesses at the park told officers the woman was also spraying their dogs with what appeared to be mace/pepper spray.
According to a CCPD press release,
“Another witness told officers a dog was sprayed in the eyes and was yelping, crying, and trying to rub its eyes in the dirt. The witness said he helped the owner wash the dog’s eyes out with a hose. He also said the woman had sprayed multiple other dogs on other occasions. Another witness said the woman admitted to spraying dogs if they get too close to the fence.
After making contact with Tedesco, police officials said she told officers she sprays the dogs’ feet with pepper spray because she’s worried they’ll attack her,
adding that she does not enter the fenced-in dog park but walks around the outside of it. Officers determined Tedesco drove to the dog park, approached the fenced-in area, was never in danger due to there being a barrier (fence) between her and the dogs playing within the park, and utilized pepper spray on the dogs, causing torment.
Tedesco was also issued a trespass warning and told she could not return to the park.
Tedesco was released from Lee County Jail the next day on a $500 bond.
‘Bureau of Transformative Change’ gets kick-start
By MEGHAN BRADBURY news@breezenewspapers.com
The city of Cape Coral is looking to spend a little to, hopefully, save a lot by examining how it does things and becoming more efficient.
Cape Coral City Council unanimously approved a resolution Wednesday that will continue implementation of its lean government initiative through the city manager’s focus on increasing internal coordination and service provision process engineering.
Resolution 115-25 is a contract with Poerio Consulting, Inc. to provide Lean Government Consulting & Implementation Services at a cost of $165,000. The contract provides for 20 training sessions for $150,000, and $15,000 for travel expenses. Also included in that total are consulting services at $3,000.
The contract will spur the efforts of the city’s new Bureau of Transformative Change.
City Manager Mike Ilczyszyn called it a continuous improvement process engineering resolution. He said to date he has focused on accomplishing external goals, some of which include the purchase of the old golf course and reservoir, economic development master plan, transportation plan, the city’s Economic Development Office masterplan and the city’s growth model.
“Most of what I sought to accomplish in year one was externally focused, and I told my staff year two is going to be focused on increasing internal coordination and service provision process,” he said. “How do we do better with what we have?”
Ilczyszyn said he was a middle manager for the city in 2007 and was tasked by the Public Works director to lead the Public Works Department process engineering bureau.
“At the time, the city manager, Terry Stewart, had this exact same consulting firm come in and train staff. The idea is to train staff how to look at processes from start to finish, break them apart, redesign and reengineer, identify internal controls that are causing roadblocks, delays, handoffs and rework inefficiency and waste,” he said. “I did that for four years. Our own internal staff took over that
“At the time, the city manager, Terry Stewart, had this exact same consulting firm come in and train staff. The idea is to train staff how to look at processes from start to finish, break them apart, redesign and reengineer, identify internal controls that are causing roadblocks, delays, handoffs and rework inefficiency and waste. I did that for four years. Our own internal staff took over that assignment and led it internally. That is my exact role here — teach staff how to think differently.”
— City Manager Michael Ilczyszyn, adding he has seen the process work
assignment and led it internally. That is my exact role here — teach staff how to think differently.”
Ilczyszyn said every single event they did at that time yielded tremendous results which, in turn, had a return on investment that was phenomenal.
With the council’s approval, he said staff will focus on things on demand with the public – permits and maintenance areas and how the city does capital improvement from the procurement side.
He said they are looking to have at least one member from each department assigned to the Bureau of Transformative Change.
No additional staff is being requested for the bureau. It will all be done with existing staff with the help of the consultant to train and help the city move forward.
“This program is more guided toward government. This is based on governmental processes and bureaucracy and removing the waste,” Ilczyszyn said.
Mayor John Gunter said he thinks it is good to have someone from the outside look at the city from the inside.
“We have used this particular firm before. They know our city quite well. Using an outside independent firm, I think is wise in this venue here because I think we want to hear some honesty,” he said.
Councilmember Bill Steinke was in favor as well, as the past three years the city has dealt with exponential growth.
“In business there is a philosophy – working in the business and on the business. There is all hands-on deck
CCB0002234.crtr - Page 1 - Composite
working in the business. (It’s a) first great step of working on the business,” he said.
Steinke said the amount of investment required is .4% of the budget. He said if they do not have return on investment in the upwards of 20-30 times, he would be extremely surprised.
“The investment is paid off in spades based on recommendations we get back for more efficiently and effectively,” Steinke said.
The core mission of BTC will be:
n Identify and eliminate inefficiencies in government processes.
n Facilitate Kaizen (continuing improvement) events and cross-functional improvement workshops.
n Build a citywide culture of waste elimination and problem-solving.
n Use data-driven tools to improve performance and outcomes.
n Support departments in reengineering workflows for faster, smarter service.
The city manager will receive a regular report from the BTC regarding progress, outcomes, and cost savings generated through its work. City Council will also receive quarterly reports on BTC’s performance.
The BTC will be headed by interim Assistant City Manager Mark Mason and coordinated by Special Projects Coordinator Sarah Evins.
‘Shaken, Stirred and Served’ fundraiser to benefit LARC
Celebrity bartenders & servers to include Councilmember Nelson-Lastra, Mayor Gunter
By CJ HADDAD cjhaddad@breezenewspapers.com
A nonprofit is hosting an event next week where patrons can see drinks mixed and have tables catered to by “local celebrity” bartenders and servers.
Lee Association for Remarkable Citizens will host its first-ever “Shaken, Stirred & Served” fundraiser at Nevermind Awesome Bar & Eatery in Cape Coral on April 27.
Since 1954, LARC is dedicated to empowering individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Local celebrity bartenders and servers will step behind the bar and hit the floor, competing to see who can raise the most tips in support of LARC’s mission with 100% of all tips go directly to the nonprofit.
“We are thrilled to host the inaugural Shaken, Stirred and Served event at Nevermind Awesome Bar & Eatery,” said Angela Katz, LARC’s executive director, in a prepared statement. “It’s going to be a fun, high-energy evening — and it all supports a powerful cause. Our celebrity guests are ready to compete, and we hope the community will come out to tip big and make a meaningful impact. Supporters can also donate in advance toward the celebrity’s tip jar.”
The event will run from 4 to 7 p.m., where attendees are encouraged to bring friends, a thirst, and generosity.
“Every dollar tipped makes a difference,” event organizers stated.
Celebrity bartenders include: n Noelle Casagrande – public informa-
If You Go:
What:
“Shaken, Stirred & Served” fundraiser
When:
Sunday, April 27, from 4 to 7 p.m.
Where:
Nevermind Awesome Bar & Eatery, 927 Cape Coral Parkway East
tion officer, city of Fort Myers n Marc Collins – Executive Director, Uncommon Friends Foundation n Jennifer Nelson-Lastra –Councilmember, City of Cape Coral
Celebrity servers will be: n Kevin Anderson – mayor, city of Fort Myers n John Gunter – mayor, city of Cape Coral n Sadie – from the Logan and Sadie Morning Show on 96.9 WINK FM
Nelson-Lastra said she wanted to take part in the event for two reasons.
“First, the mission of LARC speaks to my soul as I spent the bulk of my career with Goodwill Industries helping people with disabilities,” she said. “I believe in the work they do that makes a big difference in adults living with disabilities.
“Second, It’s in our city, and at my favorite spot in Cape Coral. Mike Gavala who is one of the owners, reached out and asked if I would help raise money and I of course said yes.”
Nelson-Lastra, who said she’s without bartending experience, said it’s going to be a day full of smiles for a good cause.
“I’m looking forward to serving with some of my favorite community leaders from across the bridge and providing awareness about LARC to our residents who may want to join in the fun,” NelsonLastra said.
“I’ve never been a bartender, so I have zero previous experience. I’m going to rely on my friendly customer service skills to raise the most tips for LARC. It will be a bonus if we raise more money than both mayors.”
Gunter could not be reached for comment.
LARC has impacted the Lee County community for more than seven decades, offering life skills and vocational training, residential services, and a wide range of programs that promote inclusion and personal growth. Each year, more than 300 individuals, ranging from 14 to 83 years old, benefit from LARC’s life-changing services. LARC’s main campus is located at 2570 Hanson St. in Fort Myers.
Sponsorship opportunities for Shaken, Stirred & Served are available and feature premium access to a private VIP area, reserved tables for four, and dedicated barstool seating. The sponsorship deadline is April 25 at noon.
For more information or to purchase sponsorships, visit www.larcleecounty.org, or contact Nickole Hendra at 239-3346285 (extension 229), or email nickolehendra@larcleecounty.org.
Nevermind Awesome Bar & Eatery is located at 927 Cape Coral Parkway East.
Weekly B reeze Recap
Cape Coral, Lee County issue burn bans
By CJ HADDAD
cjhaddad@breezenewspapers.com
Due to dry conditions throughout the area, Lee County and city of Cape Coral officials issued burn bans Tuesday.
In accordance with the city’s Code of Ordinance, the city issued the temporary measure with “the intent to limit fire hazards within the city to protect the health, safety, and welfare of our residents.”
Cape Coral Fire Department officials said the ban prohibits recreational burns (i.e. fire pits, campfires) and city permitted burns (i.e. bonfires and land clearing control burns).
“This also includes burning vegetative debris,” CCFD officials stated in a release. “Fires solely for cooking purposes
where the fire, flames, and heat generated are fully contained within the confines of the device being used (i.e. grill) are still allowed.”
The burn ban shall be in effect until the local drought index is below 600 for seven consecutive days.
The Cape Coral Fire Department also requests the community be vigilant in not disposing of lit smoking materials outdoors, including from a car window. The department requests that vehicles, including ATVs, only be operated on paved, gravel, or dirt surfaces and not on grass or other vegetation.
The county’s ordinance bans “outdoor burning ignition sources,” including campfires, bonfires and trash burning.
Grills for food are not included. Officials ask all residents countywide to be mindful of dry conditions and to use good judgment to mitigate potential for significant wildfires.
For the county to enact a burn ban, certain conditions must be met, including a Keetch-Byram Drought Index (KBDI) that reached or exceeds a value of 600. According to officials, Lee’s index value Monday afternoon was a mean average of 612 out of 800. The county also coordinates with the Lee County Fire Chiefs’ Association and the Florida Forest Service, both of which support the ban.
“This ban does not apply to prescribed burns authorized by the Florida Forest Service, authorized public fireworks dis-
Korean, Vietnam war veterans recognized through Honor Flight, Honor at Home program
By CASEY SHEPHERD news@breezenewspapers.com
More than 80 Korea and Vietnam war veterans made the trip to Washington, D.C., Saturday to visit national landmarks.
A second contingent, not able to make the two -hour flight to Washington, also took part in the Honor Flight program.
Collier Honor Flight founder Debi Lux realized that due to advanced age and other reasons, not everyone could make the flight, but she wanted to make the experience accessible to all of the vets nonetheless.
“What we found is we have some of our veterans who simply can’t fly. They might have sundowner syndrome, you know, dementia, physically just couldn’t handle a full day, and we didn’t want to leave them behind,” Lux said.
Lux’s solution to the problem? Bring Washing-ton to the Southwest Florida International Airport.
“The concept was to do exactly what we do on a flight, making sure we honor
them. Do the secret stuff that we do. We feed them. They have a guardian. And then the beauty of it is they go through the welcome home line with everybody else, so they’re honored with that great, huge welcome home,” Lux said.
The event known as Honor at Home started with a welcome salute from a combined group of JROTC Cadets from local high schools.
The veterans then made their way up to a RSW conference room where they were treated to a flag ceremony, and a pinning ceremony where those who served between the years 1955 and 1975 were recognized.
Dinner was provided by Mission BBQ and, while the veterans enjoyed their meal, their virtual trip to Washington, D.C, began. Clips of previous honor flights of previous years arriving in Washington played and were followed by comprehensive footage of all the national monuments they would have seen in person.
After the virtual trip came to an end,
the Honor at Home veterans received the same welcome back as the veterans who went to D.C. in person.
Hundreds of Southwest Florida residents lined the RSW concourse with signs and flags to welcome the Honor Flight and Honor at Home participants back.
“There’s some 100 people (here) that we owe a debt of gratitude to, not just today, every day you wake up, politics aside, throw it away. Throw the right, throw the left away. How about the people that fought for you to say that that’s what it’s all about,” Peter Aquegge, a Cape Coral resident said.
The greeting for the veterans was overwhelming for most, with many becoming visibly emotional.
“I’m totally overwhelmed. And my guardian here told me that it was going to be overwhelming and I was gonna cry, and I thought she was full of crap, but I really did,” said Peter Nicholsen, a United States Marine veteran.
plays permitted by Lee County and other government agencies, and fireworks sales authorized by state laws,” Lee County officials stated in a release.
The burn ban is accomplished by the county board adopting a State of Local Emergency. County officials state they will continue to monitor the drought conditions to determine how long the burn ban will be in place.
For more information on wildfire safety and protecting your home, visit capecoralfire.com/be-prepared.
Visit www.leegov.com and Lee County Government’s social media to monitor when the ban is rescinded, or for additional information.
Pine Island Eagle’s historic sign found in St. James City after Hurricane Ian
By PAULETTE LeBLANC pleblanc@breezenewspapers.com
The Pine Island Eagle is grateful to a Good Samaritan from St. James City who found, and stored, the paper’s historic sign lost in Hurricane Ian after the Category 4 storm made landfall on Cayo Costa on Sept. 28, 2022
Jan Robertson said the storm had blown it into a neighbor’s yard and, after her neighbor was finished cleaning up, Robertson took the sign to her house, where it’s been ever since.
“I figured I’d take the sign back to the office, because the Eagle means a lot to me. I always look for the cat of the week and there’s always good stories,” Robertson said.
The sign from the Eagle office, as well as a Little Lily’s deli sign, had made their way about two miles down Stringfellow Road to Woodstock Road. Robertson said she removed the two signs from her neighbor’s debris pile, because she felt she should bring both signs back to The Center where the Pine Island Eagle office is located.
Robertson said she moved to Pine Island because it seems much like “Old Florida” in her opinion, adding that she also loves the ospreys.
“It’s amazing that it traveled that far undamaged,” Robertson said of the saved sign.
“We’re so thankful to see our long, lost sign was returned,” said Ray Eckenrode, publisher of the Breeze Newspapers. “In the grand scheme of things, it’s a small item, but to have it make its way back to us after three years seems like a nice piece of symbolism to remind us how the Pine Island community has been so resilient in dealing with the trauma of Ian and we hope the Eagle has been a part of that.”
The Eagle office is at 10700 Stringfellow Road. For more about the newspaper, which is part of the Breeze Newspapers group, visit pineisland-eagle.com.
A local veteran from the Honor at Home program shakes the hand of a young boy in the terminal of the Southwest Florida International Airport in Fort Myers.
PHOTO BY ANTHONY ZOLLO
SCCF’s Beer in the Bushes to feature music, food and beer
By TIFFANY REPECKI trepecki@breezenewspapers.com
Tickets are still available for what is called the unofficial end-of-season party for Sanibel and Captiva islands.
The Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation will host its annual Beer in the Bushes this Saturday, April 19, from 6 to 10 p.m. at its Sanibel headquarters.
The event will feature craft beer, food trucks and live music, with the proceeds to support its mission to protect and care for Southwest Florida’s coastal ecosystems.
“We’ve referred to this event as a ‘friend-raising’ event,” SCCF Facilities and Events Director Jeff Siwicke said. “We wanted to frame it as a gathering for the community to celebrate the end of season.”
Headlining this year’s outdoor festivities will be Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe.
“I’m always looking for bands that put on an incredible live experience,” he said. “An act that will appeal to the crowd that we generate — something that will get people moving and dancing.”
Hailing from San Diego, the band is known for its unique blend of rock, soul and classic funk and is highly regarded as one of the best live acts on the planet. For over 25 years, it has played to sold
out audiences at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, Madison Square Garden and other hallowed venues worldwide.
“Tiny Universe is Karl Denson’s own project,” Siwicke said, noting that when The Rolling Stones go on tour, he is their saxophone player. “He’s got an incredible resume. It’s really going to be a treat to have him in our backyard here.”
Nine regional breweries will offer their namesake craft beer, including the Fort Myers Brewing Co., Hopsized Brewing Co., Millenial Brewing Company, Palm City Brewing Co., Point Ybel Brewing Co., Riptide Brewing Co., Swamp Cat Brew Co., Tampa Bay Brewing Co. and The Great White Grill.
“Southwest Florida has a pretty large craft brewery scene these days. When we started, there were zero craft breweries,” he said. “It’s been amazing to watch that scene grow over the years and we’ve grown with it. These are local small-time craft breweries who are in it for the love and passion for their craft.”
The Great White Grill will also have hard cider, with wine from Bailey’s and The Island Store.
Non-alcoholic beverages will be available.
In addition, Food Truck Alley at the
event will be lined with an assortment of dishes from Mambo Sandwich Co., Price Panzarotti’s, Smokin’ Crow’s BBQ, Wicked Streatery and Yo Samara’es.
“We try to diversify and have different varieties of food and different offerings,” Siwicke said, adding that each truck will have three or four items. “They’ll curate their menu specifically for the event.”
This year’s suggested attire is “cosmos,” in a nod to Tiny Universe.
“We are going with a cosmos theme, kind of galactic,” he said. “Stars, galaxies, universe, aliens, whatever — shinny, sparkly, fun stuff.”
A tradition at the event, attendees should be prepared for surprises.
“We like people to be pleasantly surprised with things we don’t talk about,” Siwicke said.
There will also be a 50/50 drawing held.
Wimmer Communities will again serve as the presenting sponsor.
“The Wimmer family has been coming to Sanibel for years,” he said, adding that they attended one of the earliest Beer in the Bushes and joined as a result. “They’ve been with us for a number of years.”
This year’s event is also supported
by the Marcum Giving Fund as the band sponsor and MHK Architecture as the food truck alley sponsor, along with additional supporters at varying degrees.
“A significant portion of the income and the ability to put on the production is because of all the levels of sponsors,” Siwicke said. “We really couldn’t do any of this without the community’s support.”
Tickets are $125 and include unlimited beer samples, wine, soft drinks and water. Each ticket also comes with $15 in TruxBux that are redeemable at the food trucks, plus a keepsake mason jar.
“It’s an all-inclusive ticket,” he said.
The community is invited to secure a ticket before they sell out.
“We’re all going to have a really good time,” Siwicke said. “It’s just an event that doesn’t feel like any other on the island. It really is something that you don’t want to miss.”
For tickets, visit https://sccf.org/ events-programs/fundraising-events/. For more information, visit online or contact 239-472-2329 or info@sccf.org.
The SCCF’s headquarters is at 3333 Sanibel-Captiva Road, Sanibel.
The Breeze CommuniTy
April 18, 2025
Help – my plant is still sick!
By CATHY DUNN news@breezenewspapers.com
Last month we learned about the three underlying factors that can cause disease in plants, better known as the “disease triangle.” This model explains the interactions between the environment, the host (your plant) and the infectious agent. When vulnerable plants encounter a strong pathogen such as fungi, bacteria or viruses in a favorable environment, disease will occur. You will be better positioned to control or eliminate the disease by removing at least one part of this disease triangle. The most difficult factor to control is the environment, and the wetness and humidity that are so pervasive here in Southwest Florida are two of the most common unfavorable conditions for plant disease. Our challenge is to learn to identify the diseases that are affecting our plants, and to develop a management plan to eliminate and prevent these diseases.
Garden Club of Cape Coral
Black spot is a common rose disease caused by a fungal pathogen. The most common symptoms are black spots with irregular or “feathery” borders primarily on the plant’s leaves. The leaves will eventually yellow and fall off, causing the plant to decline. Disease spread can be reduced by removing the fallen leaves and applying fungicides that are designed to control black spot. The most reliable way to guard against black spot is to plant resistant rose cultivars.
Mosaic virus is another common viral infection that can affect cucumbers, peppers, tomatoes and even St. Augustine grass. Although this virus is not always fatal, it will reduce flower and fruit production and diminish the plants’ vigor. Leaf curl and distortion and leaves mottled with green, white and yellow patches are common symptoms of mosaic viruses. Unfortunately, there is no cure or control for viral infections, so infected plants should be removed to prevent disease spread.
Rust is another common fungus that we encounter in the garden. This disease begins as small yellow spots on the underside of leaves followed by rust-colored pustules that form and merge, causing the leaves to turn brown or black and fall off. If you have plumerias in your garden, you have no doubt seen this disease! Spraying your plants early in the season with a copper fungicide can help reduce the occurrence of rust, but the most important practice is to dispose of all fallen leaves to help reduce future infection.
Powdery mildew is another common disease that you may have encountered that is prevalent in spring and fall. This disease begins with powdery white patches on leaves and spreads until the plant is covered by a powdery residue; infected plants will eventually produce stunted leaves and even die. Plantings in shady environments are most susceptible since this virus thrives in moist settings. Controlling irrigation in the area and thinning plants may help reduce powdery mildew, and there are many fungi-
Local artist brings passion for fashion to exhibit at Gulf Coast Village in Cape
The next rotating exhibit co-hosted by the North Fort Myers Arts Association and Gulf Coast Village will feature textiles and shine a light on the work of Sheilana Massey, a Gulf Coast Village resident and “Gulf Coast Gallery” featured artist.
“Textile Treasures” will open with a meet-and-greet to be held from 2-4 p.m., Tuesday, May 6, at Gulf Coast Village in Cape Coral. The public is invited to “Come and meet some of the amazing artists from the North Fort Myers Arts Association and Gulf Coast Village, sip on wine and immerse yourself in this vibrant celebration of texture, color and creativity.”
“This event gives the public the opportunity to learn more about Sheilana and the other artists’ journeys through life, passion for art, and their artwork,” Sherrie Saidon, independent living lifestyles coordinator at Gulf Coast Village, said in a submission that included the following “about the artist:”
“Massey relocated to Pine Island in 1999 after living in several southern east coast states and the Bahamas. Expressing herself through art has always been a part of Massey’s life; as a child, she took up sewing and created most of her clothing. Over time, Massey progressed to sewing garments for friends and family, showcasing her talent as a young seamstress. As she got older, she decided to pursue sewing as her career – along with sewing and designing, Massey also taught tailoring.
“In the early ‘80s, Massey spent several weeks with the late Lenore Davis, a renowned fiber artist, and Jason Pollen, an internationally acclaimed artist, designer and educator, at Penland School of Crafts in North Carolina. The two served as her instructors and taught her the ins and outs of the art of dyeing and manipulating fabric. While continuing to better her craft, Massey still actively pursued creating her own art, including bed quilts for her children and a line of quilted jackets and vests, which were sold in boutiques in Santa Monica, Las Vegas, and Santa Fe. The
majority of Massey’s non-traditional fiber creations are designed to hang on walls or to be worn.
“Massey also pursued higher education by obtaining a Doctorate in Divinity. She has written numerous magazine articles and is the author of two books, ‘Peace Has No Space for Memories’ and ‘Along the Path of Enlightenment.’ She facilitates and supports those who choose to expand their personal exploration and spiritual connections.’
“‘All of life is moment-to-moment creativity unfolding magnificently,’” Massey is quoted as saying.
“Textile Treasures” will be open daily to the public from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. from May 6 to June 1. The exhibit will include an array of quilts, fiber arts, wall hangings, clothing, baskets and more.
Gulf Coast Village is at 1333 Santa Barbara Blvd. in Cape Coral.
Chapter 90 ALR, District 13 ALR donate funds
The American Legion Riders of Chapter 90 in Cape Coral attended this year’s In-State Unity Tour to raise funds for Project VetRelief/Suicide Prevention Initiative. Both Chapter 90 ALR and District 13 ALR presented two checks for $9,000 each. Chapter 90 raised its funds from events throughout the year, including its huge pancake breakfast attended by over 200 people. The District 13 Winter Stamping Tour fundraiser provided the funds from District 13 ALR. The group rode over 1,700 miles and while the final numbers have not been tabulated, the Chapter 90 Riders have collectively raised close to $300,000 from Riders all over the state of Florida. Pictured with the checks are, from left, Jack Fitzgerald (Chapter 90 director), Laurene Allen-Flower (District 13 Winter Stamping Tour chair and Chapter 90 secretary), Joseph Marcheggiani (Western Route chair) and Jessica Moore (Department of Florida 1st vice commander). Chapter 90 also has its Pocketbook Bingo coming up on Sunday, May 4. Contact the post at 239-540-8128 for more information.
Swing into Spring fundraiser for United Way April 26
United Way of Lee, Hendry, and Glades is gearing up for its 11th Annual Swing into Spring event. This major fundraiser for United Way Partner Agencies located in Hendry and Glades Counties will take place Saturday, April 26, in LaBelle.
Swing into Spring is being held in a new venue this year -- at the LaBelle Civic Center, 481 W. Hickpochee Ave., LaBelle, from 5-8 p.m. Guests will be treated to a prime rib and chicken piccata dinner (vegetarian option available), fun games with chances to win great prizes, music from the LaBelle High School musicians as well as live and silent auctions.
The auctions will feature items such as a three-night,
two-day stay at Tween Waters Inn, a two-night stay at the Luminary Hotel in downtown Fort Myers, a Myakka Elephant Ranch experience and much more.
The event, which is sponsored by Florida Power and Light as the Title Sponsor, First Christian Church of LaBelle as Platinum Sponsor, Modern Woodmen, The DAM Gym, Suncoast Credit Union and more, will be emceed by Hendry County Property Appraiser Dena Pittman.
Sponsorships are still available by calling 239-4337559.
Tickets for Swing into Spring are $75 per person and can be purchased at UnitedWayLee.org/Events/SwingInto-Spring.
UF/IFAS PHOTO
Ganoderma butt rot on a palm tree.
PHOTO PROVIDED
A wall hanging created by Sheilana Massey.
Forecast: Warm Atlantic waters expected to fuel ‘above average’ season
From, page 1
warmer than normal in the spring, it tends to force a weaker subtropical high and associated weaker winds blowing across the tropical Atlantic. These conditions will likely lead to a continuation of above-average water temperatures across most of the tropical Atlantic for the peak of the 2025 hurricane season, experts continued to state.
The report states that a warm Atlantic favors an above-average season, since a hurricane’s fuel source is warm ocean water and, additionally, a warm Atlantic leads to lower atmospheric pressure and a more unstable atmosphere with both conditions favoring hurricane formation.
Given the combined hurricane-favorable signals of a warm Atlantic and the unlikelihood of El Niño, the CSU forecast team is predicting an above-normal season. The authors do note that the initial April forecast historically has the lowest level of skill of CSU’s operational seasonal hurricane forecasts, given the considerable changes that can occur in the atmosphere-ocean between April and the peak of the Atlantic hurricane season from August to October.
The team predicts that 2025 hurricane activity will be about 125% of the average season from 1991–2020. By comparison, 2024’s hurricane activity was about 130% of the average season.
The 2024 season saw 18 total storms, 11 hurricanes, and five major hurricanes (Cat. 3 or higher).
The most significant hurricanes of the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season were Hurricanes Helene and Milton, which com-
The predictions:
The CSU Tropical Weather and Climate team is predicting 17 named storms during the Atlantic hurricane season, which runs from June 1 to Nov. 30. Of those, researchers forecast nine to become hurricanes and four to reach major hurricane strength (Saffir/Simpson Category 3,4,5) with sustained winds of 111 miles per hour or greater.
AccuWeather is predicting between 13 and 18 named storms in 2025, including seven to 10 hurricanes, with three to five being major hurricanes, and three to six direct U.S. impacts. DaSilva added that there is a 20% chance of more than 18 named storms this year.
bined to cause more than 250 fatalities and more than $120 billion dollars in damage in the southeastern United States.
The CSU team will issue updates to this forecast on June 11, July 9 and Aug. 6.
AccuWeather Lead Hurricane Expert Alex DaSilva warns it could be another year with “volatile” hurricanes.
AccuWeather experts state that one of the biggest factors for tropical development in 2025 is the abundance of warm water available to fuel storms. Experts state that water temperatures across the ocean, as well as in the Gulf and Caribbean, are already well above historical averages, and they will continue to run warm throughout most of the year.
“A rapid intensification of storms will
likely be a major story yet again this year as sea-surface temperatures and ocean heat content (OHC) across most of the basin are forecast to be well above average,” DaSilva explained in a report. “The OHC measures not only the temperature of the water but also how deep the warm water extends. A deep pool of warm water provides much more fuel for hurricanes than a shallow layer of warmth near the ocean’s surface.”
The potential presence of La Niña and El Niño conditions are always major factors in how busy a season can be. Although these events take place in the Pacific, they have far-reaching effects that can boost or suppress tropical activity across the Atlantic, AccuWeather experts stated.
Neither is expected to be present during the first half of the season, but that
could change by September, October, or November, according to Accuweather.
“A trend toward a La Niña could yield an active end to the season, while a trend toward El Niño could lead to an earlier end to the season,” DaSilva said.
AccuWeather is predicting between 13 and 18 named storms in 2025, including seven to 10 hurricanes, with three to five being major hurricanes, and three to six direct U.S. impacts. DaSilva added that there is a 20% chance of more than 18 named storms this year.
“AccuWeather is forecasting near to above the historical average number of named storms, hurricanes, major hurricanes, accumulated cyclone energy (ACE) and direct impacts to the United States,” DaSilva said.
DaSilva added that the upcoming season could get off to a fast start, with a chance for a named storm to develop before the season officially starts on June 1. He added that there could be a lull in activity following early-season storms, but could be capped by a busy end to the year. This would be similar to 2024, when 13 of the 18 named storms occurred between September and mid-November. The peak of the hurricane season typically falls around mid-September.
“Similar to last year, northern and eastern portions of the Gulf Coast and the Carolinas are at a higher-than-average risk of direct impacts this season,” DaSilva said. “Atlantic Canada and the northeastern Caribbean are also at an increased risk of direct impacts.”
From, page 1
The clean-up event will run from 8 a.m. until noon each day, with city staff getting a head start on the process beginning on April 22, which is Earth Day.
City Manager Michael Ilczyszyn sent out a call to action for residents to be a part of the effort.
“There’s no better way to contribute to a cleaner and healthier community than by volunteering to tackle discarded trash and debris across our City,” said Ilczyszyn in a message to residents. “For the past two years, the City of Cape Coral Clean Up has brought together residents, businesses, nonprofits, churches, and community groups to celebrate Earth Day by making a tangible difference in our environment.”
So, how can residents participate?
Those that are interested can register online by visiting www.capecoral.gov/cleanup to sign up.
From there, download the Cape Coral 311 App (available for Apple and Android devices) which will help individuals log clean up locations for trash collection by the city.
Organizers are asking residents to gather a team.
“Bring family, friends, neighbors, or coworkers and work at your own pace to clean areas near you that need it most,” city officials said.
Participants can share their impact by taking photos of the group and collected trash and post them on social media ,and tagging the city on Facebook and Instagram.
Once work is finished, participants can gather bagged trash in one location and log it in the Cape Coral 311 app for collection by city staff.
“There’s no better way to contribute to a cleaner and healthier community than by volunteering to tackle discarded trash and debris across our City. For the past two years, the City of Cape Coral Clean Up has brought together residents, businesses, nonprofits, churches, and community groups to celebrate Earth Day by making a tangible difference in our environment.”
— Michael Ilczyszyn, Cape Coral city manager
“I encourage your organization—whether it’s a nonprofit, neighborhood association, or industry association—to form a team and participate together with us for our third annual Cape Clean Up Earth Day event,” Ilczyszyn said.
“This is a wonderful opportunity to strengthen bonds within your group while giving back to the community we all call home.”
For more information, visit www.capecoral.gov/ cleanup.
If You Go:
What: Cape Coral Clean Up
When: April 26 and 27 from 8 a.m. until noon each day
To register:
Those that are interested can register online by visiting www.capecoral.gov/cleanup to sign up
An old photo of lineworkers on the job.
LCEC marks National Lineworker Appreciation Day today
As LCEC celebrates 85 years of powering Southwest Florida, the electric cooperative is recognizing National Lineworker Appreciation Day today, April 18, a day dedicated to honoring the brave men and women who work tirelessly to keep the lights on.
Through hurricanes, natural disasters and daily operations, these highly skilled professionals consistently put service above self. Their work often takes them into dangerous conditions; restoring power, rebuilding lines, and responding to emergencies with unwavering dedication.
LCEC extends gratitude to the lineworkers across the country who have traveled great distances to help during times of crisis, especially following major storm events here in Southwest Florida.
For information about LCEC visit www.lcec.net
Millennial Brewing crafts special beer for Tommy Bohanon Foundation fundraiser
Portion of Playmaker Pale Ale sales to benefit charitable sports organization
There’s a new brew on the block in Fort Myers — and it’s been crafted to benefit the Tommy Bohanon Foundation.
Millennial Brewing recently released its Playmaker Pale Ale in honor of the charitable sports organization’s annual Playmakers Tailgate Party, which took place on April 11.
Limited edition cans of the new pale ale were served at the fundraiser, with the remaining cans (along with pints on tap) available at Millennial Brewing’s location in downtown Fort Myers. One dollar from the sale of each $6.50 pint will go to the foundation to support its programs.
“Playmakers Pale Ale is a light, drinkable ale with hoppy notes that will remind those drinking it of an IPA- but without the heavy mouth feel,” a release announcing the new brew states.
PHOTO PROVIDED
“We’re incredibly grateful to brewery owner Kyle Cebull and his team at Millennial Brewing for creating this special pale ale in support of our foundation,” said Tommy Bohanon, its namesake and founder, in a pre-
The special Playmaker Pale Ale to support the Tommy Bohanon Foundation’s charitable efforts.
pared statement. “Their generosity helps fuel our mission to uplift and empower local youth.”
The Tommy Bohanon Foundation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting young athletes in reaching their highest potential on and off the playing field. Its programs and community outreach events have helped hundreds of student-athletes in Southwest Florida through scholarships, sports equipment grants and donations, as well as community projects.
The former NFL fullback returned to his hometown in Southwest Florida to pursue his vision of ending generational poverty for at-risk youth. The foundation funds annual scholarships, sports equipment grants to local high schools, youth football camps, seminars and programs, as well as funding for other local nonprofits.
For more information about the Tommy Bohanon Foundation, visit TommyBohanonFoundation.org or call 239-671-0441.
Mercola Market to host Star Wars Trivia Night May 3
Think you know Star Wars? Find out at Mercola Market’s monthly trivia night Saturday, May 3, from 4-6 p.m. in Cape Coral, located at 125 SW 3rd Place. No matter which side of the Force you’re on, this trivia will put your Star Wars knowledge to the test.
Monthly trivia is always free to play and features multiple rounds of engaging questions, themed prizes and a fun atmosphere. Enjoy seasonal bites and specialty drinks from the Solspring Café, with signa-
ture Star Wars themed drinks available for just $5 each. Participants are encouraged to come dressed as their favorite Star Wars character for a chance to win a special prize in our Best-Dressed Contest.
The Mercola Market of Cape Coral is a natural health retail store, exclusively offering Dr. Mercola supplements and other premium products for your health, home, pantry and pet. For information or a complete list of upcoming events, visit mercolamarketcc.com.
The Breeze Business
April 18, 2025
Business Briefs
South Cape Cinco de Drinko Pub Crawl May 3
The South Cape Cinco de Drinko Pub Crawl will be held Saturday, May 3, from 7-11 p.m. The public is invited to celebrate Cinco de Mayo vibes with a funfilled evening, strolling through South Cape, enjoying Mexican-inspired drink and appetizer samples.
Tickets for the pub crawl are $25 in advance ($20 for designated drivers) and can be purchased online via Eventbrite. Day-of tickets are $30 (if available).
Early check in is 6-7:30 p.m. at Big John’s Plaza and Dolphin Key Resort (under the front awning). Late check in is at Dolphin Key Resort from 7:30-10 p.m.
Participants can also have their picture taken at the official photo booth located at Dolphin Key Resort and automatically be entered in the Photo Booth Contest (prize is four tickets to the South Cape Red, White & Booze Pub Crawl).
Participating locations include BackStreets Sports Bar, Monkey Bar, Cruisers, Rack’em Spirits & Times, Dixie Roadhouse, Ralph’s Place, Hooked Island Grill, Rusty’s Raw Bar & Grill and Tiki Bar.
For additional information, visit the South Cape Hospitality & Entertainment Association website at https://southcapeentertainment.com/
Weichert Real Estate Affiliates, Inc.
honors local agents for 2024 performance
Weichert, Realtors - Agency ONE recently announced that multiple agents from its brokerage were honored by the national franchise organization, Weichert Real Estate Affiliates, Inc., for their exceptional real estate performance in 2024.
The following agents were recognized for their sales achievements in 2024, based on gross commission income or units closed:
n Kara Pleasant - Ambassador Club
n Jason Schroeder - President’s Club (Gold)
n Carla Kluch - President’s Club (Gold)
n Susan Granger - Sales Achievement
Weichert, Realtors - Agency ONE is an independently owned and operated Weichert affiliate. For more information, please contact Megan Eister at 239-415-6500 or megan@weichertagency1.com.
Sanibel Captiva Community Bank
promotes Kaduk to assistant vice president
Sanibel Captiva Community Bank recently announced the promotion of Rachel Kaduk to assistant vice president, recognizing her exceptional service, dedication and ongoing contributions to the bank’s success.
Kaduk was hired in 2020 as an interim loan operations specialist to assist with the Small Business Administration Payroll Protection Program. She quickly transitioned to a permanent position as a residential loan coordinator responsible for reviewing loan applications and preparing mortgage files for delivery to underwriting and in 2024 was promoted to a residential loan officer.
Kaduk is heavily involved in the Southwest Florida community. In 2024, she was elected to the Cape Coral City Council, serving District 7.
She also currently sits on several nonprofit boards, including the Chamber of Commerce of Cape Coral, Guardian Angels for Special Populations and the Southwest Florida Symphony. In addition, she is active with the Chamber of Southwest Florida and the Lee County Republican Liberty Caucus. Visit sancapbank.com for more information.
Cape Coral re:MADE to host ‘Ladies re:MADE Night Out,’ sixth birthday celebration
Cape Coral re:MADE will be holding a “Ladies re:MADE Night Out” Friday, April 25, from 5:30-8 p.m. at 1327 Cape Coral Parkway, E., Unit A, in South Cape.
The cost for the “Shaggty Loop Earrings” class is $25. Two sessions are available: 5:30-6:30 p.m., and 7-8 p.m.
In addition, the shop will be celebrating its 6th birthday Friday and Saturday, May 2-3, from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., with exclusive sales, free make & take birthday cards, light refreshments, a raffle drawing for a re:MADE gift basket and a free gift with a purchase.
For more about the shop, call 239-233-3555 or visit www.capecoralremade.com
Preserving precious memories
Cape man restores, converts old pictures and film footage
By CJ HADDAD cjhaddad@breezenewspapers.com
Looking to preserve precious family memories, history or restore and convert old footage into modern-time technology?
Family Scans and Archive 16, owned by Cape Coral resident Christopher Specht, brings old memories and moments in time to life.
Family Scans gives the ability for customers to digitize and enhance photos from yesteryear to be enjoyed for generations to come. Specht has the ability to edit and restore images of the original album pages repairing tears, wrinkles and digitally replace faded captions, notes and headlines.
The technology Specht concocted for Archive 16 allows for transferral of 8mm, Super8 and 16mm movies to hi-res digital files. All transfers are done on sprocket-less machinery and all captures are true 4k scans.
Specht is just one of a handful of individuals throughout the country who are able to perform these transferrals that truly preserve memories. His images files are of such high quality standards that some of his films and digitizing work is part of the permanent collection of multiple museums, including a Smithsonian Associate Museum, among other museums nationally and internationally.
Specht was always a lover of photography, having developed his first roll of black and white film at the age of 9. At 13, he was developing his own color slides and prints at home.
Roughly four years ago, Specht created Family Scans and Archive 16 after pulling out his mother’s old family movies. He came across some videos that were put on tape in the ‘80s of previous Christmas gatherings that were very low in quality.
Specht has now converted 16mm film dating back to his mother’s first Christmas in the ‘30s, up until the ‘60s when he was a child.
“It’s better clarity, color and resolution than the camcorders of the 2000s,” Specht said.
With a tagline of “running a rescue shelter for memories,” Specht provides a way to bring times of a bygone era back to life.
“There’s so much history and so many black holes that I go down -- I’ll see a street corner in New York and I’ll end up going back to see what it looks like today as compared to 1950,” he said. “There’s so much war time history and social history, and so much of it is going bad because, film goes bad.”
Specht meticulously goes through film, no matter what the condition is, and treats and cleans it to digitize in the best way possible at the highest resolution.
“I will clean and save a lot of these previously unsaveable tapes,” he said. “A lot of times, (different services) try to go with the smallest file which loses a lot of color information and detail. My captures are a lot slower. Real time is 24 frames per second. I’m at about eight frames per second. The quality difference is just unbelievable.”
Specht built his own Super8 and 16mm machines himself (named after his beloved cats), which took years to accomplish with trial and error.
“Mine is actually individual images of every frame on the roll,” he said.
Family Scans can work with 35mm negatives, Polaroid prints, glass negatives, 35mm slides, audio cassettes, VHS and more.
Specht has restored three movies for the Cape Coral Museum of History, which gives insight to the early days of a city that not too long ago celebrated 50 years of in-
corporation.
Specht was even recommended and referred to a presidential library and museum to digitize 3 million feet of newsreel footage that had been donated, and he hopes to be able to complete that service for them in the near future.
“It would be an honor to do that,” he said.
An example of how Specht’s services can provide a human connection to the past comes from his former employment at a camera shop in the late ‘80s. He was told to clean out the basement and throw away dusty, old, abandoned items.
In doing so, he came across some old negatives of military/shipping photos.
“I thought I’d hold on to these, and I did,” Specht said. About three or four years ago, Specht pulled them out while he was playing with a new scanner. He took out a negative of a ship being pushed by a tugboat.
“And on the bow of the ship, you could see somebody was waiving, and halfway down the side of the ship was the tugboat, and you could see there was a person on the bow of the tugboat,” he recalled. “So I zoomed way, way in, and I got the picture of the guy on the bow and the guy on the tugboat, and the name of the tugboat.”
Specht went down a rabbit hole of the history of the ship and the tugboat, finding out the time frame was between 1948 and 1953 taken in the New York/New Jersey area.
Specht posted the photo in a social media group titled, “I love tugboats,” and a few hours after the photo was up, those with ties to the ship started reaching out.
“I get a post on there, ‘That’s my dad,’” Specht said. “And then somebody else goes, ‘And my dad or uncle was the captain of the tugboat. I used to spend a couple weeks every summer on that tugboat.’”
Specht, blown away by this, sent a copy of the photo to all on the post who shared a connection with each vessel.
“What are the odds of a picture taken in the ’50s, abandoned by a newspaper, and then literally 70 years later some guy pulls it out, plays with his scanner, zeroes in on a couple of these little grains of silver hairline, posts it on the vast internet and within a couple of hours (gets the response I did)?” Specht said. “The odds have to be astronomical.”
Specht works out of his house, and it gives him great joy to be able to provide this rare service to individuals around the country.
“I’m a straight-shooter,” he said. “I’m a no surprises kind of business.
“Unfortunately with the digital age, we’re going to end up in a information black hole because so much is accidentally deleted or lost or the data has died. Yet, here I am taking films that are 100 years old and bringing them to high quality viewing. A lot of people have history deteriorating in their garages and attics. It’s a call to action. It might not be special to you, but your kids and great-grandchildren will love it.”
For more information on Family Scans, including services and pricing, visit familyscans.com.
For more information on Archive 16, visit archive16. com.
PHOTOS PROVIDED An old film reel at Family Scans in Cape Coral.
An original photo, left, and the same photo restored and enhanced by Family Scans, right.
Programs for May set at Northwest Regional Library
Next month’s roster of activities at the Northwest Regional Library offers topics for all ages. The following activities are free to the public:
Adult Programs
Knit and Stitch
10 a.m., Wednesday, May 7, 21
A casual, self-guided group of knitters and crocheters shares projects, ideas and techniques. Participants are encouraged to bring their own projects and tools. Basic materials and supplies are available for newcomers.
Tech Assistance at Your Library: One-on-One Help
2 p.m., Wednesday, May 7
Need help with a laptop, tablet, e-reader or other device? Are you looking to learn about accessing library e-resources? We can help with a 30-minute, one-on-one technology help session. Please have chargers and passwords for devices with you before the appointment. Registration is required.
Paint Palooza: Adults
Noon, Thursday, May 8
At this all-ages paint day, adults we will be doing watercolor painting with stamps along with a community project contributed to by all ages.
Chess at the Library 5:30 p.m., Tuesday, May 13
Enjoy chess at the library in a casual environment. Chess boards will be provided, but you can also bring your own. People of all ages and skill levels are invited.
Books and Bagels
10:30 a.m., Wednesday, May 14
Do you enjoy robust, engaging book discussions? Join us and share your latest reading recommendations. Bagels and coffee will be served.
Tabletop Game Time
5 p.m., Tuesday, May 20
on overdue fines for every 15 minutes they read in the designated area for a total of $8 in one session. Please bring your library card.
Paint Palooza: Babies and Tots
10:30 a.m., Thursday, May 8
In this dress for mess baby and toddler art extravaganza, babies can have fun creating a paint canvas and toddlers and preschoolers will enjoy painting using sponges, spray bottles and other tools. Plus, you can add to our all-ages community art project. While supplies last. Please check in at the Youth Desk.
Paint Palooza: Kids
2 p.m., Thursday, May 8
Meet up at the library for a monthly board game night featuring modern tabletop games. The library has a rotating collection of light to medium weight games or bring your own games to teach and share. New and experienced players welcome.
Adult Crafternoon:
Pipe Cleaner Flowers
Noon, Thursday, May 22
Learn how to create three different types of flowers using bright, colorful pipe cleaners. No experience needed; instruction provided. Registration is required.
Children’s Programs
Explore the art of painting without a paintbrush. Kids can enjoy creating new pieces of art using shaving cream, while tweens and teens will use marbles to creates masterpieces. Plus, you can add to our all-ages community art project. While supplies last. Please check in at the Youth Desk. For ages 6-17 years.
Chess at the Library
5:30 p.m., Tuesday, May 13
Preschool Storytime
10:30 & 11:30 a.m., Thursday, May 1
For ages 3-5 years. Children attend this program independently while parents and caregivers wait nearby. Space is limited to 14 tickets. Arrive early and visit the Youth Desk to check in. First-come, first-served.
Kids Read Down Fines
4:30 – 5:30 p.m., Wednesday, May 7, 14
11 a.m. – Noon Saturday, May 17
Children and teens can earn a $2 credit
Enjoy chess at the library in a casual environment. Chess boards will be provided, but you can also bring your own. People of all ages and skill levels are invited.
STEAM Meet-Up
6 p.m., Tuesday, May 13
Join us for our STEAM monthly meet-up. During this session, we will be combining all things STEAM to create beautiful works of art. Get ready to swing into this exciting painting adventure. Registration is required.
Councilmember Long to serve as Charter Review Commission liaison
By MEGHAN BRADBURY news@breezenewspapers.com
The Cape Coral City Council appointed Councilmember Keith Long as the liaison for the Charter Review Commission Wednesday.
“I see our charter as the legal document – how our city manager form of government operates,” Mayor John Gunter said. “With that being said, I try to, in any of these liaison positions, to look at backgrounds of council members. Since this is a legal document, I wanted to ask Councilmember Long, as he is an attorney, if he would
consider being a liaison only because of his background.”
Long accepted the nomination.
Councilmember Joe Kilraine first volunteered to serve as liaison.
Charter Review Commission is a commission established within the city charter to periodically to examine the city’s bedrock document for needed changes or updates.
The seven members appointed to the current advisory panel were Edwin Estes, Vincent Cautero, Andrew Sund, Rendolyn Amaker, Donald Apking, Richard Leon, and Kevin McGrail. The two alternates, who are nonvoting
members, are Liza King and Dewayne Moore.
Further discussion will be had regarding the commission at the next city workshop of when the commission will start its work, when it will finish meeting and how often it will meet during that time period.
The commission has the authority to brings recommendation to city council.
Council then weighs in during public meetings to decide which, if any to bring to the voters, who have the final word.
Editorial: HB 209 passes 115-0 in the House; gets environmental support
From page 4
withdrawal” of the Great Outdoors plan last year.
HB 209 is intended to make sure it, or a similar effort, can’t creep back in the future.
“This bill draws a clear line,” said Rep. GossettSeidman in her release this week. “Our parks belong to all Floridians—not to developers.”
According to the bill analysis, House Bill 209 would require that state parks or preserves “be managed in a manner that provides the greatest combination of benefits to the public and the land’s natural resources.” The bill requires that state parks or preserves to be managed for conservation-based recreational uses, provides for public access and related amenities and states that “Such uses must be managed in a manner that is compatible with and that ensures the conservation of the state’s natural resources by minimizing impacts to undisturbed habitat.”
The bill would prohibit active recreation facilities and require public hearings for proposed changes to park plans, according to the bill analysis.
“To ensure the protection of state park resources, native
habitats, and archaeological or historical sites, the bill prohibits sporting facilities, including, but not limited to, golf courses, tennis courts, pickleball courts, ball fields, or other similar facilities, from being constructed in state parks.”
The Sierra Club Florida is among the groups that applaud the bill’s passage in the House, calling it a key victory for state park protection.
“We commend Representative Snyder and the Florida House for passing the strongest legislation possible to protect our state parks,” said Susannah Randolph, chapter director, Sierra Club Florida, in the press release. “On behalf of Sierra Club Florida’s 38,000 members and 150,000 supporters, thank you for listening to the outcry of thousands of Floridians who rallied last summer and again in recent weeks to defend these treasured places. This is a tremendous victory for our environment, and all who call our state home.”
The environmental group also issued a call to action.
CCB0002060.crtr - Page 1 - Composite
“We’re incredibly grateful to Representative Snyder
for sponsoring this legislation to protect our state parks, and to every lawmaker who voted in favor of it. Over the past year, Floridians have made it clear: our state parks are worth fighting for. This legislation brings lasting protection to our wild places, but our work isn’t over. We encourage everyone to stay involved and keep the momentum going to protect our parks at SaveFloridaParks.com,” said Kristine Cunningham, executive committee chair.
This year’s legislation is now in its final committee stop in the Senate as SB 80.
We add our voice to those supporting its passage.
On this subject last year we shared a small twist on a master gardener phrase often quoted here in Florida: Right plan, right place.
The Great Outdoors proposal failed on both counts: Wrong plan, wrong place.
This year’s legislation is win-win across the board. A win for now. And a win for Florida’s future.
— Breeze editorial
Lee County Legal Aid Society to hold free legal clinic for senior residents at North Fort Myers Library May 7
The start of the 2025 Atlantic hurricane season is less than 45 days away – and the increased risk of severe weather can also mean more storm-related legal headaches, from insurance disputes to contractor fraud.
On Wednesday, May 7, Lee County Legal Aid Society will again host its quarterly free legal clinic for area seniors in need of no-cost, limited legal advice in civil cases, including issues stemming from Hurricanes Ian in 2022 and Milton in 2024.
The upcoming session takes place at North Fort Myers Public Library, Meeting Room A, 2001 N. Tamiami Trail, North Fort Myers, from 9 a.m. to noon, and is open to Lee County residents ages 50 and older.
The event will begin with light refreshments, followed by a panel presentation by local attorneys on topics in civil
law of interest to seniors, with an emphasis on post-hurricane legal issues, including contractor fraud and insurance claims; as well as landlord-tenant disputes; elder law; and filing a case in small claims court.
The panel’s 30-minute presentation will be followed by an audience question-and-answer session and then 20-minute individual appointments on any legal issue. Advance registration is required.
Participants should email Nanci@leecountylegalaid. org with contact information, a brief description of the legal advice being sought present and any relevant documents.
Unlike in criminal law, there is no constitutional right to counsel in civil law, which includes landlord-tenant disputes, foreclosures, evictions, probate, debt collection,
child custody cases, domestic violence orders of protection and more.
Law at the Library receives support from the AARP Foundation. A similar series of free legal workshops, “Just for Seniors,” was offered by Lee County Legal Aid Society in prior years through support from The Community Foundation.
In partnership with the Lee County Clerk of the Court, Lee County Legal Aid Society also offers free, 20-minute “self-help” virtual legal clinics via Zoom that conveniently pair attorneys in private practice with those in need of legal services.
For additional information about the Lee County Legal Aid Society, please visit leecountylegalaid.org or call 239334-6118.
May programs: Activities and programs at Northwest Regional Library
From page 24
Family Storytime
10:30 a.m., Saturday, May 17
For children through age 5 years and caregivers. Families with young children enjoy a variety of stories, songs, rhymes and movement.
LEGO Club
1 p.m., Saturday, May 24
Drop in for building challenges the whole family will enjoy. The program is for all ages and all materials are provided.
Books and Blankets
6:15 p.m., Tuesday, May 27
Join us with your blankies and pajamas for this nighttime edition of storytime. Your whole family is invited to this enjoyable, all-ages storytime that encourages the development of pre-reading skills through songs, rhymes, fingerplays and stories.
Teen Programs
Kids Read Down Fines
4:30 – 5:30 p.m., Wednesday, May 7, 14
11 a.m. – Noon, Saturday, May 17
Children and teens can earn a $2 credit on overdue fines for every 15 minutes they read in the designated area for a total of $8 in one session. Please bring your library card.
Paint Palooza: Kids
2 p.m., Thursday, May 8
Explore the art of painting without a paintbrush. Kids can enjoy creating new pieces of art using shaving cream, while tweens and teens will use marbles to creates masterpieces. Plus, you can add to our all-ages community art project. While supplies last. Please check in at the Youth Desk. For ages 6-17 years.
Chess at the Library
5:30 p.m., Tuesday, May 13
Enjoy chess at the library in a casual environment. Chess boards will be provided, but you can also bring your own. People of all ages and skill levels are invited.
Totally Twisted Tie-Dye
2:15 p.m., Thursday, May 22
It’s time for some timeless fun, full of peaceful good vibes and bright bursts of color. All supplies are provided while they last. For teens ages 12-17 years.
The Northwest Regional Library is located at 519
Chiquita Blvd., N., in Cape Coral. For more information about a program or to register, please call the library at 239-533-4700. Check the Lee County Library System’s website at www.leelibrary.net to find out about programs at other locations. Call the host library, or Telephone Reference at 239-479-INFO (4636), for more information about a specific program.
In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, Lee County will not discriminate against qualified individ-
uals with disabilities in its services, programs or activities. To request an auxiliary aid or service for effective communication or a reasonable modification to participate, contact Ranice E. Monroe, ADA Coordinator, 239-5330255, Florida Relay Service 711, or ADArequests@leegov.com. Accommodation will be provided at no cost to the requester. Requests should be made at least five business days in advance.
SUDOKU SHEFFER CROSSWORD
April 18, 2025
Preparing to fish for tarpon
This time of year my in-box typically fills up with this type of mail – “Hi, I’m new to the area and want to try tarpon fishing. What kind of rod should I buy?” To which I usually reply, probably more than one because of the different areas you might be angling for them and what size fish you’re after or likely to encounter. Are you comfortable with spinning tackle or bait casting outfits? Do you plan on fly fishing for them? Lite tackle fan?
George
North’s Neumann, girls team qualify for state tennis tournament
By CHUCK BALLARO news@breezenewspaper.com
Two years ago, North Fort Myers High tennis player Alexis Neumann qualified for states by winning the district title.
She never played. She had to take the AICE exams that same time.
My favorite way to fish for tarpon is at night around Southwest Florida or Keys bridges. It’s cooler with less noise, traffic and googans. My second favorite way is to present baits, flies or lures to tarpon traveling just off the beaches or coast. A close third place winner would be shallow 10,000 Island tarpon in and along mangrove shorelines. Lastly, lite tackle fly fishing for hard-tocatch 3-15 pound, my backyard, canal poons that love to tease and that usually defeat me. In these varied situations just one rod obviously wouldn’t cut it.
When fishing big structure like bridges, especially at night, I’m leaning on heavy action equipment to try and steer fish away from line-shredding concrete piers and docks. Often this would be a 7.5-foot bait casting or conventional reel outfit. Along the coast I need an 8 to 8.5-foot medium-heavy spinning rod that has good backbone but a flexible enough tip to throw a crab, shrimp or soft plastic a long way. In the 10,000 Islands I’m basically using heavy action largemouth bass tackle to explore mangrove shoreline nooks and crannies or make long casts to shallow fish sunning themselves in open bays and pockets. Here a shorter spinning rod or bait casting outfit in the 7 to 7.5-foot range works for me.
Big triple digit fish call for heavy fly tackle like a 12-weight rod while I enjoy using my 50-year-old, 5-weight rod for my juvenile backyard encounters. Still need just one outfit as limited space or a skinny wallet rules the day? Then go for an 8 to 8.5-foot heavy action spinning outfit with a quality 4,000-5,000 series reel or a 7.5 to 8-foot conventional outfit with a basic Penn 4/0 bait caster reel which can handle most situations you’ll encounter. Let the size of the tarpon you’re after dictate fly tackle but if you’re after big fish, a 12-weight is pretty much standard stuff.
From the backcountry and along the coast, nearshore
Cape boys, other players also advance North Fort Myers’ Alexis Neumann in action at the District 3A-11 tournament this week.
There were no such worries this time around. The senior No. 1 tennis player for the Red Knights won the District 3A-11 championship Wednesday at Charlotte High School to earn a trip to the state tournament.
The victory also lifted the Red Knights to a runner-up finish as a team, allowing them to compete in regionals, where they will have to hit the road to face the District 3A-12 winner.
Neumann breezed through her first two matches, dropping only one game in each of them, before facing Gemma Plumb of Fort Myers in the final.
In that match, Neumann took on a different strategy, by just keeping the ball in the court to encourage long rallies with her opponent. She expected the windy conditions and her overall conditioning would result in her making the error.
The plan worked as she cruised to a 6-1, 6-2 victory.
Neumann said she was happy to win and said the wind made her change her plans.
“The wind was a factor because I knew if I tried to hit a winner it would go out of bounds, so I tried to wait for her to make the mistake,” Neumann said.
She and her sister Alivia, a sophomore, nearly made it a two-fer as they played in the No. 1 doubles championship against Plumb and Isabelle Rose of Fort Myers.
After losing the first set 6-3, the Neumann sisters rallied to take the second set 6-2 to force a third-set tiebreaker. It
Wednesday Track and Field
was all Fort Myers as they took the set 10-3 and the title. Alivia made it to the finals in No. 2 singles, losing to Rose in straight sets 6-1, 6-2.
Fort Myers won the boys and girls titles. In girls, the Green Wave scored 18 points, with the Red Knights second with 11 on the strength of all their girls winning their first- round match, five singles and two doubles.
Mariner finished tied for third with Charlotte. The Tritons did have two district champs in No. 3 singles with Madison Arch and in No. 5 singles with Morgan Peterson. For the boys, Fort Myers scored 16 points. Cape Coral advance to regionals by finishing second with eight. The Seahawks had a district champ in No. 3 singles Homer Gensenhues.
Mason Whitesides of Charlotte won the No. 1 singles to earn the state bid. He and his doubles partner Jacob Chupka won the doubles championship.
PreP rePorT
4x800: 1 North Port 10:10.50. 2 Venice 10:19.40. 3 Sarasota 10:24.17. 4 Ida Baker (Aubrey Tansey, Aniela Harasimowicz, Kaliah Evans, Emily Wilson) 10:47.61.
Mike Luma of Ida Baker won district titles in both the long jump and triple jump at Wednesday’s District 4A-12 meet at Estero High School. West Powell finished first in the high jump.
Ida Baker pole vaulter Yael Salazar-Maysonet took second, as did Ryder Ward in the 400 hurdles.
The Bulldogs boys relay teams came in second in both the 4x800 (Miguel Lara, Carter Long, Osmani Zayas and Ivan Roman) and 4x400 (Jaiden Bayley, Osmani Zayas, Ward and Powell).
On the girls’ side, Baker’s Aubrey Tansey was second in the 400 hurdles and Katherine Castaneda took second in the discus.
District 4A-12
At Estero GIRLS
Team: 1 Venice 165.5, 2 Sarasota Riverview 144.5, 3 North Port 110, 4 Gateway 89, 5 Ida Baker 83,6 Sarasota 55, 7 Lehigh 42, 8 Immokalee 23. 100 meters: 1 Maley Joseph (G) 12.29. 2 Synaejah Williams (V) 12.35. 3 Rianne Smith (L0 12.47. 3 Alisha Papius (G) 12.73. 5 Annabella Sanders (SR) 12.84. 200: 1 Rianne Smith (L) 25.48. 2 Maley Joseph (G) 25.66. 3 Synaejah Williams (C) 26.69. 4 Catalina Esteves (V) 27.04. 5 Annabella Sanders (SR) 27.09. 400: 1 Rianne Smith (L) 57.45. 2 V’Darielle Johnson (G) 58.98. 3 Noelle Tenaglia (SR) 1:01.26. 4 Emily Wilson (IB) 1:01.47. 5 Grace Toale (S) 1:01.52. 800: 1 Atarah Robinson (V) 2;16.64. 2 Malia Hambrick (NP) 2:27.35. 3 Marley Bowen (S) 2:20.90. 4 Megan Taylor (NP) 2:27.35. 5 Sierra Steve (V) 2:28.11. 1600: 1 Atarah Robinson (V) 5:03.80. 2 Malia Hambrick (NP) 5:10.80. 3 Madison Muller (SR) 5:13.44. 4 Alexa Daverio (S) 5:22.33. 55 Indy Grajalez (S) 5:22.55. 3200: 1 Madison Muller (SR) 11:38.81. 2 Mia Myburth (V) 12:08.76. 3 Indy Grajalez (S) 13:14.88. 4 Alexa Daverio (S) 13:14.95. 5 Hope Delhagen (SR) 13:43.45.
Javelin: 1 Anthony Miller (SR) 53.10m. 2 Michael Mauro (V) 44.67m. 3 Elias Vargas 9IB) 44.1m. 4 Gage Blanchard (IB) 43.98m. 5 Dennis Simpson (SR) 42.78m.
Flag Football District 3A-11
Championship North Fort Myers 14, Mariner 6: The Red Knights remained unbeaten (9-0) in taking the district title, leaving Mariner 8-3.
Beach Volleyball
Fort Myers 3, Mariner 2: The loss to 9-2 Fort Myers left the Tritons at 8-8.
Girls Tennis District 2A-11
At Three Oaks
Lemon Bay won the district title, with Bishop Verot coming in second to earn a spot in the state playoffs.
Boys Lacrosse District 1A-11
Championship Canterbury 12, Bishop Verot 11: The Cougars (19-0) rallied in the fourth quarter to edge the Vikings (5-9) for the district title.
prep report
Tuesday Baseball
District 6A-13
Ida Baker 4, Immokalee 0: Nick Conticelli held Immokalee to one hit and one walk over 6 2/3 innings, striking out 10 batters. Ely Mora drove in two runs for the Bulldogs (12-13), and Cole Lewis had one RBI. Ida Baker faces Gateway on Thursday for the District 6A-13 title.
District 5A-11
Semifinals
Charlotte 3, North Fort Myers 2: Two unearned runs proved to be the undoing of the Red Knights (15-10). Harrison Kabel held Charlotte to one hit over six innings, allowing one earned run. Junior Tome tripled and homered to drive in North’s two runs.
Fort Myers 4, Mariner 3: Fort Myers scored three times in the bottom of the seventh inning to rally past the Tritons (1710). Morgan Waltz knocked in two runs for Mariner. Colin Raftery had an RBI, and Ryan Kotarsaki had two doubles. The Green Wave faces Charlotte on Thursday in the district final.
District 4A-11
Semifinals
Island Coast 10, Cypress Lake 0 (5 innings): Austin Schoolcraft pitched a two-hit shutout for the Gators (20-6), who will host the 4A-11 championship game on Thursday. Jacob Fowler and Brandon Tuduri had two RBI each for Island Coast.
Lemon Bay 3, LaBelle 2: The Manta Rays (13-8) face Island Coast on Thursday. District 3A-11
Semifinals
Bishop Verot 2, DeSoto County 1: The Vikings (25-1) scored their two runs on two hits, earning home field for the championship. DeSoto County’s season ended at 10-17.
Avon Park 2, Aubrey Rogers 1: Avon Park (19-6) edged Aubrey Rogers (21-6) in the other semifinal.
District 2A-12
Semifinals
Community School of Naples 7, Gateway Charter 0: Top-seeded CSN (1510) will be the home team for Thursday’s district title game,
Oasis 9, First Baptist Academy 6: The Sharks (9-12) made it four wins in a row, upending 16-9 FBA. Daniel Merry doubled and had two RBI for Oasis, with Noah Pinney, Sean Osborn and Brayden Cody driving in a run each. Tanner Goff worked five innings for the win.
Softball LCAC Tournament
North Fort Myers 7, Mariner 1: Abigail Hynes hit two solo home runs, adding a triple, leading the Red Knights (15-6) at the plate. Kaliyah Williams scattered 10 hits over six innings, allowing one unearned run and striking out 10. Lilly Kitto scored for the Tritons (15-5), whose seven-game win streak was snapped.
Cape Coral 11, Gateway 4: Emma Brannon had a home run and a double, driving in two runs for the Seahawks (165), Brielle Pachick homered and had two RBI, and Abigail Brannon tripled with two RBI. Cape faces Estero on Thursday.
Flag Football District 3A-11
Semifinals
North Fort Myers 34, Ida Baker 0: With a dominant performance, the Red Knights will carry an 8-0 record into Thursday’s district championship.
Mariner 19, Fort Myers 8: The Tritons (8-2) earned a spot in the district tile game District 2A-13
Semifinals
Estero 7, South Fort Myers 6: The 7-1 Wildcats will be the home team for Thursday’s district final.
Bishop Verot 13, Bonita Springs 6: Bishop Verot (8-2) will be the team facing Estero for the title.
Girls Tennis District 2A-11
At Three Oaks
Lemon Bay won the district championship, with Bishop Verot earning a playoff berth with its second-place finish. Region play begins April 22.
Beach Volleyball
Cape Coral 5, Dunbar 0: Cape Coral improved to 6-4 on the year.
Boys Lacrosse District 1A-11
Semifinals
Canterbury 19, Cypress Lake 1: Undefeated Canterbury (18-0) will be the home team for the championship.
Bishop Verot 14, Aubrey Rogers 2: Second-seeded Verot (5-8) earned the other spot in the final.
Tarpon: Selecting proper fishing gear will help with success on the water
From page 30
reefs out to the 100 foot or more depths, spring has sprung with warm water and moving bait turning everything on, it’s a wonderful time to be fishing Southwest Florida. We also have one of the greatest tarpon fishing holes on the planet in our Boca Grande backyard. Although crowded carnival-like pass fishing isn’t my cup of tea, I do recommend all newbie tarpon anglers experience the wonders of Boca Grande at least once just to experience
the sheer numbers of fish and anglers that gather there in this beautiful pass, all trying for a shot at their own silver king.
Definitely hire a guide to keep yourself and your crew out of trouble and out of the way of some very serious anglers and guides trying to make a living.
If you enjoy live bait fishing and gathering your own bait, then it’s time to purchase that cast net and start throwing or using a friend, guide or YouTube to show you the many ways to toss one. Nets are rated by diameter and mesh size with a
Help: What to do if your plant is sick
From page 17
cides that can be applied to control this disease. Note that fungicides are most effective when applied early or preventively; more advanced infections can also be treated with neem oil.
Ganoderma butt rot is a common palm disease, and all palm species are vulnerable. This disease is easily identified by the “conk” or shelf-like mushroom that appears on a palm trunk. Sadly, there is no cure or control for Ganoderma and the diseased palm must be removed. Because the fungus survives in the soil, palms cannot be planted in an affected location again.
Mushroom root rot, or Armillaria, is another usually lethal fungus that decays the root systems of trees and shrubs. This fungus produces clumps of mushrooms in the plant’s root zone in fall, winter and late spring. Since the mushrooms generally appear one to three years after the start of the infection it is often impossible to control the disease once you spot the symptoms. Removing the sick plant and treating the areas with a soil fungicide treatment before replanting are your best options.
As you have probably discerned, many of the diseases that attack our plants here in Southwest Florida are dependent on mois-
ture. Working to eliminate this factor of the disease triangle will help you prevent some of the more common fungal diseases. Good sanitation practices are also important; always remove fallen dead leaves from your gardens to help prevent disease spread. Maintaining clean tools, especially pruners and any other cutting instruments, is also critical to prevent the spread of diseases.
Fungicides also have a place in the process of disease prevention; if you know you have susceptible plants such as plumeria, you can apply fungicides early in the season to help delay or lessen the appearance of fungi such as rust. The most important factor in the equation is your ability to monitor your garden for problems and to act quickly to eliminate issues.
Turn your morning stroll through your landscape into a fact-finding mission to identify possible concerns and then consult UF/IFAS online to discover the best solutions to your problems while you sip your coffee!
Cathy Dunn is a Lee County Master Gardener Volunteer, Garden Club of Cape Coral Member and president of the James E. Hendry Hibiscus Chapter. Visit www. gardenclubofcapecoral.com. Like us on our Facebook page!
6-foot diameter, 3/8-inch mesh size a good all-round choice to start with. Good nets cost good money so learn to properly care for your investment to make it last.
This year be kind to the environment and also take the extra time to carefully
handle and release your catch.
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.
Cape Coral animal Shelter
Galinda Sarai
Looking for a loving home
Galinda is a 6 months to 1-year-old female. She is like the Good Witch from “Wicked,” but with a little more sparkle and a lot more cuddles. She is sweet, loyal and always ready to show you the “Defying Gravity” level of love. Galinda has got a heart as big as Oz, and she believes in spreading kindness wherever she goes.
Sarai is a 3 to 5-year-old female. She is extremely talkative—don’t worry, she has plenty to say, and she’ll let you
know if she disapproves of anything. She is not afraid to smack someone if they’re doing something she doesn’t like. But don’t worry, she is also a sweetie who loves her humans.
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.
Obituaries
Cape Coral
Josephine (Jo Ann) Trupo
On April 1st, 2025, surrounded by her loving family, God welcomed Josephine (Jo Ann) Trupo into Heaven. Born in Harper, Kansas, in 1941, Jo Ann experienced the joys and hardships of farm life that brought with it a strong work ethic and sense of accomplishment. The oldest of seven siblings, at a young age she easily assumed the role of a loving and beloved big sister.
Jo Ann’s adventurous spirit moved her to NYC where, in 1964, she met and married the love of her life, Savatore Trupo (d. 1989). Together they took full advantage of the “Big Apple” culture from Broadway shows to hideaway family restaurants. In 1965 they welcomed their first child and by 1972 she was the loving mother of four, cheering them, and subsequent grandchildren, in all their activities and endeavors.
After moving to Florida in 1989, Jo Ann got her Braille certification and worked with the Lee County School Visually Impaired Program, where she built relationships with students and co-workers that lasted the rest of her life.
Jo Ann enjoyed reading, auctions and antiquing, though her greatest joy was gathering with family and friends. Her kindness, generosity of spirit and wisdom attracted anyone in need of counsel, comfort or encouragement. She had the rare gift of being able to truly understand people without the burden of judgement. She saw value in others when they didn’t see it in themselves. Her relationships were not the usual give and take, but a sharing of the moments, feelings and dreams that make up a life. She was a wonderful daughter, a loving and beloved sibling, a devoted wife, an encouraging, caring and comforting mother, a wise, fun and generous grandmother and an understanding aunt and friend. The phrase often used to describe Jo Ann was “a heart of gold.” She lived each day with acceptance and gratitude. Her laughter and positivity uplifted those fortunate enough to know her. The hole left by her passing will be filled each day with the loving remembrances of a life well-lived.
Jo Ann was preceded in death by her parents, Dr. Joseph and Francis Tihen, her husband, Salvatore Trupo, brothers Duane and John Henry Tihen, her sister-in-law Deborah Tihen and brother-in-law John Cook. She is survived by her four children, Lucy, Salvatore, Joseph and John as well as siblings Dr. Lawrence Tihen, Claudia Madigan, Martha Cook and Marilee Tihen-Sarchet (David) and five grandchildren, one great grandchild and twelve nieces and nephews. Those wishing to make a donation in Jo Ann’s name will like to know her fondness for the work being done at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
George Cable Wright Jr
George Cable Wright Jr., 89 years old, of Cape Coral, FL, formerly of Westwood, NJ and Sparkill, NY, passed away peacefully on April 4, 2025 at home, surrounded by his family.
George was born in Brooklyn, NYC to George Cable & Josephine Marie Wright on October 25, 1935. He served in the United States Army during the Korean War. He was a police officer in Westwood NJ and he ran a successful car dealership in NJ and FL.
He was a member of the American Legion, the Veterans of Foreign Wars and the Eagles and Moose Lodges.
George was preceded in death by his parents, his brothers Peter Wright and Philip Wright and his son Gregory Wright.
George is survived by his wife Bonnie Wright, his daughter Doreen (Gordon) Calder, his daughter Sharon Wright, his daughter-in-law Tina Wright, his stepdaughter Lori (Franz) Moore, his stepson Patrick Kelly, his brother John (Michael Casper) Wright, his grandchildren Luke Wright, Gabrielle Wright, Fiona Sipple, Liam Sipple, Iain Sipple and Amanda Kelly. He is also survived by Monica Wright, his former wife and mother of his children.
Memorial services will be planned in the near future.
Deanne Rae Conley, 80 of Cape Coral, passed away on March 30, 2025. Arrangements are by Coral Ridge Funeral Home, Cemetery and Cremation Services, Cape Coral. Please visit www.coralridgefuneralhome.com for additional information.
Jamie Lynn Jeskie, 58, of Cape Coral, FL passed away on April 9, 2025. Arrangements entrusted to Fuller Metz Cremation and Funeral Service. www.fullermetz.com
Maria Teresa Hernandez, 82 of Cape Coral, passed away on April 2, 2025. Arrangements are by Coral Ridge Funeral Home, Cemetery and Cremation Services, Cape Coral. Please visit www.coralridgefuneralhome.com for additional information
Nancy Vouros, 102, of Cape Coral, FL passed away on April 2, 2025. Arrangements entrusted to Fuller Metz Cremation and Funeral Service. www.fullermetz.com
James Betton Franklin, III, 76, of Cape Coral, passed away Tuesday, April 8, 2025. Mullins Memorial Funeral Home & Cremation Service, Cape Coral, is entrusted with final care.
Maikel De La Vega Garcia, 40, of Cape Coral, Florida passed away April 4, 20254. Arrangements entrusted to Lee County Cremation Services- Cape Coral.
Cape Coral
Edward Francis Shine
Edward Francis Shine (Teddy, Eddie, Ed) of Cape Coral, Florida, was born in South Boston, MA on January 11, 1944, and passed away on April 4, 2025, after a long battle with Kidney Disease. Edward was a long-time resident of Quincy, MA and South Boston, MA.
He was the husband of Christine M. (McGagh) Shine of Braintree, MA for 27 years. They both retired early and have spent their retirement years enjoying the Florida sunshine and taking numerous cruises through the Caribbean Sea.
Edward was the son of Clarence Finbar “Mike” and Katherine (Hooson) Shine. Edward has a sister, Jean (Shine) Hubbard of Norwood, MA, and he was predeceased by his brother Michael Shine. Edward was a loving Father to Edward Jr., Paul, and Nancy, and the loving Grandfather to Lanie, Benjamin, Joseph, and Jordan.
He was a member of the Boston Carpenters Union, Local 1121, for 60 years, and retired as a Millwright Superintendent.
Edward was a proud and dedicated member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, Quincy MA, Lodge Number 943, for 45 years. He served as the Lodge’s Exalted Ruler and went on to become a District Deputy Grand Exalted Ruler, and Elks Massachusetts State Trustee. He was also a member of the American Legion, Loyal Order of Moose, and the Fraternal Order of Eagles, all of Cape Coral, FL.
Immediate funeral arrangements for Ed are private. To share a story or photo, leave a tribute or to offer condolences to the family at this difficult time, please visit his memorial webpage at: www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/cape-coral-fl/edward-shine-12329948 and sign his guestbook.
Death Notices
Cape Coral
Michael Francis Maceranka, 64, of Cape Coral, passed away Tuesday, April 8, 2025. Mullins Memorial Funeral Home & Cremation Service, Cape Coral, is entrusted with final care.
Sheila W. Rudgalvis, 94, of Cape Coral, passed away Sunday, April 13, 2025. Mullins Memorial Funeral Home & Cremation Service, Cape Coral, is entrusted with final care.
Angelo F. Piscopo, 51, of Cape Coral, FL passed away on April 11, 2025. Arrangements entrusted to Fuller Metz Cremation and Funeral Service. www.fullermetz.com
Mary Lou Caserio, 90 of Cape Coral, passed away on March 23, 2025. Arrangements are by Coral Ridge Funeral Home, Cemetery and Cremation Services, Cape Coral. Please visit www.coralridgefuneralhome.com for additional information.
Laura Jean Monish, 63, of Cape Coral, passed away Sunday, April 6, 2025.Mullins Memorial Funeral Home & Cremation Service, Cape Coral, is entrusted with final care.
Angelika Mueller, 70, of Cape Coral, Florida passed away April 3, 2025. Arrangements entrusted to Lee County Cremation Services-Cape Coral.
Barbara Ann Palleschi, 92, of Cape Coral, FL passed away on April 9, 2025. Arrangements entrusted to Fuller Metz Cremation and Funeral Service. www.fullermetz.com
Gregory Dennis Kruck, 72, of Cape Coral, passed away Saturday, April 12, 2025. Mullins Memorial Funeral Home & Cremation Service, Cape Coral, is entrusted with final care.
Sharon D. Lehnert, 80, of Cape Coral, Florida passed away April 4, 2025. Arrangements entrusted to Lee County Cremation Services-Cape Coral.
Edward Francis Shine, 81 of Cape Coral, passed away on April 4, 2025. Arrangements are by Coral Ridge Funeral Home, Cemetery and Cremation Services, Cape Coral. Please visit www.coralridgefuneralhome.com for additional information.
Jeanette Margaret Elliott, 88 of Cape Coral, passed away on April 3, 2025. Arrangements are by Coral Ridge Funeral Home, Cemetery and Cremation Services, Cape Coral. Please visit www.coralridgefuneralhome.com for additional information.
Marthe Sylvia Charles-Cesar, 75 of Cape Coral, passed away on March 28, 2025. Arrangements are by Coral Ridge Funeral Home, Cemetery and Cremation Services, Cape Coral. Please visit www.coralridgefuneralhome.com for additional information
Paul Dean Queen, 82, of Cape Coral passed away on April 5th 2025. Arrangements by Fuller Metz Funeral Home.
Theodore Valentine, 58 of Cape Coral, passed away on April 2, 2025. Arrangements are by Coral Ridge Funeral Home, Cemetery and Cremation Services, Cape Coral. Please visit www.coralridgefuneralhome.com for additional information.
Barbara Ann Hance, 86, of Cape Coral, Florida passed away April 3, 2025. Arrangements entrusted to Lee County Cremation Services-Cape Coral.
Fort Myers
Clyde Edwin Luce, 79, of Fort Myers, passed away April 12, 2025. Arrangements entrusted to Harvey Engelhardt Funeral Home.
Kevin Duane Potts, 62, of Fort Myers passed away March 18, 2025. Arrangements entrusted to Harvey Engelhardt Funeral Home.
Mark Gregory Stevens, 61, of Fort Myers, Florida passed away April 8, 2025. Arrangements entrusted to Lee County Cremation Services-Fort Myers.
May the Sacred Heart of Jesus be adored, glorified, honored, loved, and praised throughout the world now and forever. Sacred Heart of Jesus have mercy on us. Holy Mother of God pray for us. St. Jude helper of the sick pray for us. St. Teresa of the child Jesus pray for us. St. Jude helper of the hopeless pray for us. St. Jude helper of miracles pray for us. Say this prayer nine times a day for nine days. Leave a copy in the church each day. By the eighth day your prayer will be granted. Never was it known to fail.
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Title insurance provides protection
Dear Mr. Feichthaler,
I am considering buying a condominium directly from a friend of mine, without the use of a Realtor. He is the only owner of it, and it was built in 2017. He has suggested we forego title insurance, and that he sign and provide a warranty deed to transfer the property to me. Do I need title insurance?
Sincerely,
-Paul S.
Dear Paul,
P. Feichthaler
Real Estate Law
Multi-family properties like condominiums have become more numerous in recent years, and have been “flipped” during our recent real estate boom. First, let’s talk about what title insurance is. It is a policy that is issued by a law firm or title company, on behalf of an insurance underwriter, that protects the purchaser of real estate against loss that may occur due to a defect in your ownership. This can be issues like defective deeds in the chain of title, improper legal descriptions of the property, etc. The policy also pays for the costs of court and will defend the seller if there is an issue of title that arises later.
While true that most people who own a condominium have actual clean ownership, occasionally they don’t. Items like mortgages, IRS liens and other government liens will follow the property, even if transferred to you. While you may have recourse against the seller, what if they have no money, can’t be found, or otherwise makes it difficult on you to correct the issue? Without an owner’s title policy, the costs of court will be squarely on your shoulders.
I always recommend a buyer demand a title policy, especially since, in Lee County, it is customary for the seller to pay for the policy. The cost is typically just over one half of one percent of the sales price of the property. Although the percentage risk of an issue may be fairly low, the cost if there is a defect could be steep, including your entire amount of your investment. My advice: write a contract (or have an attorney prepare one for you) laying out all the details, rights, and responsibilities. One of the requirements of the seller should be to provide a full title search, and a title policy protecting your investment.
Home renovations are significant undertakings. Though some projects require more sizable investments of time and money than others, all merit homeowners’ attention and inspire some excitement when pondering the finished product.
A finished product tends to offer more appeal when the project is overseen and undertaken by a professional contractor. Small projects may be in the wheelhouse of skilled do-it-yourselfers, but most homeowners are best served leaving home renovations to the professionals. Finding the right contractor for a given job is of the utmost importance, and the following are some tips to help homeowners do just that.
· Seek word-of-mouth recommendations. Word-of-mouth advertising has long been recognized as an invaluable tool to attract customers, and for good reason. Word-of-mouth is so valued because homeowners can ask friends or neighbors about their experiences with a given professional in a pressure-free setting. Word-of-mouth also can help homeowners cut down on the pool of potential contractor candidates, which is no small benefit in markets flooded with renovation professionals.
Research the recommendations. In many cases a word-of-mouth recommendation is good as gold but it can lead you to the wrong contractor for your specific project. Taking the time to research online and elsewhere will remove the guesswork from which contractor has the skills for what you need done. Take advantage of online reviews to read exactly what others have said and apply those to what you are looking to have renovated.
Secure multiple written estimates. It can be time-consuming to speak to multiple contractors and secure written estimates from each one, but such legwork is well worth the effort if the end result is finding Article continues on Page 3
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 years, and they have four children. He earned his board certification in Real Estate 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 legal ability, and is a Supreme Court Certified Circuit Civil Mediator. He can be 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
the right contractor. Secure multiple estimates even if the first one provided to you is below budget. Multiple estimates allow homeowners to compare what’s included, and not included, in each one. Some contractors offering low estimates may not include materials costs or additional factors that will increase the price. Others may seem more expensive initially but may prove more affordable than competitors if their estimates include all of the costs associated with the project. Only a direct comparison of multiple estimates, which should include details specific to the project and an itemized list of what will be provided and performed by the contractor, can give homeowners an idea of what they’re paying for.
· Stay local when possible. Hiring local contractors is beneficial for a number of reasons. Hiring locals keeps money in the community and thus supports the local economy. And working with local contractors can make it easier for homeowners to keep lines of communication open. Many projects also require a little post-completion upkeep or even some tweaks, which is more easily accomplished when working with contractors based nearby. And finally, local contractors will be familiar with building codes and other details specific to a given town. That familiarity can ensure a project is done in adherence to codes and not stalled by permit- or inspection-related delays.
· Confirm their insurance. Travelers Insurance urges homeowners to confirm a contractor is properly insured and bonded prior to signing a contract. Contractors should be willing to provide a certificate of insurance (COI) that indicates their provider, policy number and coverage limits. Travelers also notes homeowners can contact insurers directly to verify coverage and ensure the policy is current. Never hire a contractor who is uninsured or unwilling to provide proof of insurance.
Hiring a contractor to perform a home renovation may be a leap of faith, but homeowners can take steps to ensure they find the right professional for the job.
PROPERTY TRANSFERS
Source: Lee County Property Appraiser
PROPERTY TRANSFERS
First quarter luxury home sales down versus 2024
It is time once again for our quarterly tip of the hat to the late, great Robin Leach, with our Cape Coral version of “Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous,” as we review the first quarter 2025 sales results for our luxury single-family home segment. For our purposes, the luxury market in the Cape includes homes selling at $1 million and above.
On a positive note for our market, as of Tuesday, April 15, the number of overall pending single-family home sales in the Cape jumped up to 775 homes currently under contract with buyers. This topped the previous high for pending home sales in our daily and weekly market surveys for this “season,” which was 768 pending home sales on March 25 and 26. The fact that pending home sales are remaining at nicely elevated levels indicates that the number of closed home sales in the second quarter of this year are likely to be near last year’s numbers and that this season is following our historical pattern where the number of closed home sales hits its peak in the second quarter of the year. So after a slow start to this year with a combined 590 closed home sales this January and February, which was the worst start to a year since there were only 579 total sales in the first two months of 2017, sales have accelerated with this March running about even with the 536 home sales in March of last year.
Even though it looks like the number of closed home sales in the first quarter of this year will be coming in about 6.7% below the 1,205 sales in the first quarter of 2024, what is likely to be a solid second quarter for home sales is providing an opportunity for home sellers who are willing to be more aggressive with their list prices than other sellers to get their homes sold.
A bit more troubling, for sellers in the Cape and throughout much of Florida, is the continued slow and steady deterioration in home values and home sales prices. For example, in the first three months of this year the average median home sales price in the Cape has dropped by 6.4% to $385,000 per month from $411,407 per month in the first three months of last year. We tend to think the rough patch of declining home prices will continue this year, and as we said a year ago, the sooner a seller gets their home priced correctly to the current market conditions, the more money they are likely to receive for their home. Or, put another way, what you receive from a buyer today will probably be more than you will get three months from now, and probably more than you will get three months after that. Buyers are active right now, but it is fair to say that in the last 30-plus months many sellers have been getting less for their homes than they expected, so lower home prices are not a new trend.
Getting back to the Cape Coral luxury single-family home market, there were a total of 64 closed sales in the first quarter of this year, including 11 sales in January; 15 sales in February; and 38 sales in March. The final sales prices ranged from $1 million to $3.999 million, and the median first quarter sales price for these 64 luxury home sales came in at $1,272,500. The number of closed luxury home sales this year came in 9.9% below the 71 luxury home sales in the first quarter of 2024, when there were 17 sales in January; 26 sales in February; and 28 sales in March. In the first quarter of 2024, luxury home sales prices ranged from $1 million to $3.42 million, and the median sales price for our luxury home segment was $1.335 million, which was 4.9% higher than this year.
Here is a deeper breakdown of the 64 luxury home sales in the Cape during the first quarter of this year. A total of 37 of the 64 closed luxury home sales, or 57.8%, were located in the Southwest Cape, followed by 14 sales in the Northwest Cape, and 13 sales in the Southeast Cape, with no luxury homes being sold in the Northeast Cape. All 38 of the pending sales for luxury homes in the Cape were located on “saltwater” canals, with 25 of these 38 located on direct sailboat access canals. Getting back to the 64 closed sales in the first quarter of this year, only one home was sold for more than its initial list price. This home was listed at $979,900 and it went under contract with a buyer in 24 days, before closing at a final sales price of $1.1 million, or for 12.3% above its list price.
One other home was sold for its initial list price, but it appears to have been a prearranged deal before it came on the market as an active listing. There was also one other home that shows it was sold at its full list price of $1.495 million after going under contract with a buyer in 10 days, but this home had been previously listed with a different agent for $2.25 million. So it was actually sold for $755,000, or 33.6% less than its initial list price. A total of 23 of the 64 luxury homes sold, or 36%, did not need to make a price reduction from their initial list prices in order to attract a buyer, but 20 of these 23 sales actually closed for less money than their list price. Every other luxury home that was sold in the first quarter of this year had to make at least one price reduction before it went under contract with a buyer, so it has not been an easy market for sellers.
The currently highest-priced active listing in Cape Coral has been on the market 147 days at $6.985 million without making any price reductions. The second highest-priced luxury home listing in the Cape is currently priced at $6.7 million. This new construction riverfront home was initially listed for sale at $7.867 million in September 2023, and after four price reductions it is now listed for $1.167 million less than its initial asking price, for a discount of 14.8% so far. Looking at the numbers for the highest-priced closed home sale in the first quarter of this year, we see that it was initially listed for $6.5 million on October 30, 2023, with one price reduction to $6.45 million in April 2024, before the listing expired in May 2024. This home was relisted with a different Realtor for $5.98 million in June 2024, followed by three more price reductions down to $4.5 million on Jan. 30 of this year. It finally went under contract on Feb. 16, at a closed sales price of $3.999 million on March 14, for a total discount of $2,501,000 or 38.5% below the initial list price.
The sales data for this article was obtained from the Florida Realtors Multiple Listing Service Matrix for Lee County, Fla., as of April 15, 2025, unless otherwise noted. It was compiled by Bob and Geri Quinn and it includes information specifically for Cape 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 Realty Team office in Cape Coral. They have lived in Cape Coral for over 45 years. Geri has been a full-time Realtor since 2005, and Bob joined with Geri as a full-time Realtor in 2014. Their real estate practice is mainly focused on Cape Coral residential property and vacant lots.
By comparison, in the first quarter of 2023 when our market was still bouncing back from the impacts of Hurricane Ian, there were 62 luxury home sales in the Cape. Back in the first quarter of 2022, there were 115 luxury home sales as the post-COVID real estate boom was unknowingly approaching its peak. The 2022 numbers blew away the 44 closed luxury home sales from the first quarter of 2021 by a whopping 161%, and for the record, back in 2020 there were only 12 first quarter sales in the Cape’s luxury home segment. Keep in mind that in 2020, the first phase of the COVID shutdowns had just kicked in during mid-March of that year, and the big run-up in home values had yet to occur, so the number of million dollar-plus homes in the Cape was only a fraction of today’s number.
Digging down into the current 2025 luxury home numbers, as of Tuesday, April 15, out of the 3,432 active single-family home listings through the MLS in the Cape, a total of 367 homes were for sale at $1 million and above. One year ago on April 16, 2024, there were 2,827 active listings in the MLS for Cape Coral single-family homes, including 350 luxury homes listed at $1 million and above. Out of the current total of 775 pending home sales in the Cape, there were 38 luxury homes under contract with buyers at $1 million and above. Back on April 16, 2024, there were a total of 863 pending home sales through the MLS in the Cape, including 61 homes under contract with buyers at $1 million and above. So we are still lagging behind last year, and the high end of our market has slowed down from a year ago.
