Cape Coral Weekend Breeze

Proposed

By MEGHAN BRADBURY news@breezenewspapers com

The Cape Coral City Council Chambers were filled with pickleball and tennis athletes, each of whom shared the same sentiment Wednesday: The proposed membership fees for the Lake Kennedy Racquet Center are too expensive and the booking fee is ridiculous Council did not disagree that the starting point numbers were too high and reached a consensus that the membership rates should range from $200 to $400 annually

for Lake Kennedy protested

“I believe the fees are way too high. A more fair membership would be $200 a year, and $400 for a family.”

Councilmember Tom Hayden, adding there should be no court fee for members and the drop-in fee should be $6.

City staff will now work with the contract manager and come back with a revised proposal

“I want you all to know I really feel today’s Citizen Input was very successful,”

Councilmember Dan Sheppard said “I don’t know a lot about pickleball and tennis; I don’t play either I know the importance of having sports in our city and parks, what it does for the community and how it brings families

By CJ HADDAD cjhaddad@breezenewspapers

A Cape Coral chef has bested the

and claimed the title of being a nationally recognized “grill master” after coming out on top in a field of thousands

Cape Coral’s Jacob Montgomery, head chef at Cape Coral’s LongHorn Steakhouse, has reached elite grilling status, taking first place in LongHorn Steakhouse’s national grilling competition, the “Steak Master Series ” Now being

Montgomery competed as a finalist in 2022, taking home fourth place Among thousands of

See STEAK MASTER, page 39

Jacob Montgomery, head chef at Cape Coral’s LongHorn Steakhouse, sizzled the competition and earned first place in LongHorn’s national grilling competition /PHOTO PROVIDED

together ”

He said the information brought forward has been noted

“It was very impactful You all educated me very well,” Sheppard said

He said the comparison of what neighboring communities have done is a starting point for Council to go by, look at, tweak, and bend

“I look at our city as unique. We are not

Yacht Club pier

By MEGHAN BRADBURY news@breezenewspapers

com

It could take as long as three years but the Cape Coral Yacht Club may get a new, higher pier to replace the one destroyed by Hurricane Ian

Cape Coral City Council on Wednesday agreed that removing the existing piles to allow the new pier to raised was the best option

Meanwhile, Council also discussed the possibility of a temporary, shorter, pier for the community

The consensus was reached following a p r e

interim Director David Hyyti

Hyyti said Kimley Horne did a visual and underwater inspection of the pier pilings and came back to the city with a report From that report, a more in-depth investigation was done to explore the conditions of the jackets on the pilings and different recommendations on how to proceed

One of those options go back and take the existing piles that were damaged, as well as the ones deconstructed, and put new jackets on them, to include 24 piles This would give a 15-year service life

Another option was to put new jackets on all the pilings so they all have the same life cycle 25 years

involves work to the existing jackets, as

Lee Schools to install vape detectors

By MEGHAN BRADBURY news@breezenewspapers com

The School District of Lee County plans to install vape detectors in five schools as part of a pilot program

Initial schools include Estero High School, Fort Myers High School, Cape Coral High School, Lexington Middle School, and Caloosa Middle School

The detectors are $1,000 per unit and $335 for each installation for a total of $173,550 There will be numerous vape detectors at the pilot schools, which would also include inside the boys and girls bathrooms.

The district received a net award of $2,220,879 59 as part of the Juul Litigation and settlement and this money will be used for such proposed enhancements, including the detectors. With the data indicating steady increase in tobacco and drug use, the school district recognizes the need for intervention, officials said

The substance abuse intervention will entail:

∫ Community agency support/partnership

∫ Social media campaign

∫ District infrastructure considerations for vape detectors

∫ Consideration of the expansion of OPENGATE

∫ Saturday school and extended day school

Initial schools include Estero High School, Fort Myers High School, Cape Coral High School, Lexington Middle School, and Caloosa Middle School

∫ Student-led clubs

∫ Anti-drug curriculum

∫ Tiered consequences

The total cost for the first year using the settlement money is $681,550

The school board approved participation in the litigation which alleged a company role in youth vaping on April 20, 2020 The litigation had cited harms as significant and ongoing disruption, significant resource diversion to anti vaping, truancy and absenteeism and significant cost increases

Six states, including Florida, and the District of Columbia were awarded a collective $462 million

The school district has already received two payments, the first in 2023 - $1,199,846 95, and the second in February of this year for $242,486 49 The third payment will be made in December 2024 for $242,486 49, the fourth payment in December 2025 for $268,029 83 and the fifth payment will be made in December 2026 for $268,029 83

Constituent Services and Student Discipline Director Dr. Ron Iasussi said the social media campaign includes partici-

pation with local law enforcement to present the anti-vaping philosophy to the community through billboards in each zone

The expansion of OPENGATE includes setting the detection system at a standard where vaping devices would show up

Extended school days and Saturday school would be part of the tiered consequences in an effort to engage parents and students to educate the family on the effects of substance abuse Iasussi said the extended day program would consist of six 75-minute sessions to address alcohol abuse, substance abuse and coping skills and more

“Each session would have a different theme to it,” he said, adding that they are providing a Saturday option for students and parents who cannot attend during the week

If attended, it would be in lieu of suspension

The proposal also includes mental health support, which would provide different levels of support for students specifically indicated with a higher use of vaping and drug use They would help families connect with resources to better understand the challenges they are facing, officials said

School Board looks again at cell phone policies

By MEGHAN BRADBURY news@breezenewspapers com

The Lee County School Board continues to wrangle with how to deal with student cells phones

According to board policy 5136 – wireless communication devices – principals have the authority to designate times and locations where these types of devices may be used on campus and teachers designate where they can be stored during instructional time, such as bookbags and containers

District staff said next year electronic devices will be their main focus, first with input from principals Conversations then will continue with all other stakeholders

Board member Armor Persons asked at Tuesday’s meeting why they should wait another year to implement change to the student code of conduct

“As a board, in my opinion, we should change that this year for next year to have phones in backpacks in the off position from first bell to last bell,” he said

Although there was no consensus to implement this for next school year, there was an agreement to bring back the topic for more discussion

Superintendent Dr Ken Savage said he has heard the significant concern of how the devices are being used and the lack of consistency throughout the schools They can look into how to implement the policy, but don’t want to rush

“I have no objection to eliminating them from bell to bell,” Board member Cathleen Morgan said “I do believe the path they are suggesting is the best way to go I think we need school leadership, families, and students in the discussion I like the path that they have laid out I am sensitive to your desire to do it immediately I feel strongly that we need to engage all the stakeholders in that kind of policy change ” Board member Jada Langford-Fleming said when she taught phones were a huge distraction.

“In my opinion we provide everything a child needs to follow the curriculum throughout the day without needing their phones to do so,” she said “In my opinion, I don’t see why cell phones are so needed The lack of communication amongst their own peers is going to hurt them later on once they go into the workforce, or secondary education ”

Other board members said there may be a need for students to have cell phones

Board member Debbie Jordan said she has spoken to law enforcement who have children in schools sharing that if an emergency were to happen it would be better for their child to hear their voice

“They can bring their phone I am sure if there is an emergency everyone would have their phone out and not have repercussions,” Persons said

Board member Melisa Giovannelli said her only concern is a lot of times, although she knows it is not right, some of the video taken by a cell phone during a fight have been evidence of seeing what happens

“I would want to make sure all of our cameras are working and functioning properly,” she said

OPINIONS

CAPE CORAL BREE ZE

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

Thank you to city staff

It took a whirlwind of effort but the city of Cape Coral reached its original deadline Thursday, submitting to FEMA the answers the federal agency sought concerning floodplain compliance with rebuilding efforts following Hurricane Ian Documentation for the remaining 54 properties Federal Emergency Management Agency officials alleged were in violation of its regulations because they lacked required permitting has been submitted, city officials announced

After holding a series of code enforcement hearings, the city found that only 11% of the original 238 addresses provided by FEMA ultimately were found to be non-compliant That is less than half of FEMA’s finding of 23%, which resulted in notification to the city that property owners here would lose their 25% discount on National Flood Insurance policies

Mayor John Gunter said Thursday that the effort which included not only the compilation of additional documents and code hearings, but earlier weeks of fact-finding and discussions would not have been possible without the dedication of city staff and City Manager Michael Ilczyszyn

We agree

Thank you to Mr Ilczyszyn and his team, who worked 12hour days and seven-day weeks to produce in 30 days the “thousands of documents” the city believes should provide proof that it acted with diligence to meet federal regulations in the wake of the Category 4 storm that wreaked billions of dollars in damage in Lee County,

The ball is now again in FEMA’s court

Citing what it alleged was “the large amount of unpermitted work, lack of documentation, and failure to properly monitor activity in special flood hazard areas, including substantial damage compliance,” FEMA “retrograded” its Community Rating System grade for unincorporated Lee and four of its municipalities, including Cape Coral and Fort Myers Beach

FEMA’s CRS retrograde, from a 5 to a 10 the lowest possible score meant policy holders in the affected area no longer would qualify for any premium discount at all

Where are we now?

FEMA will decide whether the city retains its grade of 5 or receives some other on the 10-1 scale the agency uses to reward pro-active efforts and punish non-compliance

With about 699,000 residents living in areas that will be impacted by the FEMA decision, a lot of money is at stake: The 25% discount saves taxpayers a collective $14 million to $17 million annually in unincorporated Lee County alone

“Optimistic” is seldom a word we use when it comes to predicting bureaucratic outcomes

We will make no prediction here

We will, though, say that the city, through its comprehensive previous report and its voluminous final effort, has dashed much of FEMA’s findings

Staff is not only to be thanked, but commended for the work performed Breeze editorial

A year of accomplishments

The school year is moving at such an amazing pace that it won’t be long now until we celebrate the Class of 2024 at their graduation ceremonies What we’ve seen already is that there is plenty to cheer about for our students and schools As your District 4 School Board representative, it is my pleasure to share with you some of their accomplishments from this school year

Academically, our students are once again among the highest performers Brody Yeung from North Fort Myers High School earned a Cambridge Scholar Award with Distinction, the highest level possible, for his performance the on the 2023 Cambridge examinations Thirteen more North students earned Cambridge Scholar Awards with Merit and 33 won Scholar Awards. At Island Coast High School, seven students earned Cambridge Scholar Awards Six students at North Fort Myers High School and one at Island Coast earned academic honors from the College Board National Recognition Programs This recognition helps them stand out during the college admissions process We also saw new Carson Scholars recognized at Littleton Elementary, Tropic Isles Elementary, North Fort Myers Academy for the Arts and North Fort Myers High School The Carson Scholars Fund awards $1,000 college scholarships to students in grades 4-11 who excel academically and are dedicated to serving their communities

Commentary

Students are also excelling in their extra-curricular activities Thirteen students at North Fort Myers High School and four at North Fort Myers Academy for the Arts were selected for All-State Musical Ensembles They attended the Florida Musical Educators Association conference in January for an All-Star caliber concert The Island Coast Boys JROTC Raider Team won a State Championship in November Two years ago, they didn’t have enough members to even form a team, so this was quite the accomplishment The North Fort Myers Girls’ Soccer team nearly won a state title They beat

rival Mariner in Regionals and only lost in the state championship game after eight rounds of penalty kicks Congratulations on a great season

Schools in our community are also being recognized for their success Tropic Isles Elementary was named an Imagine Nation Beacon School Imagine Learning is a supplemental program the school uses to help students learn English and the designation recognizes student improvement Island Coast High School launched the state of Florida’s only “Into Space” curriculum this school year Taught by NASA Rocket engine Quality Management Scientist Dr William Downes, and part of the school’s Earth & Space Academy, “Into Space” prepares students for all types of careers in the aerospace industry. North Fort Myers High School was recognized for achieving Level 1 Certification in Marzano High Reliability Schools Level 1 certification means the school has created a “Safe, Supportive, and Collaborative Culture,” which is the foundation for improved student achievement and effective day-to-day school operations North was also honored with the school’s second Special Olympics National Unified Champion School Banner One of only 16 schools in Florida to be recognized, National Unified Champion schools are committed to inclusive practices for all students And one last honor for North, the school maintained its “A” grade when the 2023 School Grades Report was released late last year During a school year impacted by Hurricane Ian and testing to new standards, this was an amazing accomplishment

These are some of the examples of the great things happening in our schools every day Congratulations to all our students on their successes this year I can’t wait to see what you will do next

Debbie Jordan is the Lee County School Board Member for District 4

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Pay walls shut residents out of taxpayer-funded facilities

To the editor:

Please stop using taxpayer money to build things that are so expensive that you can’t let residents use them for free

The proposed fees for Lake Kennedy pickle ball courts are far more than most people can pay in today’s economy

Do the same fees apply to the tennis courts?

I appreciate there’s a lower cost for student fees for the Lake Kennedy facility but for families with more than two children that’s a lot of money With the couple and individual rates for adults, how can parents afford to play and teach their kids?

Most individuals and families in Cape Coral need to have free or very low cost access to the new facilities our tax dollars make possible

Provide some completely free time for residents for a few hours a day and offer some very low cost times for students and families to play together

Offer a free time for seniors at least three days a week and have an accessible court for wheelchair users

If Venus and Serena Williams grew up here, they would never have a chance to discover and develop their talents with this paywall between them and the opportunity to play and learn

Stop thinking of ways for the parks “to make money ” that sounds good in an annual report, but only means that we taxpayers have to keep paying again and again to use the very facilities than our tax dollars made possible These should be free or have minimal charges for us to use

If you’re spending way too much money on these projects and expecting them to be privately managed, you’re building in costs that make these out of reach for most people

And please, keep parks free and open for all to use, a perk for the people who live here, not a profit maker for businesses who who just want the space.

Heather O’Connell Cape Coral

Current council not wor th preser ving To the editor:

Councilman Tom Hayden was quoted in a news story this week, as saying, “he fought hard for a History Room dedicated to the old Yacht Club Building in the new twostory community center design ” Bravo to you! Residents do you feel better about her being torn down now?

How about putting the “History Room” by the restrooms or the exit. The Ballroom represented everything good about the city, the building of a new vision, the welcoming place for all to come and enjoy The sharing of your laughter and tears She was magnificent The article failed to mention the chandelier or the dolphins; certainly this “room” will be large enough to include these items, right?

The caption under the rendering states the Yacht Club Community Park will have a “Key West” vibe: will this include a Key West day with all the fantasies that go along with it?

In closing, Councilman Steinke spoke about memories in the article, and I agree with him and cannot wait until he, the current council and the mayor are distant memories Debbie Zalesky Cape Coral

Another way to make residents pay To the editor:

It seems our esteemed City of Cape Coral council members have been thinking up more ways to supplement their already engorged wallets

I purchased my house in the Cape in June of 2017 I recently received the following ludicrous correspondence from the City:

“A review of our records indicates an outstanding balance for the above referenced property The balance is

See LETTERS, page 6

Debbie Jordan Guest

How to solve America’s doctor shortage

Doctors appointments will be hard to come by over the next decade, according to new data from the Association of American Medical Colleges By 2036, the organization estimates that the United States will be short as many as 86,000 physicians

This is a shortage of not just doctors but medical care In most sectors of the economy, shortages tell suppliers it's time to boost production But government regulation has artificially restricted the supply of medical care for years

We must relax those regulations in order to boost the supply of medical care and meet the needs of patients

There are plenty of medical professionals who can help address this shortage of medical care if only they’re allowed to Nurse practitioners and physician assistants go through years of training and clinical practice to get qualified They can diagnose and treat patients, including by prescribing medication. Right now, there are about 280,000 nurse practitioners and 126,000 physician assistants in the United States

In many areas, “scope of practice” laws prevent these professionals from practicing to

From page 4

the full extent of their training Nearly half the states have laws limiting nurse practitioners’ ability to practice

Proponents of these rules argue that allowing nurse practitioners and physician assistants to practice without restrictions would put patients at risk. Yet research shows otherwise

A study by researchers at New York University and Boston College concluded that "(s)tate regulations restricting (nurse practitioner scope of practice) do not improve the quality of care ” A study from the University of Central Florida found that broadening nurses’ scope of practice may actually improve quality of care

Commentary

And according to a 2023 study from the University of Alabama School of Law, over a 14-year period, expanding scope of practice for nurse practitioners and physician assistants reduced healthcare-related deaths -- by 12 per 100,000 people and

from the previous owner account As a result of recent changes to our City’s Code of Ordinances, the outstanding balance will be transferred to your active account “

In other words this seven (7) year old debt (water utility), that wasn’t even my debt is now my responsibility! I did a quick search of the Statute of Limitations for debt The longest one allowed is five (5) years unless it’s for child support! However, our “behind closed door” leaders have come up with this duplicitously concocted ordinance in an effort to allow them to irresponsibly spend our tax dollars

The time for a complete change of council persons has arrived

Steven A Salz Cape Coral

Higher taxes forcing people to leave Cape Coral

s s e s s m e n t s T h i s i s a 4 5 % i n c r e a s e ( s o u r c e 2 0 2 4 A d o p t e d b u d g e t

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b e e n a n o n g o i n g i s s u e f o r e v e r y h o m e o w n e r i n C a p e

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10 per 100,000 people, respectively Rural areas, which tend to have the biggest primary-care shortages, saw even greater improvements

It’s clearly time for states to get rid of scopeof-practice rules.

Another way to expand the supply of medical care is to make it easier for international medical graduates to practice in the United States

Research shows that physicians with degrees from international medical schools provide high-quality care According to a study published in the BMJ, Medicare patients tended to by internationally trained internists had lower mortality than patients treated by U S medical graduates

Physicians who obtain their degrees abroad often face stiff requirements to get

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

i n g t o o e x p e n s i v e t o o w n a h o m e i n C a p e C o r a l B e t w e e n t h e c o n s t a n t r i s e i n p r o p e r t y t a x d o l l a r s a n d t h e c o r r u p t i o n i n c i t y g o v e r n m e n t C a p e C o r a l i s f a s t t r a c k e d t o b e c o m e a c i t y t h a t f a i l e d T h e r e i s s t i l l t i m e t o t u r n t h i n g s a r o u n d a n d s a v e o u r o n c e - l o v e d c i t y a n d t h a t i s w i t h a f r e s h s t a r t , t h i s

N o v e m b e r E x e r c i s e y o u r r i g h t t o v o t e t o r e p l a c e t h e o f f i c i a l s t h a t h a v e f a i l e d t h i s c i t y a n d i t s v o t e r s a n d

e l e c t g r a s s - r o o t s c a n d i d a t e s t o s t a r t r e b u i l d i n g w h a t h a s

b e e n d e s t r o y e d b y c u t t i n g l u c r a t i v e s p e n d i n g , t i g h t e n u p

t h e c i t y ’ s b u d g e t a n d g i v e t h e m o n e y s a v e d b a c k t o t h e p e o p l e b y r e d u c i n g p r o p e r t y t a x e s a n d a s s e s s m e n t s

A l l t h i s c a n b e d o n e b y r e s t r u c t u r i n g t h e c i t y ’ s b u d ge t w i t h t h e h e l p o f r e i n s t a t i n g t h e B u d g e t C o m m i t t e e o f v o l u n t e e r s t h a t w i l l c h a l l e n g e c i t y s p e n d i n g

H o w e v e r , i t a l l s t a r t s w i t h y o u , t h e v o t e r s V o t e t h e

p e o p l e t h a t h a v e f a i l e d o u t o f o f f i c e O u r C o n s t i t u t i o n

s t a t e s “ W e h o l d t h e s e t r u t h s t o b e s e l f - e v i d e n t , t h a t a l l m e n a r e c r e a t e d e q u a l , t h a t t h e y a r e e n d o w e d b y t h e i r

C r e a t o r w i t h c e r t a i n u n a l i e n a b l e R i g h t s , t h a t a m o n g

t h e s e a r e L i f e , L i b e r t y , a n d t h e p u r s u i t o f H a p p i n e s s

T h a t t o s e c u r e t h e s e r i g h t s , G o v e r n m e n t s a r e i n s t i t u t e d a m o n g M e n , d e r i v i n g t h e i r p o w e r s f r o m t h e c o n s e n t o f

t h e g o v e r n e d T h a t w h e n e v e r a n y F o r m o f G o v e r n m e n t b e c o m e s d e s t r u c t i v e o f t h e s e e n d s , i t i s t h e R i g h t o f t h e P e o p l e t o a l t e r o r a b o l i s h i t , a n d t o i n s t i t u t e n e w

G o v e r n m e n t , l a y i n g i t s f o u n d a t i o n o n s u c h p r i n c i p l e s

a n d o r g a n i z i n g i t s p o w e r s i n s u c h f o r m , a s t o t h e m s h a l l s e e m m o s t l i k e l y t o a f f e c t t h e i r S a f e t y a n d H a p p i n e s s ” C r a i g U n r o e C a p e C o r a l Cape residents see through parks plan charade

T o t h e e d i t o r : O n A p r i l 3 , t h e C a p e C o r a l C i t y C o u n c i l i n t r o d u c e d O r d i n a n c e 2 2 - 2 4 w h i c h i n c r e a s e d i n c o m e a n d e x p e n se s f o r F i s c a l Y e a r 2 0 2 4 b y $ 4 4 m i l l i o n T h e O r d i n a n c e i d e n t i f i e d a t r o u b l i n g f a c t “ P a r k i m p

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$ 8 8 , 4 6 1 , 5 7 5 T h e G e n e r a l O b l i g a t i o n B o n d w a s f o r

U S medical licenses First, they have to complete two or three years of graduate medical education in the United States Then they have to take the U S Medical Licensing Examination, apply for a residency, and obtain a state medical license The process can take years

It’s no wonder some doctors who move to America pursue careers in other fields. A recent survey of nearly 300 immigrant doctors disclosed that two out of three with jobs weren’t working as physicians

Tennessee recently eliminated the requirement that all international graduates complete U S residencies Other states should consider following suit

Demand for medical care will only increase in the years to come, as the U S population ages Meeting that demand will require eliminating the regulations that have long curtailed the supply of care

Sally C Pipes is president, CEO, and Thomas W Smith Fellow in Health Care Policy at the Pacific Research Institute This article originally ran in the Detroit News

B o n d b y d e c l a r i n g “ w e a r e n ’ t s e l l i n g a n y m o r e t h a n t h e

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C o u n c i l s h o u l d p u t i n a c o u p l e o f i m p r o v e m e n t s t h e

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$ 6 0 , 0 0 0 , 0 0 0 T h e a d d i t i o n a l $ 2 8 , 4 6 1 , 5 7 5 h a s b e e n i d e n t i f i e d , w i t h $ 1 8 , 8 4 2 , 9 2 1 c u r r e n t l y a v a i l a b l e t o t r a n s f e r t o t h e p r o j e c t ” O f t h e $ 4 4 m i l l i o n i n t r a n s f e r s , a b o u t $ 1 8 9 m i l l i o n , i s b e i n g t r a n s f e r r e d i n t o t h e P a r k s G O B o n d F u n d , b r i n g i n g t h e f u n d e d c o s t o f t h e P a r k s G O B o n d B u d g e t t o a l i t t l e o v e r $ 7 8 9 m i l l i o n o f t h e $ 8 8 5 m i l l i o n “ e x p e c t e d ” c o s t o f t h e p r o j e c t , s t i l l l e a v i n g a d e f i c i t o f a b o u t $ 1 0 m i l l i o n [ T h e i n c o m e b e i n g t r a n s f e r r e d i n t o t h e P a r k s G o F u n d i s l i s t e d a s d e r i v i n g f r o m F E M A / I r m a F u n d s ( $ 7 3 5 m i l l i o n ) , e x t r a C O V I D f u n d s ( $ 5 5 m i l l i o n ) a n d P a r k I m p a c t F e e s ( $ 6 m i l l i o n ) ] I n 2 0 1 7 , t h e P e o p l e o f C a p e C o r a l b a r e l y p a s s e d t h e P a r k s G O B o n d l i m i t i n g t h e s e l l o f b o n d s f o r t h i s e x p a n s i o n a t $ 6 0 m i l l i o n , n o t a p e n n y m o r e A n d , j u s t l i k e t h e l u d i c r o u s s t i p e n d t h e C o u n c i l a p p r o v e d f o r t h e m s e l v e s , t h e m e m b e r s o f t h e C o u n c i l w i l l a g a i n u s e “ s e m a n t i c s ” t o a d d t h e $ 1 8 9 m i l l i o n i n t o t h e P a r k s G O

The views expressed on the Opinions pages are just that opinions These pages are

reflect the views of this newspaper. Opposing views are welcome. Letters to the editor or guest

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.

Sally C Pipes Guest

‘Boom Zone’ tickets on sale; July 4th headliner announced

Parmalee to be featured entertainment at city of Cape Coral’s Red, White, & BOOM street party

By CJ HADDAD cjhaddad@breezenewspapers com

Big announcements have been made and special tickets are now on sale for the Cape’s annual ode to Independence Day

Limited “Boom Zone” tickets are now on sale for Cape Coral’s Red, White, & BOOM! Fourth of July extravaganza, giving individuals and families a more catered to experience for the event at the foot of the Cape Coral Bridge

“This event is the quintessential community event celebrating the nation’s birthday,” said city Special Events Coordinator Todd King. “We have a national country act and what we consider the best fireworks in Southwest Florida ”

The city has also announced this year’s national headliner to be country music band Parmalee

“We like the country music genre for this event, because its very wholesome and family-oriented,” King said “An in many cases, extra patriotic, and so we’ve always

“This event is the quintessential community event celebrating the nation’s birthday We have a national country act and what we consider the best fireworks in Southwest Florida ”

Special Events Coordinator Todd King

kind of put that into this event We have a lot of country music fans in the area ”

Parmalee is made up of brothers Matt and Scott Thomas, along with their cousin Barry Knox and long-time friend Josh McSwain The group put out Billboard’s most played country song of 2022 in “Take My Name ” Parmalee has accumu-

streams and three No 1 hits that include “Carolina,” “Just The Way,” and the aforementioned “Take My Name.”

The band formed in 2001 and worked hard touring until signing with Stoney Creek Records in 2011, and most recently, released their third studio project “For

You” in 2021

Red, White, & BOOM! is one of the largest events in Southwest Florida annually, and always boasts a national headliner

“No other communities in the area put on such an event of this size for the Fourth of July,” King said “Just being the nation’s birthday, we decided to make it as big and as spectacular as we possibly can ” Boom Zone passes are $40 for adults and $20 for children (20 or younger) They include a catered meal from Mission BBQ,

soda/water, a game area, a private section for viewing, air conditioned restrooms and customized swag Children younger than 5

do not require a ticket Only 500 of the Boom Zone passes are available

“The ticket allows folks to sit on grass, and get something to eat without being on the asphalt,” King said “There will be catered food vendor in an area at Bernice Braden Park ”

Red, White, & BOOM! will run from 5 to 10 p m on Thursday, July 4, and is put on by the city’s Parks and Recreation Department The event is free to attend for those not purchasing a Boom Zone pass

Parmalee is set to hit the stage at 8 p m , with three other live acts to be announced Fireworks start at 9:30

“While it can be a tough logistical day, it’s amazing to watch the city come together and all of the city services link together and coordinate to put on the one of the largest single-day events in Southwest Florida ”

For tickets and more information, visit www.capeboom.com.

Sun Splash offers free admission to moms this weekend

h o w o u r a p p r e c i a t i o n f o r a l l t h e h a r d w o r k a n d d e d i c a t i o n m o m s p u t i n e v e r y d a y , ” s a i d S u n S p l a s h G e n e r a l M a n a g e r E r i c R e e d “ T r e a t i n g m o m s t o a f u n d a y a t t h e w a t e r p a r k i s o u r w a y o f c e l e b r a t i n g t h e m a n d a l l t h e y d o f o r t h e i r f a m i l i e s ” S u n S p l a s h i s c u r r e n t l y o p e n o n

T h u r s d a y s t h r o u g h S u n d a y s t h r o u g h

M a y 1 9 a n d t h e n g o e s t o d a i l y s u m m e r

h o u r s o f o p e r a t i o n s t a r t i n g o n M a y 2 5

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m o r e !

F o r m o r e i n f o r m a t i o n a b o u t u p c o m i n g

e v e n t s , t i c k e t s , b i r t h d a y p a r t i e

Leanne Olmstead, an English Language Arts teacher at Ida S Baker High School, has been awarded the 2024 APPLES Mentor of the Year award

APPLES awards presented

Teachers from Ida S Baker and Lehigh middle recognized

By MEGHAN BRADBURY news@breezenewspapers com

Two teachers have been recognized for their dedication to helping others and teaching youngsters, each receiving the 2024 APPLES Mentor of the Year award and the 2024 New Teacher of the Year Award

L e a n n e O l m s t e a d , a n E n g l i s h Language Arts teacher at Ida S Baker High School, was surprised last week with the 2024 APPLES Mentor of the Year award

The 2024 New Teacher of the Year was presented to Robert Jones, a sixth grade teacher at Lehigh Acres Middle School T h

Education System) Program offers supp o r t

through a multi-tiered system “Ms Olmstead always steps up to ment o r o t h e r s , w h e t h e r t

APPLES program or not,” Ida S Baker H i g h S c h

Johnson said in a prepared statement “When it comes to curriculum assistance and planning, Leanne ensures that her mentee understands and can access all resources, as well as shares her resources and ideas When observing and giving feedback, she is professional and gives multiple levels of guidance to ensure that the mentee comes away with valuable feedback ”

Olmstead said she was absolutely not expecting the award, as she thought the interview went so terribly She said honestly, with being in testing season right now, she was initially frustrated with the intrusion into her classroom as her stu-

“Ms Olmstead always steps up to mentor others, whether they are in the APPLES program or not.”

Ida S. Baker High School Assistant Principal Jill Johnson

dents needed every minute possible

“I see my husband standing there They came in with balloons and flowers; it suggested they were there for a good reason,” she said

Olmstead, who has been in the district for seven years, six of which she has also dedicated to being an APPLE Mentor, spent more than 20 years in Minnesota teaching first

“I was paired up my first year with an APPLE Mentor, so they could show me the ropes of a brand-new school and state,” she said, adding that she is proud of the program as she is a non-evaluative person who can help acclimate them to the classroom.

O

mentees and goes over such areas as

classroom management She also observes the teachers through a planned monthly visit

“They are always invited to come into my classroom and observe,” she said, adding that they also email and text her frequently with questions

“I always make sure we have a collaborative relationship; they know I have their back and here to support them ” Olmstead said teaching cannot be done in isolation The APPLES Mentor program is a built-in relationship, a created

See APPLES, page 9

PHOTO PROVIDED

APPLES: Mentor of the Year, New Teacher of the Year, commendations presented

partnership for a new teacher

“Often we think we can only learn from people who have experience It goes both ways It’s a collaborative relationship It might seem one way for a while let me give you everything you possibly need,” Olmstead said, adding that once they settle into the year it becomes a two-way street

She said if she has a tool that can help someone else, why not share it with them

“Our craft can be shared What we know and do well, can be shared with others,” Olmstead said

She had a mentor in her life while teaching in Minnesota

“She took me under her wing and showed me my potential,” Olmstead said, adding Sue Van Hooser was the first person she reached out to when she received the award “I reached out to her to let her know I owed it all to her Fifteen years, I worked with her ”

Olmstead said teaching is so cool due to the number of people that you touch, and those that touch you

“Our roots go so long, and deep at the end of our careers we have the potential of influencing so many people,” she said

Jones earned his award through similar dedication, officials said

“Mr Jones has made an indelible mark on both his students and colleagues, demonstrating exceptional dedication, creativity, and passion for teaching,” Lehigh Acres Middle School Assistant Principal Vincent Lewis said in a prepared statement “He currently teaches 6th grade iReady Reading and has received high praise from his colleagues, administration, and district personnel He is dedicated to student achievement ”

The New Teacher of the Year program recognizes newly certified personnel for the significant contributions they make to both their school and the district

Jones was surprised last Thursday during his third period class when his principal, district staff and the superintendent entered his classroom

“It was amazing I had seen them walk in with balloons and gift bags. I wasn’t sure what was going on in the moment,” he said “It’s an incredible honor ”

“Mr. Jones has made an indelible mark on both his students and colleagues, demonstrating exceptional dedication, creativity, and passion for teaching. He currently teaches 6th grade iReady Reading and has received high praise from his colleagues, administration, and district personnel He is dedicated to student achievement ”

Lehigh Acres Middle School Assistant

Principal Vincent Lewis

Jones, who was still trying to find words to explain what it meant to receive the award, said he took a lot of pride in being named the New Teacher of the Year He said it showed him that he is capable of having the opportunity at a high level to impact the youth

“Another way I know it’s my passion is ever since I stepped into the education field I have received great compliments, great achievements It’s not the typical year of a first-year teacher,” he said

Jones, as a student, was on the A and B honor roll from elementary school to college His first dream was to make it in the NFL, but unfortunately, he fell short, so he turned to law enforcement, as both of his parents are law enforcement officers

“I quickly realized I couldn’t make an impact on inmates that were already incarcerated,” Jones said “I went ahead and gave it a shot to go into education I first started off as a paraprofessional to see how the environment would be ”

When he realized the impact he had on the students, he thought “maybe this is something I can be pretty good at ”

“It’s been amazing, honestly Most days it doesn’t even feel like work I’m doing what I have always dreamed of giving back to youth,” Jones said “Watching little young individuals progress weekly, daily, and monthly, it’s been a blessing ”

As a sixth grade reading teacher, he keeps his students

engaged by relating the content to real world experiences that they understand Jones said he is making sure they are constantly moving and doing assignments in collaboration with other classmates while thinking deeply to answer questions Jones said they did an author purpose assignment where they had to create a one pager that either informed, entertained, or persuaded their audience with their own topic

PHOTO PROVIDED

Robert Jones, a sixth grade teacher at Lehigh Acres Middle School, was recognized as the 2024 New Teacher of the Year

Every day is Mother’s Day for mom whose daughters followed her into health care careers

By JOHNATHAN MINEHAN news@breezenewspapers

com

Cape Coral Hospital is home to many friends and family relationships, including the trio of Diana Driggs and her two daughters, Idalis Rubio and Gabriella Driggs

Sharing a bond with family is extremely important for the trio From laughing at their 1 p m lunches to seeing each other around the hospital, the bond they share is everything

Diana Driggs has been a nurse for 13 years and has worked at the hospital for five Her passion for helping patients and colleagues fuels her work in the medical field

“I like to help people I like to help the younger ones coming up because they're taking over,” said Driggs “So I became an LPN (Licensed Practical Nurse) in 2013 and then turned around and became an RN (Registered Nurse) in 2018 It’s just about helping people and getting them to the right place ”

Daughters Idalis and Gabriella found inspiration in their mother’s hard work and chose to work in the medical field as well

Idalis is a PRN rehab tech, while Gabriella is a heart monitor tech

“I think it’s an enjoyable environment to work with them, especially with my mom, because I’m currently attending nursing school So I get to see what she does And I learned from her And it’s a great teaching environment, too,” Gabriella said

“Working in physical therapy is just being able to use your own body to kind of get yourself better Trying to teach people how to walk again, post-stroke or post-TBI,” said Idalis “I think that’s something that I’m really fascinated with, so being in PT school and also working here gives me a lot of knowledge being out in the field ”

While working in the hospital can be a stressor for the mother-daughters trio, the family makes sure to have fun outside of work and create special memories with each other on a daily basis

“We have our T J Maxx days and Disney days,” said Idalis

“We also have our Universal days, and we do a lot of things together, which is nice,” Diana said “Many moms I work with are like, you have a good relationship with your daughters I had them very young, and I am very, very, very fortunate that not only are they good girls, but I also have a very close bond with them ”

The relationship the three share has been a massive comfort for them, especially during the the stressful times they endured during the pandemic and the more recent Hurricane Ian

“We were the COVID unit, the unit I work on, on the second floor So that was, I think, just an eye-opener for everybody. And seeing that the ICU is full, you were just getting everything with COVID,” Diana said

With Idalis and Diana both working, Diana was very concerned about keeping Gabriella healthy and out of harm’s way and making sure Idalis was safe and healthy

“We were stuck here So we went through the hurricane here And then Idalis and I were home, and then we had to switch, so I worried about her being here But again, the good thing about working here is that I had security, knew where she was at all

times, and my bosses knew where she was at all times I made sure she wasn’t in any danger,” Diana said

With all the love shared among the family, Idalis and Gabriella were so grateful for their mom’s presence in their lives and the lessons she shared with them

“How strong she is, how she can withstand anything that comes her way She always figures out a way to achieve it or over-achieve it,” Gabriella said “So she’s like a great role model, especially when it comes to the medical field or even just being a mom Many of my friends always say you’re so lucky to have a mom like you have ”

“For me, it’s not only she who loves, but she started at the same time, so she knows how to be like our best friend and our mom at the same time And like she said, many people said, ‘Oh, your mom goes out and does this with you,’ or ‘You know, your mom pays for this for you.’ And it's like, yeah, because we’re her daughters,” Idalis said “She is an amazing support system ”

Being a parent of two daughters in the medical field has had its learning curves, but Diana couldn’t be more proud of her children and the steps they have taken

“Gabriella is very loving; she’s very loving and easygoing, just goes with the flow, and has never been an issue,” Diana said “Idalis, she’s loving, but she’s more stubborn She just cuts it right there, and she’s like, no, this is what I’m gonna do That

makes her, and that makes her strong-willed, and they’re all strong-willed, independent girls that I’m very proud of ”

Diana also had some thoughts to share about her youngest daughter, the lawyer of the family with a strong-willed determination to help others

“She will make the sky red and fight for the underdog I asked her what kind of lawyer she wanted to be, and she said she wanted to be an immigration lawyer She wants to fight for the people coming into this country,” Diana said

Diana thanks her husband for helping her raise their daughters and for the achievements the family has shared

“My youngest graduated as valedictorian from school They all graduated with honors My little one got a scholarship for us and just graduated,” Diana said “I think because we were young, they turned out the way they did They saw our struggles They saw what we went through, and I think they all know they don’t want that same path as when we’re young; we just had hardships, but here we are, and we are closer than ever ”

“I think our parents definitely taught us that family is everything And as we grow up, when we go throughout, you know, different paths in our lives, it’s really hard to try to get together So when we do get together, we do take advantage of that time spent,” Idalis said

With Mother’s Day coming up, Diana and her family want to remind everyone that it takes a team and that she has her husband to thank for helping her raise their children

“With Mother's Day, it’s a lot, but I think in their case, Dad stuck around, and we made our relationship work when we were young I think being in that house also shaped the girls into the way they are today ”

Mother-daughters trio Idalis Rubio, Diana Driggs and Gabriella Driggs all work at Cape Coral Hospital./JOHNATHAN MINEHAN

Diana Driggs has been a nurse for 13 years and has worked at Cape Coral Hospital for five Idalis Rubio is a PRN rehab tech and Gabriella Driggs is a heart monitor tech who is attending nursing school

REAL ESTATE

Sibling’s purchase of home held in trust can be tricky but doable

A perfect storm? Or is this what normal is supposed to feel like?

D e ar Maure e n:

F i r s t , o u r c o n d o -

l e n c e s o n t h e l o s s o f y o u r f a t h e r I a s s u m e f r o m t h e a b o v e t h e

t r u s t p r o v i d e d f o r t h e

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

T h e r e a r e s e v e r a l w a y s y o u r p l a n c a n b e

a c c o m p l i s h e d

T h e s u c c e s s o r

t r u s t e e c o u l d d e e d t h e p r o p e r t y t o y o u d i r e c t -

l y f r o m t h e t r u s t I f t h e r e a r e s i g n i f i c a n t f i n a n c i a l a s s e t s i n t h e

t r u s t , y o u r p o r t i o n

c o u l d b e a p p l i e d

t o w a r d y o u r a c q u i s it i o n o f t h e h o u s e ,

w h i c h w o u l d b e

$ 3 0 0 , 0 0 0 o f t h e

$ 4 5 0 , 0 0 0 v a l u e

Eric P Feichthaler Real Estate

Law

I f t h e h o m e i s t h e o n l y a s s e t o f t h e t r u s t a n d y o u

n e e d t o p u r c h a s e , e i t h e r w i t h c a s h o r t h r o u g h f i n a n c -

i n g , t h e t r a n s a c t i o n m a y b e s e t a s a s t a n d a r d s a l e , w i t h t h e t h r e e o w n e r s ( i n c l u d i n g y o u ) , s e l l i n g t o y o u

f o r t h e v a l u e o f t h e p r o p e r t y o f $ 4 5 0 , 0 0 0 Y o u

w o u l d g i f t y o u r i n t e r e s t t o y o u r s e l f , s o o n l y

$ 3 0 0 , 0 0 0 w o u l d b e b r o u g h t t o c l o s i n g , t h r o u g h c a s h

o r f i n a n c i n g

I n t r a - f a m i l y t r a n s f e r s c a n b e c o m p l i c a t e d , a n d f u r t h e r s o w h e n a l e n d e r t h a t i s n o t e x p e r i e n c e d i n h a n d l i n g t h e s e m a t t e r s i s d e t e r m i n i n g h o w t o s t r u c -

t u r e t h e l o a n T h e g o o d n e w s i s , y o u r g o

Eric P Feichthaler has lived in Cape Coral for over 35 years and graduated from Mariner High School in C

C

returned to Cape Coral to practice law and raise a family He served as mayor of Cape Coral from 20052008, and continues his service to the community through the Cape Coral Caring Center, and Cape Coral Kiwanis He has been married to his wife, Mary, for 22 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

Last week we had some clients in town from the Northeast and they mentioned a friend of theirs had just emailed them a recent local TV news report about the Cape Coral real estate market The story opened with a reporter commenting on the number of homes for sale in her neighborhood, and that it seemed there are thousands of homes on the market in the city She interviewed a local Realtor who pointed out the increase in the number of listings on the market from 2,897 in March 2023 to 4,003 in March of this year This included a combination of single-family homes, condos, townhouses and some new builds and she called the situation as a “perfect storm ”

A couple of things with this report caught our eye, so we thought we would dig a little bit deeper into the details

First, we agree with a lot of the information in the story, although in our humble opinion, we do not think we have reached the type of market dynamics that would qualify as something quite as devastating as a “perfect storm ” At least not yet And the data we provide and report on virtually every week of the year in this column regarding the number of active listings on the market are different from the those quoted in the report However, we believe this difference in the numbers is likely more about the chosen methodology, while the direction of the trend towards a substantially higher inventory of homes on the market, and the fact that a lot of homes are sitting on the market unsold for a lot longer, are accurate

As far as the reporter’s observations were concerned, she was clearly right over the target about there seeming to be so many homes for sale in the Cape And the number of open house signs fighting for space on street corners throughout the Cape every weekend is emblematic of a potential problem brewing in paradise. The quantity of open houses is anecdotal evidence that a lot of sellers have been unable to attract a buyer to their homes and the most likely, painful reason they have not received an offer on their home, is simply because buyers think they have their home overpriced to the current market Period

Regarding the difference in the numbers for active listings cited in the news report of over the number of homes on the market compared to our lower weekly numbers, there is a “static” monthly active listings report put out through the Multiple Listing Service that provides a cumulative total of the homes that were on the market in a given month. This number is looking backwards, so it tends to be a bit stale, but we think this was where the reported num-

ber of active listings came from. We use a different approach in that we pull the number of active listings that are on the market every Tuesday morning in the predawn hours off of a “live” listings screen in the MLS These live numbers are constantly being updated throughout the day, which is why we take our weekly market snapshot really early in the morning before other Realtors are entering new information into this database So our data is the actual real time “live” number of active listings in Cape Coral through the MLS

As we note in the details below, on May 7, there were 2,791 homes on the market and a week ago there were 438 condos listed for sale, so well below the news report number We believe our numbers are more accurate and reflective of the current “live” real time active listing numbers

We can see how a lot of the unsuccessful sellers in our current market would feel like they are being hit by a perfect storm, as the reality sinks in that they will likely end up selling their home for a lot less money than they thought or not get their home sold at all The famous quote attributed to President Harry S Truman, when he said, “It's a recession when your neighbor loses his job; it's a depression when you lose yours,” can easily be modified to fit the perfect storm feelings of frustrated sellers who are having to make multiple price reductions in the hopes of getting their home sold

But does this really qualify as a perfect storm yet? The reality is that homes are still being sold at a solid pace in our market with the combined number of closed sales in March and April of this year coming in as the third best ever in Cape Coral, behind only March and April of the alltime record setting years of 2021 and 2022. So it would seem that what we are going through right now is more of a return to the pre-COVID years, in what we would call a “this is what normal is supposed to feel like'' type of market and not as much of a perfect storm scenario, if you will We will continue with these thoughts next week about whether this is a return to the more normal pre-COVID markets by delving into the archives of our past columns and comparing the details of prior perfect storms to today’s market But for now, here is what the numbers looked like on Tuesday for our current active listings and pending home sales

Lee BIA Builders Care, Stevens Construction rebuild home for Fort Myers family in need

A Fort Myers family received the life-changing gift of a new home thanks to a partnership between nonprofit Lee BIA Builders Care, local construction company Stevens Construction and a variety of community partners

Myrtle Dillard is a longtime Fort Myers resident who has lived in her home for 33 years Originally built in 1927, the 958-square-foot, two-bedroom, one-bathroom dwelling had fallen into a state of disrepair As time passed, the family faced significant challenges in maintaining the home Caring for her daughter and twin granddaughters, Dillard’s health concerns and the recent passing of her husband, Joseph, made Dillard’s need for support more critical than ever The home required extensive repairs and lacked necessary accessibility features, posing serious safety risks for Dillard, who relies on wheelchair access

Recognizing the urgency of the situation, Stevens Construction committed to rebuilding the Dillard family’s home from the ground up at no cost Rather than opting for

minor renovations, the decision to rebuild the entire structure ensured that the family could live safely and comfortably for years to come.

The entire structure was demolished and rebuilt in just 48 days at no cost to the homeowner, and community partners came together on May 7 to welcome the Dillard family home with a curtain reveal of the newly completed house

“It’s beautiful, it’s gorgeous! A brand-new house That’s something I never had before and I’m just so grateful for it,” said Dillard “I didn’t know I had this many people on my side, I really didn’t ”

The new home is 1,347 square feet with three bedrooms and two bathrooms to accommodate the family's needs. Accessible doorways, bathroom and a wheelchair ramp ensure Dillard can navigate her home comfortably Community partners and donors helped fill the new home

See REBUILD, page 15

Bob and Geri Quinn Homing In

Weicher t, Realtors – Agency ONE welcomes Amundson

Weichert, Realtors - Agency ONE has welcomed Carol Amundson to its team She will serve clients in Fort Myers and surrounding areas

Amundson, who is also a licensed agent w i t h a W

n Minnesota, has access to in-depth training programs, the latest technology, and the most powerful sales and marketing tools in the industry to help provide superior real estate service to her clients

Weichert, Realtors - Agency ONE is an independently owned and operated Weichert affiliate The company serves Cape Coral, Fort Myers, Naples and surrounding areas in Southwest Florida

For more information about Weichert,

Realtors - Agency ONE, located at 8191

C

Myers, and 1113 S E 47th Terrace, Suite 7, in Cape Coral, call 239-415-6500 or visit weichertagencyone.com.

Stevens Construction completes Or thopedic Specialists of SW Florida

Stevens Construction has completed Orthopedic Specialists of SW Florida , announced Dan Adams, executive vice president and partner, Stevens Construction Inc Orthopedic Specialists of SW Florida’s expansion into its new 60,000-square-foot

headquarters marks a milestone in its commitment to providing comprehensive musculoskeletal care Situated at 14601 Hope

Center Loop in Fort Myers, the new facility is designed to accommodate the growing demand in the community for its services

S

years of preconstruction services, assisting Orthopedic Specialists with site and design team selection, budgeting and providing cost savings suggestions throughout the design to ensure the project achieved budget and schedule goals.

With offices in Fort Myers and Orlando, Stevens Construction specializes in providing construction management, general contracting and consulting services to clients and design professionals

Other services include site and design team selection, budgeting, project scheduling, permitting, cost and quality control and warranty service The company builds

healthcare, commercial and hos pitality facilities

For additional information, please visit www stevensbuilds com or call 239-9369006

Cushman & Wakefield | Commercial Southwest Florida announces addition of Monroe Cushman & Wakefield | Commercial Property recently announced the appointment of Joseph Munroe as its newest marketing assistant

M

recently graduated with a bachelor of science in journalism from the University of Florida

For more information, please visit the company website at CPSWFL com

Perfect storm?: Local market may not have reached

From page 14

As of Tuesday, May 7, the number of active listings and pending sales in the MLS for Cape Coral single-family homes have both dipped since our last home market survey two weeks ago Currently, there are 2,791 homes listed for sale through a Realtor in the Cape with the median list price at $499,000 Of note, the previously highest-priced active listing in the Cape, at $10 9 million, was withdrawn from the market unsold on May 1

T w o w e e k s a g o t h e r e w e r e 2 , 8 4 9 homes on the market with a median list price of 499,900 A total of 1,151 or 41% o f o u r c u r r e n t l i s t i n g s a r e p r i c e d a t $450,000 and under, with 332 homes listed at $1 million and above One year ago on May 9, 2023, there were a total of 1,536 single-family homes listed for sale

in the MLS with a median list price of $535,000 Looking back two years ago on May 17, 2022, there were only 725 homes on the market with a median list price of $575,000 Based on our weekly market surveys, the highest median list price was $610,000 on April 19, 2022, so the current median list price for Cape Coral single--family homes is now down $111,000 for an 18 2% decline over the past 25 months

Also as of Tuesday, May 7, there were 843 pending sales in the pipeline through the MLS for Cape Coral single-family homes, down from 872 pending sales two weeks ago The median pending sales price is unchanged from two weeks ago, coming in at $399,999 or $100,000 below the current median list price of $499,000 This 20% difference between the median list price and the median pending sales price

helps illustrate the continued pressure on home prices in our market Of the current 843 pending sales, a total of 530 homes, or 62 9% of the pending sales are priced at $450,000 and below, with 54 homes under contract at $1 million and above In addition, 346 homes or 41% of the pending sales are on new homes built in 2023 and 2024 One year ago on May 9, 2023,

pipeline with a median pending home sales price of $401,999 Two years ago on May 17, 2022, there were 962 Cape Coral homes under contract with buyers As an additional point of reference, the median sales price in the overall Cape Coral singlefamily home market was at $470,000 in April 2022, versus $415,000 in April of this year

The sales data for this article was

Multiple Listing Service Matrix for Lee County, Fla , as of May 7, 2024, 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,

revised periodically, and are subject to change without notice The Quinns are a husband and wife real estate team with the R E /

Coral They have lived in Cape Coral for over 44 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

Rebuild: Lee BIA and Stevens Construction help Fort Myers family

From page 14

with necessities, including furniture, appliances, decor and household supplies

Additionally, Harry Chapin Food Bank helped ensure the family’s kitchen cabinets and fridge were filled with food and essentials for their first night home

“ T h e r e ’ s o v e r 4 8 c o m p

2,000 hours that went into the actual construction of this over the last 48 days, in addition to the several hundred hours of planning,” said Mark Stevens, president of Stevens Construction “It’s a great example of what a community that’s dedicated and wants to give back can do and how quickly it can change lives ”

Dozens of industry partners contributed

to the Dillard project through donation of labor and materials, including: American Builders Supply; Barraco & Associates; BH Flooring Studio; Bolaños Truxton, P A ; The City of Fort Myers; Clive Daniel

Companies; Crowther Roofing; Ferguson; Floorcrafters; Ford Drywall; Hanlon; Honc

Montgomery Cabinetry; MSI; Plumbing Solutions; Preferred Materials; Priority Marketing; Raymond Building Supply; Service Contractors; Sherwin Williams;

Southwest Waste Management; Taulman

Universal Engineering; Valtex; Wilson Lighting; and York Electric

“The blessing is indescribable It wasn’t our doing; God had his hand here to bring us all together for this to happen The result is that this family, the children and the momma who were in great need are going to have a change in their lives forever,” said Randy Thibaut, board member and cofounder of Lee BIA Builders Care and CEO and founder of Retland Holdings

“All the people who contributed get to give back to their community, which is amazing about Builders Care that all of our dollars go right here to a family that lives in our community and needs the help – not just wants it ”

Since 2005, Lee BIA Builders Care has helped nearly 500 individuals and families b y p r o v i d i n g A / C

e p a i r s , w h e e l c h a i r ramps, roof replacements, remodeling projects and other critical repairs that allow deserving elderly and/or disabled homeowners, and their families, to live safely a n d c

o w n h o m e s Projects are made possible through generous donors and community partners who provide labor and materials to bring a project into reality

For more information about Lee BIA B u i

C

m

s s i o n , v i s

t LeeBuildersCare org For information about Stevens Construction, visit www stevensbuilds com or call 239-936-9006

Bones Coffee ready to brew the world

Tasty products, innovative marketing, lead to nationwide distribution

By CJ HADDAD cjhaddad@breezenewspapers com

A Cape Coral based family-owned business is supplying great tasting and high quality coffee all over the world, while bringing some of the most popular properties to life in java form

Bones Coffee recently announced the launch of its newest inspiration that hails from a galaxy far away Appropriately released on May 4, Bones premiered its three newest flavors as an ode to the timeless franchise, Star Wars

Coffee lovers can embrace their inner Sith by sipping “Dark Side Chocolate Truffle,” take a trip to Tatooine via their “Twin Sun Tiramisu,” or let out their best Chewbacca roar after a cup of “Wookie Cookie ”

A self-admitted lover of the Lucasfilm franchise, co-owner and creative director of Bones Coffee, Tyler Nelke, said being able to team up with Disney on this project was nearly as exciting as making the Kessel Run in less than 12 parsecs aboard the Millennium Falcon

“This has been a bit of a passion project for us,” Nelke said, adding that it was Disney who started the partnership with the brand years back for a “Nightmare Before Christmas” brew “Being in a relationship with Disney, that was kind of always our goal Our mouth was watering at the prospect of getting Star Wars eventually

“As time went on we did our best to sell the licensed product for Disney, and we became one of the top licensees for them in the United States, which is pretty cool ”

Feeling the need to prove themselves to Disney, Nelke and the Bones crew, made up of brother and co-owner/CEO Travis Rule, along with family members and co-owners Susie Nelke, Emily Nelke, and Eric Rule, they performed exceptionally well with the license which has led to more opportunities such as the line just released Bones has also taken

on well-known titles such as "Indiana Jones," "Spiderman," and Marvel’s “Loki ”

“We really wanted to create an experience that the fans are going to love,” Tyler said “There are multiple people in our office that are Star Wars fans, so we really wanted to do the property justice and give the fans something that we felt they would appreciate.”

Dark Side Chocolate Truffle combines the deep richness of milk chocolate ganache and dark roasted coffee Twin Sun Tiramisu combines notes of mascarpone, cocoa, and bold coffee And Wookiee Cookie is a chocolate chip flavored coffee

The collection includes three all new flavors, thematic mugs, and a Star Wars Collector’s Box

Being able to bring these titles, characters and properties to live through coffee is something Bones takes to heart

“It’s felt like an honor and a privilege, honestly,” Tyler said. “These are mostly properties that I grew up with and I think as a whole for the business, if you had asked me if I thought I’d be sitting in this position alongside Travis and the company doing these sorts of things working with Disney and having the opportunities that we have, I never would have guessed ”

It was, in fact, Disney that reached out to Bones wanting to team up, which caused the familyowned business to do a double take, and naturally so After a conversation and some planning, the slipper seemed to fit

“Given the aesthetic of our brand, and the tone and voice we have here as a company, I think both parties agreed that it was a match made in heaven,” Tyler said “We decided to go ahead with it, and it was a huge success ”

Travis said the partnership with Disney has opened doors for Bones, especially in regard to get-

See BONES COFFEE, page 17

PHOTO PROVIDED

Travis Rule, CEO; Tyler Nelke, creative director, along with coowners Eric Rule, Susie Nelke and Emily Nelke are the driving force behind Bones Coffee, a Cape-based brand that is enticing coffee-drinkers worldwide.

Bones Coffee:

From page 16

ting the product into retail stores across the country Most recently with the Star Wars launch, Bones is now in thousands of Safeway and Albertsons stores on the west coast

If you’ve ever seen the packaging of Bones Coffee, it's one that stands out, which is a major player on grocery store shelves filled with competition Beyond its eye-catching packaging, quality is at the forefront for Bones Much of the coffee is sourced from Brazil, as well as Ethiopia, Columbia, and Guatemala

“Tons of people make coffee, not a lot of people care a lot about the blank canvas so to speak,” Tyler said. “I’m very proud of the fact that our quality we start with an awesome canvas in terms of the coffee that we use for the flavor and single origins We really believe that you have to start with a good product to end up with something that tastes good to the consumer We don’t buy cheap coffee We don’t buy coffee that’s past-crop We make sure that it’s fresh We make sure that it’s high-grade And we want to put out first and foremost that best tasting product out that we can for the customer We don’t really compromise on our costs to do that ”

Bones Coffee products are also ketofriendly with no sugar or artificial sweeteners

The team samples a variety of flavors to ensure the brew fits the creative vision

Bones Coffee was founded in September of 2016, with the family originating from the northwest U S Eventually, the family relocated to Cape Coral where they now have the company’s headquarters

“We really wanted to bring something fun to the coffee industry,” Travis said “We spent a lot of time working on the branding, and really pairing the artwork with fun flavors and wanted to do something unique to stand

out from other companies Over the years we really have developed a cult following with how creative our products are ”

When Bones first launched, distribution was mostly direct to consumers The company has now branched out and can be found both online, in shelves across the region and country, and even at their storefront on Mid Cape Terrace From packing orders out of a spare bedroom, to a 4,000-square-foot space, to now a 50,000-square-foot space, it’s been “surreal” for the family to see the brand take off

“We love it here,” Travis said “And we really wanted to build the brand as a family and have something sustainable for years to come "

Tyler added that the Cape Coral community has also played a role in their success.

"We love the community here, we love the area, and wanted to create something ultimately that would bring jobs to the area, and

Headquartered in Cape Coral, Bones coffee prides itself on premier quality and fun On May 4, Bones premiered its three newest flavors as an ode to the timeless franchise, Star Wars, via a partnership with Disney

where we could give back to the community that’s been so great to us for the over 15 years we all lived here ”

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Bones brought on various local bartenders or servers that found themselves out of a job The company has also sponsored various music venues and events around the Cape, and has given back to entities such as the Lewis P Tabarrini Children’s Music Outreach Foundation

All flavors in Bones Coffee’s Star Warsinspired collection will be available in 12 oz bags of Whole Beans and Ground Coffee ($17 99) and Bones Cups (single-serve coffee pods) ($17 99)

The Star Wars Collector’s Box ($59 99) includes all three flavors in 12 oz bags, available in all Ground or all Whole Bean Star

Wars-inspired Handthrown Mugs for each flavor are sold separately ($42)

Bones ships to consumers worldwide and has expanded into retail Southwest Florida residents can find Bones at Publix and Farmer Joe’s in Cape Coral

“As we continue to grow, our focus has really been making our product accessible all over the country,” Tyler said “We have some large opportunities with some of the largest retailers, so we’re really excited about that and are preparing to handle the growth we’re expecting ”

For more information, visit www bonescoffee com or follow @bonescoffeecompany on Instagram and Facebook, and @bonescoffeeco on Pinterest and X Bones Coffee is at 79 Mid Cape Terrace

Public meeting on proposed shared use pathway from Pine Island to Cape Coral attracts a crowd

By CRAIG GARRETT news@breezenewspapers com

Even with the project years away, 100 or so people attended a public meeting Tuesday to learn more about a proposed shared use pathway that would run along Pine Island Road from Stringfellow Road, through Matlacha and into Cape Coral at Burnt Store Road and Veterans Parkway

The Pine Island Road Shared Use Path

F e a s i b i l i t y S t u d y h o s t e d b y F l o r i d a Department of Transportation had engineers and planners talking up the project and its impact along the 5-mile non-motorized pathway Users would include walkers and bicyclists, to visitors and moms pushing strollers Lee County would oversee the project, the state partnering with federal funds and its experts

The idea of a mixed-use pathway, with street upgrades along Pine Island Road, was floated in Lee County recreational circles for years, an FDOT spokesperson said Costs weren’t provided at the May 7 event, as feasibility studies feel the pulse of i m p a c t e d b u s i n e s s e s , h o m e o w n e r s a n d renters, a spokesperson said

And if the project ever materialized, it would be “the least impactful” on the overall public, FDOT’s District One public information officer David Scarpelli said, adding that safety is a top concern in planning such pathways, hundreds of which dot the state

The workshop at Pine Island United Methodist Church had stations with whiteboard charts of pathways envisioned by professional street planners New sidewalks, guardrails, on-street parking, turn-

ing lanes, buffers, palm trees, 8-foot pathways are all considered, even diminishing Pine Island Road a foot or two through Matlacha to accommodate a pathway and other changes Lee County and locals would decide what is important, or even possible, however A no-build alternative was also listed as a “viable option,” a pamphlet at the event noted

That sat well with Dawn Raymond, a Matlacha resident insisting that a pathway through an already congested and squeezed downtown area was a “recipe for disaster Distracted drivers, I’ve seen that myself

Matlacha It would be crazy ”

Mood at the workshop was certainly curious, with visitors making suggestions on whiteboards or filling out cards and inserting those in a drop box State engineers provided details to anyone asking A video helped in understanding the vision O

through Friday, May 17 Even with a favorable decision and full funding, con-

FDOT planners at the event said, as such projects include design and funding elements, public hearings, construction bids and finally ground-clearing And the project would also connect existing trail/multiuse path networks at both ends

FDOT in an informational flyer also noted that the project w ould evaluate “Complete Streets” elements, a nationwide concept to include drivers and public transportation riders, among others The agency also sent workshop notices to interested

within 300 feet of the proposed project For details and to post comments, check

dents discuss the proposed shared use pathway with a Florida Departm

sentative at Tuesd

study meeting at Pine Island First United Methodist Church.

dusepath FDOT project manager Steven A Andrews was also available for questions at 863-519-2270

CRAIG GARRETT

COMMUNITY

UF/IFAS PHOTO

Containers and pavers can be used to add color and texture in home gardens

Accessorizing your garden!

By CARTHY DUNN news@breezenewspapers com

Have you ever stopped to think that your garden is a reflection of your personality? Your landscape may be minimalist and uncluttered, or densely packed with colors and textures And just as we like to spruce up a favorite outfit by adding jewelry, shoes and a cute purse, we can also add that special something to our garden with outdoor accessories!

Garden structures and ornaments will help provide organization to your l a n d s c a p e a n d c a n a l s o give that extra touch of w h i m s y a n d b e a u t y t o your garden

GARDEN CLUB OF CAPE CORAL

O v e r h e a d s t r u c t u r e s such as arbors, pergolas and trellises can be used in place of trees to create shade in your garden Trees can create maintenance problems in some areas of your landscape because of dropping branches or leaves, or proximity to your home or utility lines Overhead structures can be sited in an ideal location away from your home and will also allow you the versatility of planting beautiful vines or pollinator attractor plants

Containers provide year-round color and texture to your garden and are much easier to maintain than garden beds You don’t need to limit containers to your lanai or porch – they also add a pop of color and height when they are located in your garden beds, and you can even group several containers of different sizes and heights to add visual interest Containers can also be used along a pathway to draw visitors' eyes to the direction of the path

Most garden ornaments require minimal maintenance other than an occasional cleaning, and can be used to add color, texture and height to your landscape

Colorful ornamental containers can be used even without plants, and there are many ornamental birds, turtles a n d l i z a r d s a v a i l a b l e t o b r i g h t e n u p y o u r g a r d e n Garden ornaments also come in a variety of materials such as wood, metal or stone

Colorful ornaments can be used as focal points, while cement, rust toned or black ornaments will tend to be less noticeable and serve as contrasts in the garden

Fountains, wind chimes or statues can enhance your outside spaces, and you don’t need to spend a lot of money to incorporate such features in your garden

Well-placed benches are both functional and attractive

ARC’s annual Casino Royale 007 fundraiser set for May 18

By CHUCK BALLARO news@breezenewspapers com

You can almost hear the James Bond music playing in the background every time the Animal Refuge Center holds its annual Casino Royale fundraiser

the event

This year's Casino Royale is presented by Paul and Rosalie Watson

If still available, the 007 sponsorships are $2,750, License-to-No Kill sponsorships are $1,250, Diamonds a r e

And that day is coming upon soon as ARC will hold its 11th a n n u a l C a s i n o R o

0 0 7

fundraiser Saturday, May 18, from 7-11 p m , at the Hyatt Regency Coconut Point Resort and Spa in Estero

dresses or white tuxedos while they play their favorite games of chance like blackjack, poker, roulette and craps to support the mission of the Animal Refuge Center

“This is one of our three major fundraisers with a James Bond theme We’ve had impersonators here in the past and we encourage people to come and play the part,” said ARC vice president Rob Spicker. “Part of the game is to take in the theme and dress like you’re at the casino with Bond himself ”

The play money you win increases your chances of winning one of many great raffle prizes There also will be a live auction with jewelry, weekend hotel getaways, a $500 martini package and 10-night vacation packages to Antigua, Spicker said

All the proceeds raised will support the dogs and cats in ARC’s care, some of whom will be there to remind the crowd about the purpose of the night

Tickets are $75 and include $2,000 in “cash” to gamble with Additional gambling “cash” can be purchased at

$600, and The Dog Who Loved Me sponsorship is $300 Sponsorships come with event

advertising

“We’re almost where we were last year with sponsorships We hope to cross that line and exceed what we had last year,” Spicker said “Ticket sales are always available through our website ”

The Animal Refuge Center is a 501(c)(3) non-profit animal welfare society It is a non-euthanasia organization dedicated to caring for all owner-surrendered cats and dogs received into their care

ARC places approximately 500 dogs and cats per year into homes through direct and indirect adoptions

“We depend entirely on the generosity of donors, sponsors and grants This is your opportunity to help us control the animal population, take care of the cat and dogs here a

Florida,” Spicker said

Tickets and sponsorships are available at https://anim

arcs-casino-royale-007

ARC is at 18011 Old Bayshore Road in North Fort Myers Contact the center at 239-731-3535 or visit http://animalrefugecenter com for more information

Haitian Heritage Family Fun Day Saturday

By MEGHAN BRADBURY news@breezenewspapers com

The annual Haitian Heritage Family Fun Day is set for this weekend in Fort Myers

“The Coalition really has a good time putting up the event to honor Haitian American Month,” said Haitian American Community Coalition of SW Florida President Beatrice Jacquet-Castor

The event will take place from 11 a m to 3 p m , Saturday, May 11, at The Eglise De Dieu la Foi Chretienne (Church of God Christian Faith), 2841 Fowler St , Fort Myers

May is Haitian American Month celebrating the culture, art, cuisine and people of Haitian origin

“Every year we put on an activity for the local Haitian Americans that are here,” she said by bringing out resources to the community and doing health screenings “Every year we do it at a different church ”

The church, along with others, will provide performances

The Haitian American Community Coalition of SW Florida has been in existence since 2015 A year later they began the celebration

Anywhere from 500 to 750 people go through the event, as many people take advantage of the free health screenings due to no medical insurance

The screenings will be held from 11 a m to 2 p m and provide children, men, and women health screenings Jacquet-Castor said they will stop the health screening walk-ins at 2 p m to ensure they have enough time to serve everybody

In addition to the screenings, the event will have more than 50 vendors to showcase resources offered to the community

See FAMILY FUN DAY, page 34

Cape Coral Animal Shelter receives grant from Bailey and Friends

The Cape Coral Animal Shelter has been awarded a grant from Bailey and Friends a trust component of the Golisano Foundation

This grant was awarded specifically to provide heartworm treatment and follow-up appointments for dogs taken in by the Cape Coral Animal Shelter that have been diagnosed with heartworm

The grant award letter stated, “We commend your efforts in providing lifesaving care, promoting wellness, and fostering opportunities that strengthen the human-animal bond ”

“This is our third grant from this incredible foundation, and we couldn’t be more grateful for their continued support” said Liz McCauley, executive director of CCAS “We never shy away from taking in Heartworm Positive dogs because they would not survive without this vital but costly treatment We are grateful Bailey & Friends recognizes our lifesaving efforts ”

The Cape Coral Animal Shelter and Veterinary Clinic

has been serving the community since March of 2020 and has found homes for over 4,500 unwanted, neglected, and abandoned animals

The full-service clinic is open to the public and is located at 325 S W 2nd Ave , Cape Coral

Bailey and Friends is dedicated to supporting animal welfare in western New York and Southwest Florida with a focus on dogs and cats. It works with shelters, rescue groups, veterinary clinics and other lifesaving programs to promote wellness, ensure safety and keep pets and families t

Foundation, one of the largest private foundations in the U S dedicated to making the world a better place for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities The Golisano Foundation was established in 1985 by Tom Golisano entrepreneur, philanthropist, civic leader and founder of Paychex, Inc Learn more at golisanofoundation org/Bailey-Friends/About aspx

Family Initiative awarded $250,000 by the Golisano Foundation Grant to support of Thrive Academy

Family Initiative, a Cape Coral nonprofit dedicated to providing family-centered compassionate support, innovative programs and evidence-based therapies to children, teens and young adults impacted by autism spectrum disorder, this week announced it has received a grant of $250,000 to help create a new and innovative autism specialty school for middle and high school students

The Golisano Foundation is one of the nation’s largest foundations dedicated to supporting programs for people with intellectual disabilities and a big supporter of the autism community in Southwest Florida

“We are beyond excited for this generous donation from the Golisano Foundation The support provided is more than a financial investment in our educational programs, it also represents belief in our organization’s grassroots approach to building a continuum of care for the autism community here in Southwest Florida It is equally impactful to our families and organization,” said Family Initiative President and Co-Founder David Brown, LCSW.

“We are very pleased to provide this grant to Family Initiative to make essential renovations to two buildings on the Thrive Academy campus and better accommodate students with autism spectrum disorder,” said Erica Dayton, Executive Director of the Golisano Foundation “This is the largest single grant we have provided to any organization in Southwest Florida It will help Family Initiative make important improvements including dividing classrooms into smaller rooms, adding sensory rooms, upgrading utilities, and enhancing hurricane safety features We commend Family Initiative for providing high quality, evidence-based clinical services, and a continuum of programmatic care for individuals with autism spectrum disorder and their families in Southwest Florida ”

“This funding is such a huge step for us as we build out a unique educational, vocational, and life skills environment to ensure every student is provided with what they need to thrive,” said Family Initiative o-Founder Anjali Van Drie, MA, BCBA, LCSW.

Family Initiative piloted Thrive Academy in the 2023 school year, with the support of a $5 million investment by the state of Florida that helped acquire the campus for the new school Demand for alternative education settings is incredibly high Enrollment is open for the upcoming school year and spots are filling up quickly Thrive Academy offers middle and high school students an individualized learning environment focusing on academic goals, and also vocational training, life skills training and experiences, and wrap around clinical support

Family Initiative is the leading ASD provider in Southwest Florida, offering a continuum of care through early screenings, social skills programs, family support programs, clinical services, workforce programs and community education for families across Southwest Florida

To learn more about Family Initiative, the services they offer and their work in the community, visit FI-Florida org or call 239-910-0712

Elite DNA Behavioral Health conducting food drive through May for Mental Health Awareness Month

Elite DNA Behavioral Health, a comprehensive behav-

statewide food drive throughout May for Mental Health Awareness Month

Now through Friday, May 24, Elite DNA is collecting food items at 32 locations and is calling on the community for support through donations of canned goods, dry pasta, rice, cereal and other non-perishable food items

Elite DNA is collaborating with seven Feeding Florida chapters across the state to distribute items to those in need via a network of local hunger organizations including All Faiths Food Bank, Feeding Northeast Florida, Feeding

South Florida, Feeding Tampa Bay, Harry Chapin Food Bank of Southwest Florida, Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida and Second Harvest of the Big Bend

Feeding Florida is the state’s network of food banks working to solve hunger and address its root cause. Feeding Florida member food banks support more than 2,400 local charitable agencies, which provide food directly to individuals and families in need

Elite DNA has practices throughout the state of Florida and is collecting non-perishable items at its locations in Bradenton, Brandon, Brooksville, Cape Coral, Delray Beach, Fort Myers, Estero, Gainesville, Jacksonville,

Jupiter, Lakeland, Largo, Lehigh Acres, Maitland, Naples, New Port Richey, Ocoee, Orange Park, Ormond Beach, Oviedo, Port Charlotte, Sarasota, Stuart, Tallahassee, Tampa Carrollwood, Tampa Westchase, Venice, Wesley Chapel and Weston.

The community is invited to drop off donations at any Elite DNA location between 8 a m and 5 p m , Mondays through Fridays, from May 1-24

For more information and to find drop-off locations across the state, visit EliteDNA com/Find-A-Location/

For more information, visit EliteDNA com

Skin cancer exams, vitamin infusions available May 21 at Blue Waters Development Group

Blue Waters Development Group of Cape Coral will be hosting a pair of health-related events Tuesday, May 21, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

May is Skin Cancer Awareness Month and stressing t h a

Dermatology will be providing 15-minute skin cancer exams in its mobile dermatology unit To book an appointment or for additional information, call 941-444-0011 or visit onspotdermatology com/bluewatersgrp The cost will depend on a patient's insurance coverage

At the same time, Aqua Sol Infusions will be onsite offering mobile IVs and injections The cost for a booster injection is just $25 Walk-ins are welcome and not appointments are necessary For additional information, visit https://www aquasolinfusions com/

Blue Waters Development Group is at 2503 Del Prado Blvd , S , Cape Coral

Physicians' Primar y

Care expands with new specialists in inter nal medicine and pediatrics

Physicians' Primary Care of Southwest Florida has announced the addition of three healthcare professionals to its teams in Fort Myers and Cape Coral Dr Warlyn Sosa and Dr Lincoln de la Parte, both internal medicine specialists, alongside Dr Ashley Yazdani, a pediatrics physician, have joined Physicians’ Primary Care to enhance the comprehensive healthcare services for residents of all ages

Sosa, a specialist in internal medicine, fluent in both English and Spanish, will serve at PPC’s Olympia Pointe location in Lehigh Acres de la Parte, also bilingual and with a background that spans from Havana, Cuba, to New York, will meet the healthcare needs of adults at the Cape Coral Family Practice office Both doctors are board-certified and have been recognized for their patient-centered services aimed at improving healthcare outcomes

On the pediatrics front, Yazdani, with her extensive

HEALTH NOTES

training in providing care from birth through age 21, joins the team at PPC's Camelot and Cape Coral Pediatrics locations

Patients can now schedule appointments with Sosa, de la Parte and Yazdani through PPC's website, ppcswfl com, or by calling 239-275-5522 PPC continues strengthening its team, reaffirming its mission to provide comprehensive, quality healthcare for the Southwest Florida community

Kor nstein joins medical team at Azul Cosmetic Sur ger y and Medical Spa

Azul Cosmetic Surgery and Medical Spa recently announced the addition of board-certified plastic surgeon Dr Andrew Kornstein to its team of medical professionals

A graduate of New York City’s Weill Cornell Medical College, Kornstein has more than 25 years of experience ranging from facial surgeries such as facial fat grafting, hairline lowering and rhinoplasty to breast and body surgery, as well as innovations in non-surgical facial and body rejuvenation He completed his residency in plastic surgery at the Columbia University/St Luke’s-Roosevelt Hospital Center, New York

Kornstein has established numerous advancements in non-surgical and minimally invasive techniques, including the scarless deep facelift layer procedure, complemented by adipose-derived fat grafting His innovations include injectable rhinoplasty, a technique he refined to achieve precise, natural-looking results, and peptide therapy for antiaging and cellular health

For information or to schedule an appointment with Kornstein, call 239-415-7576 or visit azulbeauty com

About Azul Cosmetic Surgery and Medical Spa offices are located in North Naples, Bonita Springs, Fort Myers, Cape Coral and Sarasota For additional details, call 239379-9827 or visit azulbeauty com

National Prevention Week online presentations scheduled for next week

Several online programs are scheduled for next week for National Prevention Week, an annual health observance dedicated to increasing public awareness and action around substance use prevention and positive mental

health

Four online presentations by area leaders will be featured on the Southwest Florida Prevention Parents Faceb

ParentsSWFL

The programs are being presented by Drug Free Lee, the Prevention Alliance of Southwest Florida, the Central Florida Behavioral Health Network Inc and United Way

■ Monday, May 13, 6 p m -- Vaping Prevention, Sara Thompson and Kathy Wynne, School District of Lee County/Drug Free Lee

■ Tuesday, May 14, 6 p m -- Fentanyl Prevention, Guy Blanchette, Drug Free Collier

■ Wednesday, May 15, 6 p m -- Opiate Prevention, Edwin Melendz-Cortes, Drug Free Hendry-Glades

■ Thursday, May 16, 6 p m -- Talking to Your Kids About Drugs and Alcohol - A Virtual Conversation, Diane Ramseyer, Drug Free Charlotte

For more information about Drug Free Lee, please visit https://drugfreelee org/

Lee Health Foundation hires Marshall, Kofsky

Jaimee Marshall has been hired to provide administrative support to Lee Heath Foundation’s special event and administrative operations team

Marshall, a graduate of Cape Coral High School, is expected to receive her associate degree in communications from Florida SouthWestern State College in 2024

She has worked at Lee Health since 2016 as a care management assistant, patient account representative, guest service coordinator and administrative assistant

Colleen Kofsky has been hired as associate director of development at Lee Health Foundation She will focus on donor relations, tours and events as part of Lee Health Foundation’s philanthropic priorities

Kofsky lives in Fort Myers and has worked at Lee Health in guest services since 2021, most recently as guest services coordinator for the Emergency Department She has a bachelor’s degree in communications from the University of New Mexico

For more about the role of philanthropy at Lee Health or how you can make a difference for in your community, visit LeeHealthFoundation org or call 239-343-6950

What you can do to help burrowing owls during nesting season

Special to The Breeze news@breezenewspapers com

We are nearing the peak of burrowing owl nesting season in Cape Coral! Have you noticed tiny chicks appearing at burrows in your neighborhood? There are several important things you can do to help the burrowing owls and their owlets at this time of year

First, if you see an unmarked burrow or one without a perch made of PVC pipe and wood, please contact Cape Coral Friends of Wildlife via our website ccfriendsofwildlife org, by email or Facebook, or by calling 239980-2593 This applies to burrows located at private homes, commercial and municipal properties and empty lots An unmarked burrow is not safe because mowers may not notice it and run over the burrow, collapsing it and potentially trapping the owls

Empty lots are mowed by the city with large tractors and the PCV pipe markers are critical to prevent the burrows from being run over

When CCFW is notified of an unmarked burrow on developed property, volunteers first contact the property owner to obtain permission to mark the burrow For empty lots, volunteers immediately install PVC pipes and a perch In all cases, the location is recorded and is added

to the database maintained by the city of Cape Coral

The second way community members can aid newly hatched owl chicks is to slow down when driving near burrows located near the road We have all seen burrows very close to the sidewalk or in the median strip As chicks emerge from their burrows and learn to fly, they are vulnerable to passing traffic

The third is do not use rat poison! Many owls and other birds perish because they consume rodents which have been weakened or killed with rat poison Whole families of burrowing owls have been wiped out because

an adult brought a poisoned rodent to their burrow to feed the owlets Please make use of the array of humane traps available which do not release poison or poisoned animals into the environment In fact, because burrowing owls consume rodents and insects - they are nature's pest control free of charge!

Lastly, do not feed or provide water to burrowing owls – not even bird seed. They are wild animals and know how to fend for themselves Feeding them could make them ill and/or encourage their dependance on humans

Note that burrowing owls are classified as threatened species in Florida If you see any destruction or harassment of burrowing owls or their nests, please report it to Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission toll free at 1-888-404-FWCC

Cape Coral Friends of wildlife is an all-volunteer organization whose mission is to preserve and enhance the habitats of protected wildlife species and to educate the community about Cape Coral’s wildlife resources. If you are interested in joining for volunteering, please visit our website ccfriendsofwildlife org or call 239-9802593

Accessorizing: Decorative items you can use in your home gardens

From page 19

and can be acquired in a variety of materials and finishes

If you think that statues are too formal for your garden, consider installing a sundial for a bit of interest in your landscape Sundials are also available in many materials and can be installed on a pedestal to raise them to eye level Even the familiar garden gnomes can add a whimsical touch to your landscape!

Small patios or seating areas allow you to organize your yard into different functional spaces and can be constructed with materials that require little maintenance Pavers, bricks and stone are readily available and provide

durable and long-lasting surfaces for seating areas You can also add a practical and attractive pathway using steppingstones that will lead visitors to the different sections of your garden Low brick or paver walls are a great way to add visual interest and can also solve problems such as runoff or erosion

Built in planters will also help keep soil and mulch contained and offer an easy way to water and trim plants Raised beds/planters also ensure that you can add a better soil mix for your plants

By incorporating garden ornaments in your outdoor space, you can enhance the beauty of your garden while

providing a focal point for visitors and a beautiful environment for your own enjoyment The wide range of types of ornaments and various finishes and textures will allow you to find items that reflect your taste and preferences and can be chosen to fit any budget Whether you are looking to add a touch of whimsy or project an elegant style in your landscape, garden ornaments provide an easy and versatile way to enhance your outdoor spaces

Cathy Dunn is a Florida Master Gardener Volunteer and member of the Garden Club of Cape Coral

Cape Friends of Wildlife to meet Tuesday at Rotar y Park Environmental Center

Many Cape Coral residents are familiar with the burrowing owls in the city, but did you know that Collier County has a healthy burrowing owl population, particularly on Marco Island?

Join the Cape Coral Friends of Wildlife Tuesday, May 14, to hear Brittany Piersma, field biologist from Audubon Western Everglades discuss Collier County’s burrowing owls Piersma will explain the work being done by Audubon staff and over 90 volunteers to monitor, maintain and conduct research on the burrowing owls of Collier County

Environmental Center, 5505 Rose Garden Road, Cape Coral, and start with a meet and greet at 6:30 p.m. Piersma's presentation will be at 7 p m and will be followed by the CCFW general meeting at 7:50 p m

For more information, visit ccfriendsofwildlife org or call 239-980-2593

Epiphany Episcopal and Christ Lutheran to host 'Shred & Fed' event May 18

Church in Cape Coral are jointly putting on A "Shred & Fed" Event Saturday, May 18, from 9-11 a m , for all parishioners and the public

There is no fee for this but participants are asked to please consider making a contribution of nonperishable food items that will be contributed to Cape Coral Caring

Family Fun Day:

From page 19

The biggest vendor is Lee Health, which will bring various groups Other vendors include The Lions Club, the Family Department of Health, Lee Health Kids Mind Matter, Healthy Planning Council of Southwest Florida, VIP Care, Healthy Start, and Lee County School District Others include the Fort Myers Fire Department, Lee

COMMUNITY CALENDAR

Center "So That the Hungry May Be Fed " Unwanted documents will be shredded by a company named "All Points Mobile Shredding" in the church parking lot that morning Upon completion, a Certificate of Destruction will be issued The driver arrives at the church parking lot ready to shred, so please arrive early to make sure we use all of the available time Approximately 100 boxes per hour can be shredded Empty boxes will not be removed but will be used to gather the nonperishable food items

The churches are located at 2507 Del Prado Blvd , S , Cape Coral. Call 239-574-3200 or 239-542-2709 for more information

Southwest Florida Symphony closes 63rd season with ‘70s, 80s & 90s Unplugged’ on May 18

The Southwest Florida Symphony, the only professional orchestra in Lee County and the fourth oldest orchestra in the state, has announced that guest artist Andrew Lipke will perform in the final Brave New Pops concert of the season Saturday, May 18 The concert begins at 7:30 p m at Barbara B Mann Performing Arts Hall in Fort Myers

Unplugged,” will transport listeners back in time for an unforgettable evening of nostalgia that will rekindle memories with acoustic renditions of hits from some of the most iconic artists of the MTV generation

From the soulful tunes of Eric Clapton and Rod Stewart’s classic rock to Nirvana’s grunge anthems and the

alternative vibes of 10,000 Maniacs, this concert has it all

To purchase tickets or learn more, visit swflso org/tickets/

For more information about the Southwest Florida Symphony, upcoming season performances and subscription and ticketing information, visit swflso org or call 239418-1500

SWFL SpaceCon set for June 8

at Ger man American Social Club in Cape

Calling all superhero, Anime and sci-fi fans: The exciting comics and sci-fi event in Southwest Florida is returning this summer!

SWFL SpaceCon is a celebration of all aspects of comic book and science-fiction culture with a common thread uniting all fans It’s the ultimate destination to bring together fandom and celebrities from the world of comics, sci-fi, anime, gaming and cosplay for an action-packed day

SWFL SpaceCon features vendors, game demos, dropin gaming, game tournaments, photo ops, autograph ops, panels, costume contests and non-stop entertainment

A Nexus9 LLC event, SWFL SpaceCon is dedicated to furthering the fandom of comics, sci-fi, gaming, anime and pop-culture in the Southwest Florida area since 2016

The event will be held Saturday only - June 8, from 10 a,m to 6 p m , at the German American Social Club, at 2101 S W Pine Island Road, Cape Coral

please visit www swflspacecon com

Haitian heritage celebration set for Saturday

County Library System, and the Blood Mobile

The Supervisor of Elections Office will also be in attendance, as on-site voter registration is part of the event, especially with this year being a presidential election

The event also will have food vendors, along with the church selling food for a fundraiser

“We even have event prizes and giveaways gift cards and gift baskets,” she said

There will also be bounce houses and music for the children Harry Chapin Food Bank will be giving out free food

Jaquet-Castor said their biggest sponsor is Attorney Joe North Law Firm, as well as Lee Health

For more information, visit www haitiancoalition com

Teen charged with homicide as adult in Cape shooting

By CJ HADDAD cjhaddad@breezenewspapers com

A 16-year-old Southwest Florida teen arrested in relation to the shooting death of Kayla Rincon-Miller appeared in adult court Tuesday morning, and is being charged as so

Christopher Horne Jr is currently in custody at the Lee County Jail, and has been charged with three counts of robbery with a firearm, and one charge of non-premeditated homicide

Horne was arrested on April 17, one month to the date following the murder of 15-year-old Cape teen Kayla Rincon-Miller

According to the State Attorney's Office, they direct filed the case on Friday, charging the defendant as an adult Horne Jr was served on Monday

SAO spokesperson Samantha Syoen told The Breeze, “The State Attorney's Office filed a motion for pre-trial

detention (Tuesday) The motion will be heard at a hearing on Thursday at 9 a m in front of Judge Thompson The motion is to hold him no bond He is being held in custody until the motion is heard ”

Rincon-Miller was murdered while walking to get food with friends from a movie theater in the Coralwood Mall

The first arrest was made March 19

Thomas Roy Stein, 16, of North Fort Myers, was arrested two days after the March 17 shooting and charged as a principal to a murder while engaged in a robbery

He has since been charged as an adult and faces adjudication on one count of homicide without premeditation

Beach renourishment

The Town of Fort Myers Beach is set to begin a new beach renourishment project in June, which will bring 949,000 cubic yards of sand to replenish its beach The project is expected to be completed by the end of October

Athletic fields across Cape Coral to be temporarily closed for maintenance

The city of Cape Coral Parks and Recreation Department is temporarily closing athletic fields at four parks while maintenance is completed.

These closures are necessary to ensure the continued quality and safety of our recreational facilities

The following parks will undergo maintenance and will be temporarily closed to the public:

Pelican Soccer Complex

Closure Dates: May 6 – Aug 18

Re-opening: Aug 19

Caloosa Park Football Fields

Closure Dates: May 13 – July 21

Re-opening: July 22

Cape Coral Sports Complex Soccer Fields

Closure Dates: May 20 – July 21

Re-opening: July 22

Jim Jeffers Park Soccer Fields

Closure Dates: June 3 – Aug 11

Re-opening: Aug 12

During the closure periods, all other amenities at these parks will remain open for public use

The Storm Football Complex will not undergo permanent closures but will undergo scheduled maintenance during this time to ensure optimal conditions for athletes and visitors

and three counts of robbery with a firearm Police have said they do not believe he was the shooter

Stein has pleaded not guilty

According to the CCPD, the shooting occurred after car pulled up behind girls and blinded them with its lights

An occupant or occupants jumped out of the vehicle and tried to rob the girls before one fired a shot, striking Kayla in the chest The other two girls were not injured

The car then fled southbound on Southeast 16th Place

Reports indicate that Rincon-Miller was conscious and alert when police arrived. Despite lifesaving efforts by arriving officers and medical personnel, including the application a military-grade compress, she died after being trauma-alerted to the hospital

Assistant State Attorneys Sara Miller and Andreas Gardiner are prosecuting the case

U.S. Coast Guard

Auxiliary offering one-day boating safety class May 18

Boating enthusiasts seeking to obtain the state boating safety certificate are encouraged to enroll in a oneday responsible boating class on the third Saturday of the month, from 9 a m to 5 p m The course on Saturday, May 18 at the Cypress Lake Presbyterian C h u

h , 8 2 6 0 C

Completion of the course will make participants eligible for the state boating certificate

Robert Guenthner, the Flotilla Commander of Fort Myers Beach Flotilla 91, stresses the importance of education and awareness of boating hazards

Guenthner stated, “Attending an in-person class is an excellent opportunity for students to interact, share perspectives, and gain local knowledge Participants learn about the importance of life jackets, risk reduction, preparedness, and exercising sound judgment together with updates for regulatory compliance ”

According to Florida law, anyone born on or after Jan 1, 1988, who plans to operate a boat in Florida waters with an engine of 10 horsepower or more must complete an approved boating safety course and obtain a Florida boating safety ID card.

This card certifies that the person has completed the required boating safety course, but it is not a boating license

The one-day class costs $45 per person and includes study materials

For additional information about boating safety c l a s s e s o r

McTaggart, Public Education Officer, cgaux91education@ gmail com, at 239-690-6780 option 1, or www Aux91 FMB org/Safeboating

The United States Coast Guard Auxiliary is the uniformed auxiliary service of the United States Coast Guard created by Congress in 1939 It is comprised of 20,000 members who volunteer their time to support the operation of the Coast Guard, promote and improve recreational boating safety, and provide trained crews and facilities to enhance the safety and security of US ports, waterways, and coastal regions It is the civilian component of the U S Coast Guard and supports the Coast Guard in nearly all mission areas

For additional information about the program, please visit www cgaux org

Christopher Horne Jr

NARTHAN MAYBERG

EDUCATION

EDUCATION BRIEFS

Cape Librar y Children's Environmental Ar t Contest winners to be announced

On Wednesday, May 15, at 6 p m , the 18th Annual C h i l d r e n ’ s E n v i r o n m e n t a l A r t C o n t e s t A w a r d s Ceremony will be held in the large meeting room at the Cape Coral Library located at 921 S W 39th Terrace

This year’s theme is “Let’s Save the Smalltooth Sawfish,” and young artists age 5 through 12 were asked to create an original painting or drawing that shows how we can protect this endangered species from habitat loss and other main threats A panel of judges selected the winning entries based on four different age categories.

The public is encouraged to join youngsters, parents, families, teachers and prominent members of the community at this popular yearly event and enjoy some refreshments The keynote speaker for the program is Adam Brame of Sawfish Recovery Coordinator with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

The contest is sponsored by the Friends of the Cape Coral Library and the Cape Coral-Lee County Public Library The 20 pieces of awarded artwork will be framed and on display in the Art Gallery of the Cape Coral Library on the night of the Awards Ceremony on May 15, and the exhibit will remain in place through June 27.

Photos of the winning art entries can also be viewed by visiting www capefriends org/art-gallery later that week

Veterinar y Assisting Dog Wash May 18 at Cape Technical College

A Veterinary Assisting Dog Wash will be held Saturday, May 18, from 10 a m to 2 p m , at Cape Coral Technical College, 360 Santa Barbara Blvd , N , just north of Pine Island Road Follow the signs to the campus

The cash-only cost is $15 for small and medium dogs and $25 for dogs 40 pounds and over Ear cleaning and toenail trims are included with the bath

For more information, call 724-984-8734

Pineda set to graduate from University of Geor gia

ATHENS, Ga -- Jori Alexandra Pineda is among the more than 8,000 candidates for graduation in the University of Georgia's Class of 2024 who will be celebrated during Commencement exercises this week

Pineda of Cape Coral is a candidate for a bachelor of science in psychology.

The spring undergraduate ceremony will take place today, May 10, at 7:30 p m , in Sanford Stadium The spring graduate ceremony was scheduled in two sessions starting Thursday, May 9, with the master's/specialist ceremony starting at 10 a m and the doctoral ceremony starting at 2 p m in Stegeman Coliseum

F o r a d d i t i o n a l d e t a i l s a n d a c o m p l e t e 2 0 2 4 Commencement schedule, visit UGA's Commencement website, commencement uga edu

'Straight Talk About Underage Drinking' vir tual presentation set for May 22

A virtual Drug House Odyssey presentation of "Straight Talk About Underage Drinking" for parents will be held Wednesday, May 22, at 6 p m

Presented by Drug Free Lee, the United Way and the Central Florida Behavioral Health Network Inc , the presentation will feature Lee County First Responders

To register for the Zoom presentation, which is free of charge, visit https://us02web zoom us/webinar/register/WN gjNuCci4R2mUS4fGOtYdEw

Scuba Vacation Bible School at CCFUM

Scuba Vacation Bible School is happening at Cape Coral First United Methodist Church, 4118 Coronado Parkway, June 3-7, nightly from 5:30-8:30 -8:30

The camp will include dinner, songs, games, Bible stories and more!

There is a $10 fee for each child Register at Capecoralfirst org

Lee County Supervisor of Elections announces Arts Vote Contest winners

Lee County Supervisor of Elections Tommy Doyle recently announce the winners of the 7th annual Arts Vote Contest

■ First Place “Best Artwork:” Emma Corbin - Cypress Lake High School

■ Second Place “Most Original Artwork:” Daniela Uribe de la Hoz - East Lee County High School

■ Third Place “Most Creative Artwork:” Lily Spangaro - North Fort Myers High School

The Lee County Elections Arts Vote contest showcases the artistic talent of local high school students and provides a platform for them to express their creativity while promoting the importance of voter participation and civic engagement

“Every year, I’m overwhelmed by the talent and dedication of our Lee County students in presenting artwork for the contest,” says Supervisor Doyle “I greatly appreciate the schools for fostering voter education and the students for creating artwork that communicates the importance of voting and elections ”

On Monday, April 29, Doyle presented the winning school and students with certificates of appreciation and gift cards for their contributions to the contest Cypress Lake High School received $500 for winning the category of “Best Artwork,” and each winning student received a $100 gift card

The contest began Oct 23 and ended on March 29 At the beginning of the 2023-2024 school year, an invitation went out to all Lee County high schools Doyle and staff selected the winning pieces from 35 entries: 13 from Cypress Lake High School, 21 from North Fort Myers

Cape residents Bevington, Feichthaler among National Merit Scholarship winners

announced this year’s National Merit $2,500 Scholarship winners The 2,500 Merit Scholar designees were chosen from a talent pool of more than 15,000 outstanding Finalists in the 2024 National Merit Scholarship Program

National Merit Scholarship winners are the finalists in each state judged to have the strongest combination of accomplishments, skills and potential for success in rigorous college studies

The number of winners named in each state is proportional to the state’s percentage of the nation’s graduating high school seniors

These Scholars were selected by a committee of college admissions officers and high school counselors, who appraised a substantial amount of information submitted by both the Finalists and their high schools: the academic record, including difficulty level of subjects studied

SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test; contributions and leadership in school and community activities; an essay written by the Finalist; and a recommendation written by a high school official

Two of this year's recipients are from Cape Coral, Zachary Ryan Bevington and Tyler W Feichthaler

Bevington attends Canterbury School and has listed as

his possible career field as civil engineering Feichthaler is an Oasis High School student and his probable career field is international relations

Several other local students were also selected:

M

Canterbury School with a probable career field of military service.

■ Advaith Menon of Fort Myers who attends Dunbar High School with a listed probable career field of computer engineering

■ Jaansi Parsa of Fort Myers who attends Dunbar High School with a probable career field of computer science

■ Aaron M Smolyar, also of Fort Myers and a Canterbury School student, with a probable career field of computer programming

NMSC, a not-for-profit organization that operates without government assistance, was founded in 1955 specifically to conduct the National Merit Scholarship Program

The majority of scholarships offered each year are underwritten by approximately 320 independent corporate and college sponsors that share NMSC’s goals of honoring scholastically talented youth and encouraging academic excellence at all levels of education

For more information, please visit www nationalmerit org

Fort Myers Technical College Spring 2024 Career Fair to be held next week on campus

The Fort Myers Technical College Spring 2024 Career Fair will be held during the week of May 13-17, with each day focusing on a different group of trades This event is from 9-11 a m each day

All of the technical college's students and qualified job seekers from the community and/or partner schools will attend in groups of 20 The student attendees will be a mix of those set to graduate mid-June (actively looking for

December (looking for internships/OJT or prospects for after graduation)

There will also be additional time and space set aside after 11 a m for those employers that would like to interview and make offers at the event itself

n Monday, May 13, Building Construction TradesHVAC/R, major appliance and refrigeration technician,

High School and one from East Lee County High School

The mission of the Lee County Supervisor of Elections is to deliver superior election services to the voters of Lee County

PHOTO PROVIDED

Lee County Supervisor of Elections Tommy Doyle, center, with North Fort Myers High’s art teacher, Joy Williams, left, and student Lily Spangaro, who finished third in the Arts Vote Contest.

School District continues to contend with late buses

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b u d g e t e d 6 0 0 o p e r a t o r p o s i t i o n s ; 2 1 8

b u s a t t e n d a n t s ; 7 7 s u p p o r t s t a f f , a n d 4 8

g a r a g e s t a f f e r s

L l o y d s a i d w h a t h u r t s i s t h e i r d r i v e r s w o r k s 1 8 0 d a y s o n a s p l i t s h i f t w o r ki n g i n t h e m o r n i n g f o r a f e w h o u r s a n d t h e n i n t h e a f t e r n o o n T h e y s t r u g g l e w i t h

t h e b u s d r i v e r s c o m i n g b a c k i n t h e a f t e r -

n o o n T h e t r a n s p o r t a t i o n d e p a r t m e n t i s 8 7

d r i v e r s s h o r t , w i t h a n o t h e r 1 8 a r e

The third quarter for late buses for this year has an on-time percentage of 92% for the morning and 72% for the afternoon, compared to 87% last year for the morning and 70% for the afternoon.

u n a v a i l a b l

O u r G P S d a t a i s a m a z i n g I c o u l d s p e n d

o n , a n

m o r n i n g , t h e y c o l l e c t i v e l y s t o p n e a r l y 3 0 , 0 0 0 t i m e s e v e r y s i n g l e d a y A s o f A p r i l 2 6 , L l o y d s a i d t h e r e h a v e

b e e n 1 2 , 6 2 9 r o u t e c h a n g e s f r o m

r e q u e s t s t h a t p a r e n t s a n d s c h o o l s m a k e a n d p u t i n t o t h e i r e l e c t r o n i c s y s t e m .

“ W e h a v e g r a n t e d o v e r 9 3 % o f t h e m

W e d o w h a t w e c a n W e a r e a c u s t o m e r

s e r v i c e - b a s e d p r o g r a m W e a r e c u s t o m e r

s e r v i c e s e r v i c e t h e s t u d e n t s , p a r e n t s ,

a n d s c h o o l s , ” h e s a i d

T h e p r e s e n t a t i o n a l s o b r o k e d o w n t h e

t r a n s p o r t a t i o n d a t a f u r t h e r :

∫ D a i l y m i l e s t r a v e l e d : 5 3 , 7 0 8 m i l e s

∫ A v e r a g e r o u t e m i l e a g e : 2 1 9 m i l e s

∫ A n n u a l m i l e s t r a v e l e d : 9 , 6 6 7 , 4 4 0

m i l e s

∫ A v e r a g e r o u t e t i m e : 5 8 7 m i n u t e s

∫ A v e r a g e b u s o c c u p a n c y : 6 7 7 s t u -

d e n t s a s o f F e b 2 0 2 3 a n d 8 1 3 s t u d e n t s f o r O c t o b e r 2 0 2 3

“ T h e a v e r a g e b u s o c c u p a n c y h a s

n e v e r b e e n a n i s s u e w i t h u s O u r i s s u e

h a s a l w a y s b e e n t h e l e n g t h o f r o u t e i n

m i l e a g e a n d t i m e , ” h e s a i d “ T h e p r o bl e m w h e n y o u h a v e a ( s c h o o l ) c h o i c e

p r o g r a m , i t ’ s n o t t h e b u s o c c u p a n c y , i t ’ s

t h e l e n g t h o f r o u t e W e d o n ’ t w a n t t h e

k i d s t o b e o n t h e b u s a n y l o n g e r t h a n

t h e y n e e d t o b e ”

L l o y d s a i d t h e a v e r a g e b u s o c c u p a n c y

h a s i n c r e a s e d b e c a u s e t h e y d o n o t h a v e

d r i v e r s

H e s a i d t h e y a r e a l w a y s l o o k i n g t o i n c r e a s e t h e o n - t i m e p e r c e n t a g e s , w i t h

t h e a b s o l u t e f o c u s i n t h e m o r n i n g a s t h e r e i s a l o s s o f i n s t r u c t i o n a l t i m e w h e n

b u s e s a n d s o s t u d e n t s a r e l a t e

T h e y a l s o f o c u s o n s a f e t y . “ W e a r e a n a l y z i n g d a t a e v e r y d a y

BUSINESS

BUSINESS BRIEFS

Achieva Credit Union to hold grand opening celebration for Cape branch

Achieva Credit Union will hold a grand opening celebration for its newest Lee County branch Saturday, May 18, from noon to 6 p m The branch is located at 3031 S W Pine Island Road in Cape Coral The event will include complimentary food, giveaways and branch tours.

The Pine Island Road branch offers the community a full range of financial services and products including the latest banking technology, drive-thru lanes, ATM access and a 24-hour deposit drop box In addition, the branch will have experienced certified financial counselors on-hand to help members with their financial needs as well as bilingual capabilities

The free-standing 2,100-squre-foot building opened in February and was built by Bandes Construction Company

Branch hours are Monday, Tuesday and Thursday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Wednesday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Friday, 9 a m to 5:30 p m ; and Saturday, 9 a m to 1 p m Drivethru hours are Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, 8:30 a m to 5:30 p m ; Wednesday, 10 a m to 5:30 p m ; and Saturday 9 a m to 1 p m

Please visit www achievacu com

Priority Marketing’s Hansen inducted into adver tising hall of fame

The American Advertising Federation District 4, which represents Florida and the Caribbean, has inducted Priority Marketing Founder, President and Chief Creative Officer Teri Hansen, APR, into its Advertising Hall of Fame

As a Class of 2024 inductee, Hansen is among those “who have distinguished themselves in their career, have contributed to the betterment of advertising and its reputation, and have made volunteer efforts outside the workplace ” Hansen and five other marketing and advertising professionals were inducted into the Hall of Fame during AAF District 4’s “The Voice of Advertising Summit” on April 19 in Orlando

“It truly is an honor to share the spotlight with such talented individuals who have made an indelible impact in the field of advertising,” Hansen said. “I’m proud to be recognized among those who have dedicated their careers to helping businesses, nonprofits and organizations carry out their missions, achieve their goals and make a difference in their communities ”

Hansen, who graduated magna cum laude from the University of South Florida with a bachelor of arts degree in business administration and management, founded Priority Marketing in 1992 as a one-person operation Today, the firm employs 60 marketing professionals whose professional services include public relations, brand development, web services, social media, creative services, media buying, video production, digital marketing, event planning and more The firm partners with clients across a broad spectrum of industries, including hospitality and tourism, retail, health care, senior living, construction, legal, aviation, financial, education and government, as well as charitable organizations

The firm has been honored at the local, state, national and international levels with prestigious awards while providing over $5 million in discounted and pro-bono services to local nonprofits For more information, call 239-267-2638 or visit PriorityMarketing com

MAY 10,

The Yucatan Waterfront Bar & Grill has reopened in Matlacha The restaurant was destroyed by Hurricane Ian

Back from Ian Yucatan Waterfront Bar & Grill re-opens in Matlacha

By CRAIG GARRETT news@breezenewspapers com

Tommy Kolar looks at life as a glass half full Considering what the Matlacha business owner had endured in recent times his multi-generational finances at stake, three small kids at home and staff looking to him for answers optimism should have been in short supply

Kolar, who is 40 and co-owner of the Yucatan Waterfront Bar & Grill in Matlacha and a restaurant and hotel properties on Fort Myers Beach with his father Tom, had spent millions to hold the line, first with COVID, then in September 2022 when Hurricane Ian stormed across Southwest Florida with mind-bending destruction.

The super storm ruined much of Pine Island and St James City; Matlacha was essentially washed away, structures vanished or crushed, collapsed into sinkholes, roads twisted and gone, boats and cars slung about like toys Some were left homeless, many lost everything Losses in Southwest Florida were in the billions Dozens of people were killed in Lee County

But like many around it, the Yucatan Waterfront Bar & Grill has emerged The Kolars rebuilt the gutted diner and replanted the grounds that the U S Coast Guard had used as a supply base after Ian

There was a ribbon-cutting last Thursday at the lushly landscaped restaurant, a soft opening in April There’s a fresh new interior with more space, a thatched roof, newly added valet parking, an easy vibe that had diners smiling and chatting as happens when devastation fades into memory

Roped and swinging bar seats, waterside tables and chairs, TVs to watch games, fresh swag, the return of super professional servers and barkeeps and upgrades dot the family friendly Yucatan

An expanded menu, boating docks and other surprises

are on the horizon, as well, Kolar said

“So glad to see Yucatan opening back up after Hurricane Ian,” said Lisa Warden, posting her thoughts on social media in mid-April “Went for soft opening tonight and food was much better than I remembered The staff was awesome. We will be back when fully open.”

But it was a long hard ride, first thoughts after the storm about closing shop, then the glass-half-full stuff kicked in, Kolar said

“I kept thinking about my kids and our staff,” Kolar said “We pretty much had to start from scratch it was literally the most challenging time of my life But I knew my dad and I could turn things around And luckily, I’ve got a great family ”

As other island businesses have following Ian, the Yucatan kept its pre-storm feel Entering the grounds, steel drum calypso or Jimmy Buffett softly wafts about Diners can park in a small lot or have a valet do it. Others choose to park alongside Pine Island Road, which should be done with caution

There’s a hanging marlin and crab buoys under the rain portico In Fort Lauderdale that would be a themed franchise But Pine Island clings to its immediate past, a still active seafood and fishing market, a quirky (and recovering) art and retail environment, sipping cold beers, nibbling surprisingly good seafood, barbecue and basket food as birds dip and wheel, dolphins and manta rays skim by as the sun sets like a blood red orange

“There’s a blessing in everything,” Kolar said of returning from such devastation. “We just wanted to do (the Yucatan) justice ”

The Yucatan Waterfront Bar & Grill is at 4875 Pine Island Road It's open every day, 11 a m to close, with available takeout and swag For more information, visit yucatanwaterfront com or call 239-283-0113

Custom Packaging & Products in Fort Myers celebrating 50 years in business

Custom Packaging & Products, which produces shortrun custom printed food packaging, is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year The company, started in 1974 by entrepreneur John Van Horn Sr , assists small independent restaurants and groups brand their business with customprinted food service papers

Started as a paper converter, the company transitioned into retail packaging, printing gift wrap and tissue paper

for retail businesses throughout Georgia In the mid1990s, Van Horn was approached by a paper distributor asking if he could print a small quantity of custom-printed deli papers for a few restaurant clients He saw the demand for small quantity, low-minimum, custom-printed food service papers, developed that side of his business In 2004, Van Horn’s son, Ryan, assumed the role of president and CEO of the company He has been instru-

mental in expanding the company into new geographical areas and implementing innovative technologies to their business Now, under the leadership of John, Ryan and Ryan’s wife Natalie, Custom Packaging & Products is celebrating its golden anniversary Custom Packaging & Products is at 2269 Palm Ave , Fort Myers Call 239-201-3394 or visit custompackagingandproducts com

CRAIG GARRETT

Steak Master: Cape Coral chef smokes six other finalists in national grilling competition

From page 1

competitors who participated in this rigorous series, he came back this year to win it all

Montgomery said as each finalists’ name was being called during the reveal of the champion, he couldn’t believe he had won when the runner-up was announced and his name was yet to be spoken

“The emotions were pouring out of me,” Montgomery said “I was fighting the tears ”

Montgomery’s winnings include a $15,000 grand prize and the title of Steak Master Series Champion He bested six other finalists in the championship round held during a one-day grill-off in Orlando to become the seventh-ever winner of the competition

“It’s such an amazing accomplishment, and it’s exactly what I’ve been aiming for the past five years,” he said “To come back almost two years later and win, it’s amazing.”

Competitors were tested in three different areas during the final challenge; with a written test, verbal test, and of course, putting their grilling chops to the test

Montgomery said what was most challenging was that the verbal test occurred while he had just 20 minutes to prepare six different cuts of meat

“It made it 10 times harder,” he said “There was absolutely no room for error ”

What made the competition even more challenging was that the finalists were cooking and being tested by LongHorn executives who essentially created the menu items they were grilling and preparing

“It was an emotional roller coaster of just ups and downs and persevering,” Montgomery said “Remaining focused really helped me out

“You had to cook all of these items perfectly, down to the little, little details There was no leeway for error It was stressful On top of that, you had cameras in your face ”

As for what he thinks led to his success, Montgomery said, “I think the focus I kept, and the passion I’ve had this entire time has really driven me to this point ”

The crew at LongHorn in Cape Coral on Pine Island Road welcomed him back with major kudos and love upon his return. The large trophy he won will be displayed at the

restaurant patrons to see

Montgomery wants all to know that when they walk into the establishment, the staff in the kitchen puts the utmost effort into the food they prepare

“I think the more passion you have for cooking, makes

the food so much better,” he said “The guests can really appreciate that passion that you put forth ” LongHorn Steakhouse in Cape Coral is at 1851 Northeast Pine Island Road

Stoked by the heat of competition, Jacob Montgomery, head chef at Cape Coral’s LongHorn Steakhouse, shows championship skills at LongHorn’s national grilling competition, where he earned the title of Steak Master Series Champion /PHOTO PROVIDED

Operation Sparkle gets more funding to make parks shine

By MEGHAN BRADBURY news@breezenewspapers com

Cape Coral City Council unanimously agreed that park perk-ups should get some extra bucks

The elected board, by unanimous consensus, agreed that $1.7 million not yet identified for a specific cause in this year’s budget would go towards Operation Sparkle

City Manager Mike Ilczyszyn said he can tell the council without a doubt that Operation Sparkle could use the funding

“Our funding that we have been progressing with has been the pace of three parks per year a 10-year cycle to go through all the parks,” he said “Unfortunately, that is the amount of revenue we are able to set aside funding $2-$3 million a year, spending about a million in each park We have about 30 parks to go through ”

The money would go towards the next park on the list Ilczyszyn said an assessment would be done followed by a written contract for whatever was on the list

Mayor John Gunter said those dollars were just sitting there and the city is halfway through the fiscal year, which is why the matter was added to Wednesday’s City Council agenda

“It’s prudent to at least have the discussion to where we

could collectively give direction to staff how that money may be distributed,” he said

Ilczyszyn said Council set aside money last year during the budget season with the intent to add something to the community median landscaping, sidewalks, or beautification The capital funds were called beautification, he said

The discussion included putting the money towards sidewalks, curbing median, median beautification, adding more landscaping to new parks and money towards Operation Sparkle

Many Council members initially said they wanted to use the funds to continue with sidewalks, which currently has a backlog of getting done.

Gunter said he did not want to put money somewhere where they cannot spend or use it, such as sidewalks, because they will still remain behind

“I would want to ensure we are doing as much as we can for the sidewalk expansion for the city Not necessarily beautification, but enhances our residents’ ability to experience the community in a safe way,” Councilmember Bill Steinke initially said “Dollars used to get caught up would be at the top of my list, second would be medians Third would be additional landscaping for parks ”

Ilczyszyn said if the city does not have the manpower

to do sidewalks, they do not have the manpower to do curbing, either

“If we haven’t gotten to the position to award our sidewalks to the private sector, we are competing for our own resources,” he said “We can outsource the curbing to an outside sector It is more expensive, but it can be done ”

Ilczyszyn said sidewalks need a design, curbing can match the existing grade

“It’s a little more involved in sidewalks That is why we are trying to get a design team and company that can work together to accomplish that,” he said

The city has $1 3 million for grant-funded sidewalks in the budget

“We are having a problem getting competitive bids worthy of issuing Last year we did get some responses to our request $8 million for a couple of miles It was a ridiculous cost It wasn’t in the best interest of the city because it wasn’t efficient,” he said

He said when you put money into a capital project, it does not have to be spent in the year it was appropriated

“Capital projects funding does go beyond the single appropriate year If you want to do that and award sidewalk contract, we can award both years of funding,” Ilczyszyn said “The same thing with medians ”

Hurricane Ian reimbursements continue to come in

By MEGHAN BRADBURY news@breezenewspapers com

The School District of Lee County is not currently in a deficit due to Hurricane Ian damage, a welcome update

Imperium Consulting Director Joseph Mascali said currently the district is temporarily in a surplus of $30 4 million, a significant increase from the last board update of a deficit of $5 million

“ T h o s e p

expended in respect to ongoing work in relation to the recovery,” Mascali said

The estimated total loss caused by Hurricane Ian remains at $227 million for the school district

To date, the district has received $5 2

Insurance Program; $75 million for property insurance the policy limit; $116 9 million from FEMA public assistance; $

Assistance Cost Share program; $1 2 million from Lee County for the shelter claim reimbursement and $17 5 million for legislature capital appropriation

losses is $48 4 million

FEMA

Mascali said of the 178 submitted scopes of work for permanent work, 173 have been approved

The district has also submitted cost summaries financial asks to FEMA for a total of $5 4 million

“We are almost halfway through the totality of projects that need to be submitted to FEMA We are forecasted to complete it by early July All of the balls are in FEMA’s court and we are working with responding to any questions we receive,” Mascali said

Business Services Executive Director Susan Malay said FEMA has to make the commitment to replace and repair Hector A Cafferata Jr Elementary School before the district can move forward with demolition

“FEMA needs to put into writing that the facility should be replaced Until then, they have the option to come back to look at it, or ask questions,” she said Rather than risk not having those ques-

tions answered, the shell of the building will remain in place, Malay said, adding hopefully that decision will come soon, so they can review, consult again, and get ready to demolish the original Hector campus

The presentation also highlighted other funding opportunities to make the school district more resilient during any future e

Those include the 404-Hazard Mitigation

Recovery – Lee County Grant The Lee County Grant was awarded to the district for $500,000 to retain an expert to perform vulnerability assessments of the district’s infrastructure

Program request is for storm shutters for the school buildings and upgrading shingle tiled roofs to metal slopped roofs

“The targeted funding amount is $22 m

application process,” Mascali said

The district also has received approval to apply for sponsorship from the county for phase 3 – capital infrastructure This would be to harden existing shelters and add shelters to the district’s portfolio

“The available funds are fairly significant Potentially tens of millions of dollars,” he said

Pier: New structure may take three years to complete; small temporary pier under consideration

From page 1

they have a grout layer between the protected jacket and the original piles

“The plan would be to add reinforcing steel and a new jacket that would encase the existing pile and then that would be filled with grout,” he said. “The jacketing has a zinc metal layer to it to provide some protection from corrosion from the salt water It provides an extra level of protection as time goes on ”

There also were options for the Council to consider for redoing the pier

Under the first option, some of the piles would be restored before rebuilding the pier

“We wouldn’t change the location, height, or structure We would change the piles and put a new deck on it,” Hyyti said “The first option is the cheapest, but it doesn’t give us quite as long of a lifecycle for the pier We would have to monitor the piles that don’t get repaired ”

This option would involve permitting, which could take between six to nine months The total cost would be $4,322,000

The second option would be to remove the piles and put in all new piles Hyyti said since that is considered new construction, they would have to get a full Army Corps of Engineers permit, which could take 12 to 18 months or longer This would have a total cost of $6,574,000

The last option, which Council agreed was the best choice, has a price tag of $5,404,000 Hyyti said removing the piles would be less expensive, but it would take a little longer to do the permitting

One of the advantages of redoing the piles and pier is increasing the elevation of the pier, Hyyti said

“One of the advantages the current elevation of the structure is low The piers are 10 or 12 feet off the water

Our pier is only a few feet off the water I think in order to help with the hardening of the new structure it would be a benefit to install new pilings and raise the structure,” he said

Hyyti said with flood elevation and the pier it would be 11 feet compared to the current structure of just under 5 It would be a 6-foot difference if the city wants to get it above the FEMA flood elevation

That, however, is not a requirement

“It’s not a habitable structure You don’t have to meet the minimum flood elevation,” Hyyti said “It would certainly help with the FEMA funding if we continue to harden and protect assets if we did raise it up ”

The council discussed building a temporary structure as

the wait time for residents could be a long one Councilmember Robert Welsh said it could potentially be 36 months before a new pier is done

“I think there shouldn’t be any problem putting a new structure on part of it You don’t need any additional permitting. We can do that quickly,” Hyyti said.

Pilings and some support beams are all that’s left of the Cape Coal Yacht Club Fishing Pier, which was destroyed by Hurricane Ian /ROB BRAITLING

Owl protection may be part of median landscape project

By MEGHAN BRADBURY news@breezenewspapers com

T

Agency received an update regarding the C

C

Landscape Project, which may include applying for permits to relocate burrowing owls before the project begins

Cape Coral City Manager and CRA Executive Director Mike Ilczyszyn said the

Landscape Project presentation was to update the commissioners on the templates and design to have an understanding of where they stand

“The money is there It’s a matter of completing the project at this point if there are no concerns,” he said

K

Kelsie Shy said the project limits are 2 15

miles from Wildwood Parkway to Palm T

Boulevard

“As we are designing the medians, this Country Club and Palm Tree Boulevards fall within the mixed zone as far as species go,” she said

Shy said they did a site visit in March and saw several utilities in the median, overhead power lines, site lines and site triangles per FDOT Florida Greenbook and burrowing owl nests

“One thing we would like your input on relocate the owls prior to the landscape implementation,” she said, adding that they would have to apply for a permit through FWC to have the inactive nests taken out

through July 10

The other option is not to do any planting with a 10-foot radius around the nest

City arborist Omar Leon said as far as his understanding goes, a burrow in the median might not be an ideal location for burrowing owls as the young tend to fly out in lanes of traffic.

“ T

account,” he said

The site visit also identified 39 trees that are recommended to be replaced Eleven of those are invasive, six trees are dead or in declining health and 22 palms are dead, or in declining health

The proposed landscape trees would include the black olive, bridal veil, cabbage palm, orange Geiger, Jamaican caper, and pink trumpet

She said they chose sabal palms mostly because there are already healthy sabals out, so they wanted to continue the pattern along the rest of the median

Proposed shrubs include white plumba-

go, cocoplum, coontie, croton, dwarf fakahatchee grass, pink society garlic, beach sunflower, lily turf, blue daze and natal plum

“Any existing trees out there and are in good health, we are proposing to maintain,” she said

In May, the conceptual landscape plan will be finalized Shy said between now and July they will have a 60% design development documents done to be taken out for public information meetings She said they will finalize the construction documents by September and hand them over to the city in late 2024 for bidding and construction

Cape Coral City Councilmember and CRA Chair Bill Steinke said he thinks it’s awesome this project is more residential beneficial for the CRA

South Cape CRA budget proposal presented

By MEGHAN BRADBURY news@breezenewspapers com

The proposed fiscal year 2025 South Cape Community Redevelopment Agency budget which includes a new project was presented to CRA commissioners

Wednesday

“As you can see the fiscal year 2025 budget has expenditures of $6,199,515

m i l l i o n E

includes 4% increase for tax increment

t administrator for the city. “We evaluated all expenditures and identified what is needed moving forward ”

The operating budget is $1,565,295 and includes $60,000 for CRA donation, $545,000 for Economic Development Incentives and $200,000 for its multimodal plan

around $62,000, which will be applied to future projects moving forward

The operating budget is $1,565,295 and includes $60,000 for CRA donation, $ 5 4 5 , 0 0 0 f o r E c o n o m i c D

p m e n t Incentives and $200,000 for its multi-

Within the CRA’s proposed budget, they have personnel expenses of $388,848 for five positions – CRA specialist, laborer, code compliance officer, field tech and trade specialist

modal plan

The budget includes transfers out of $4,245,372, which includes $1,122,294 for loan for the general fund for the parking garage at The Cove, $460,751 for 47th Terrace Streetscape Debt Services and $2,600,000 for land acquisition R e i t

The existing capital project budget –Club Square Water Line, Country Club Medians, Landscape and Beautification, Palm Tree Median Beautification, Property Acquisition, South Parking Lot – Big Johns, Vincennes Boulevard Parking Lot and Miramar sidewalks – is coming under budget at $178,000

Reitler said they are proposing a South C

$241,063, which will use all unspent funds

Cape Coral submits documentation to FEMA

City ‘optimistic’ federal agency will reconsider its decision to yank 25% discount on flood insurance premiums

By MEGHAN BRADBURY news@breezenewspapers com

The city of Cape Coral submitted all the documentations FEMA needed Thursday to be reconsidered for the Community Rating System program

The Federal Emergency Management Agency “retrograded” the Community Rating System class in the city from a 5 to a 10, thereby removing benefits the Cape Coral property owners receive for the National Flood Insurance Program policies, before placing the decision on pause

“I am pleased to announce that the City of Cape Coral has successfully met FEMA’s original deadline of May 9, today, to submit all requested documentations,” Mayor John Gunter said during a Facebook press conference “Following several

days of code hearings about 11%, or 27 of the 238 addresses FEMA provided us was found to be noncompliant ”

He said that is much lower than the original 23% reported by FEMA

“This achievement wouldn’t have been possible without the dedication of our city staff who worked tirelessly sacrificing weekends and long hours to fulfill FEMA’s documentation requirements outlined in our findings report,” Gunter said “I want to extend a special acknowledgement to our city manager and his outstanding leadership He played a pivotal role in guiding our team to meet this critical 30-day deadline ”

The city hand delivered thousands of pages of documents Thursday in a comprehensive application guidebook to FEMA

“Now we will await their decision,” Gunter said “We

remain optimistic that FEMA will reconsider its decision to downgrade the city’s CRS rating as the 25% insurance policy premium discounts are extremely vital to our community Rest assured the city of Cape Coral of Cape Coral remains steadfast to achieve the highest possible CRS rating ensuring the continued resilient well-being of our residents ”

Citing what it alleged was “the large amount of unpermitted work, lack of documentation, and failure to properly monitor activity in special flood hazard areas, including substantial damage compliance,” FEMA “retrograded” its CRS grade for unincorporated Lee and four of its municipalities, including Cape Coral and Fort Myers Beach

The retrograde, all from a 5 to a 10, the lowest possible score, meant policy holders in the affected area no longer would qualify for any premium discount

Lake Kennedy:

Council plans to have membership and other fees set by late June or early July

From page 1

Naples We are not Tampa We are Cape Coral I will look at what is unique about our community and the needs for our community,” Sheppard said

Before Citizen’s Input began, City Manager Mike Ilczyszyn shared information about why the topic came before the elected board He said Council wanted to know what the fees would be for the facility because at the time they did not have a consultant on board, nor an analysis of the market

Wednesday’s meeting was not to take a vote, but rather begin the discussion of a fee structure for the new facility build by the city as part of its parks masterplan

“The funding for the facility primarily came from the GO Bond All residents and businesses in the city are paying in their taxes a portion of millage to fund the facility That is whether or not they intend on ever utilize the facility,” Ilczyszyn said.

The rate payer, or the user fees, established at a specialized athletic facility are meant to cover the cost of operations and maintenance, he said

User fees for any type of amenity typically have three locations at which funding can be full cost recovery, below cost recovery, or cost recovery greater than net neutral

At Lake Kennedy, the city opted to contract with a management firm to operate the facility, at an annual cost of $222,000

Councilmember Robert Welsh said he would lean more on sponsorships and tournaments to get back to cost recovery, as he does not want to cost those who will use the new multicourt facility more

Many individuals came forward from both the pickleball and tennis communities to share their outrage regarding the proposed membership fees which they say are much higher than anticipated

“We are interested in this number right here zero. It has already been paid for in my real estate taxes,” one speaker said

Another said he did not realize when he voted for the $60 million general obligation bond, which was to fund new parks and park improvements, that he would have to pay for the park and then “rent it” from the city

Others suggested that the opening and closing times needed to be extended due to the heat during the summer, which Council also was in favor of doing A business owner offered

to pay $500 for a small business sign at the center, which would help offset the membership fees

The last speaker said the center should be a basic amenity available to all to enhance the quality of life and nurture health of the community

“Your passion around the sport and social environment created by the pickleball community is admirable,”

Councilmember Bill Steinke said “The thought of Lake Kennedy should be a revenue neutral environment All of the items brought forward are very helpful to me Additional revenue sources available to reduce, or eliminate fees, I am all for that ”

Council also heard a presentation by The Sports Facilities Companies Regional General Manager Adrian Moses, the company is being paid to run the facility

He said opening a new facility is always an honor, something they look forward to doing

“We have a very clear mission statement improve the health and economic vitality of the communities that we serve,” Moses said

He said the goal is to navigate the use of the Lake Kennedy Racquet Center with the goal of making it cost recovery and to provide local programming for the local people

“Providing a facility for just local programming use, the burden of operational cost relies on those using the facility every day,” he said

With that said, the center also will be a place for tournaments, as it is a revenue generator Moses said they have secured Southern Pickleball for a tournament to happen over Labor Day weekend

“The direction we received so far is we can’t do tournaments every weekend We have to thread the needle of the use of the facility for local people and a prestigious venue for regional, national and international tournaments,” Moses said “We are all gas, no brakes We want to talk to people, present the facility the best way forward ”

The presentation included a starting point to discuss membership fees, daily drop-in fees, court rentals, clinics and leagues, tournaments and operational hours

“The venue is designated and meant to be a premium facility,” Moses said

The membership price point ranged from a $30 monthly fee for students to $1,575 annual fee for nonresidents The membership would provide benefits, Moses said, which

includes discounts through the pro shop, concession stand and access to club tournaments and participation in programs without an initiation fee

The drop-in fee would not have the same benefits

They do have a couple of local people that they have tapped to be involved in the project who are familiar with running clinics and leagues

“The pricing is to be determined, but ultimately access to members The members will get the best value and priority to participate in clinics and leagues,” he said

As far as court fees, Moses said any kind of asset where people do not necessarily have skin in the game there is a challenge the court goes unused. The ability for people to rent a court facility, reserve it and then not use it takes it away from someone else, which is why they proposed a fee for peak time court rentals

With that said, Moses said there could be policy and procedures in place to ensure that it is not being abused by members of taking away court time

There would be two types of tournaments venue operated, and third-party operated

“We would offer the ability for third-party operators to have multi-year contracts,” he said

Other Council members said the fees are still too high

“I believe the fees are way too high,” Councilmember Tom Hayden said “A more fair membership would be $200 a year, and $400 for a family ”

He went on to say there should be no court fee for members and the drop-in fee should be $6

“This is a specialized facility and every specialized facility that I know of charges some sort of fee, but it has to work for residents,” Hayden said

He said there should be availability for free play during certain times that do not get a lot of use

“There are a lot of options for free play beyond the membership rate and individual drop-in,” he said

Council ultimately reached a consensus that the membership rates should range from $200 to $400 annually

“We will see if we can put together a package and bring it back to you all,” Ilczyszyn said “If everything looks good, we can move it forward for adoption ”

The idea is to get the fee structure set before the facility opens Staff said the facility should be handed over by late June, early July

SPORTS

It’s May -- tarpon season is on in Boca Grande Pass

It’s May in Florida and tarpon season is on at Boca Grande Pass! Time to catch a plane!

After getting over the shock of walking into a very moist hot oven as you leave the cool comfort of the Fort Myers airport, you finally find your room for a night, actually a few hours of nervous sleep, still waking before the alarm

After a short trip in the rental you finally meet

onboard Within a few minutes the fish you’ve

around you, crashing the

gulping or rolling for air along with a flotilla of

guides and guests, with many already displaying heavily bent rods as experienced captains weave

Capt. George Tunison

pack trying to keep their angler hooked up.

It’s definitely a different experience for anglers used to seeking solitude on uncrowded waters or promising quiet shorelines for a day of relaxing angling Often described as a boat bumping circus, expect the pass to be crowded even on weekdays during prime tarpon time in May and June Migratory-minded tarpon will use or relate to the pass area till late fall, often into December, before heading south to warmer waters

Boca Grande and the surrounding area has quite a history dating back many thousands of years with the C a l u s a p e o p l e t a k i n g a d v a n

n t Charlotte Harbor fishing and hunting opportunities. Many years later Spanish and Cuban fisherman also took advantage of the seemingly unlimited natural resources By the early 1900s, big game sport fishing took off drawing anglers from around the world for a crack at catching a silver king The other draw was phosphate mining along the nearby Peace River with the product barged down to the docks at Boca to then be loaded onto ships supplying the world with phosphate The naturally deep pass -- up to 80 feet deep -- was obviously perfect for large vessels to get in and out

If you don’t go with a guide or local salty, the first order of business should be consulting your tide chart. Like with any saltwater fishing, the fish are typically most active during a moving or changing tide, especially around new or full moon phases, resulting in fast moving “hill tides” which flushes out a smorgasbord of tide-

See IT’S MAY, page 46

T I D E S C H A R T

Registration opens Wednesday for Tommy Bohanon Foundation Youth Football Camp at North High

Football Camp is set to kick off on Saturday, June 15 at North Fort Myers High School

Registration is free and opens May 15 for the yearly one-day event for student-athletes in first through eighth grades in Southwest Florida

Participants will expand their love and knowledge of football with the help of experienced football coaches The team of coaches provide hands-on training by guiding youth through NFL-style drills that lay a solid foundation for good sportsmanship

The camp runs from 8:30 a m to 1 p m at the high school stadium Athletes should wear shorts and a T-shirt and bring socks and football cleats (sneakers are acceptable if the athlete does not have cleats) Athletes should also bring a refillable water bottle Lunch will be provided by Tropical Smoothie Café and the Lee County Sheriff’s Office will have sweet treats for all participants at the end of the camp

“This is one of our biggest events of the year,” said Foundation President Tommy Bohanon “It’s always great to see the young kids out on the field laughing and having a good time while both learning the game and acquiring some valuable life lessons ” S

Roofing, Advanced Seamless Gutters, Arthur Printing, Barry Goettemoeller RE/MAX, Custom Pools by Design,

Prevatt & Sons Paving, Lee County Sheriff’s Office, Lee Drywall, Nor-Tech Hi Performance Boats, Patriot Storm Shutters, Personal Touch Banquet & Catering, Potts’ Sports Cafe, Priority Marketing, Specific Care Chiropractic, Rue Homes, Taylor Carpet One, Thomas Family Foundation and Tropical Smoothie Café

To register, please visit https://tommybohanonfounda-

Wednesday, June 12

Wednesday Track and Field

FILE PHOTO

Tommy Bohanon at one of his foundation’s previous youth football camps

The Tommy Bohanon Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting young athletes reach their highest potential on and off the playing field

Former NFL fullback Tommy Bohanon 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 239-6710441

PREP REPORT

4x800: 1 For t Myers 9:53 86

100 hurdles: 1 Shamoya Clemetson 9BC) 14 76 5 Noel Davis (NFM) 15 85

100: 1 Kayla Hopkins (D) 12:12

Giovanna Molloy of North Fort Myers won the Region 3A-3 pole vault with a vault of 3 45 meters on Wednesday at Charlotte High School in Punta Gorda

North's Noel Davis was second in the high jump (1 57 meters) and Addison Kalbhenn of Ida Baker was third (1 52 meters) The Red Knights' Kennedy Seidl placed fourth in the javelin (32 46 meters), Skyla Stevens fourth in the 400 meters (58.40) and the North 4x400 relay team also finished fourth

For the boys, Ida Baker's Mike Luma claimed second place in the triple jump (13 48 meters) and James Johnson of North was third in the shot put (15 60 meters)

The FHSAA Outdoor State Finals will be held May 1518 at the University of North Florida in Jacksonville Region 3A-3

At Charlotte High School, Punta Gorda GIRLS

T eam scor es: 1 Barron Collier 87, 2 For t Myers 73, 3 Hillsborough 72, 4 Seminole Osceola 70 50, 5 Naples 55, 6 Charlotte 47, 7 Dunbar 38, 8 Nor th For t Myers 37, Parrish 37, 10 Palmetto 26, 11 Boca Ciega 22, 12 Gulf Coast 20, St Petersburg 20, 14 Southeast 19, 15 Braden River 11 50, 16 Por t Charlotte 10, Seminole 10, 18 Spoto 9, 19 Cape Coral 7, 20 Bonita Springs 6, East Bay 6, Ida Baker 6, 23 Lely 4, Pinellas Park 4, 25 Middleton 3, 26 St Pete Nor theast

2 Individual events:

Pole vault: 1 Giovanna Molloy (NFM) 3 45m

Long jump: 1 Shamoya Clemetson (BC) 5 71m 6 Mckinzie Alcide (CC)

5 12m

Javelin: 1 Rebecca Van't Hoff (BC) 38 14m 4 Kennedy Seidl (NFM) 32 46m

Shot put: 1 Cherldine Paul (BC) 13 16m

Triple jump: 1 Jayce Miller (Hill) 11 72m

High jump: 1 Devon Swar tz (Sem) 1 62m 2 Noel Davis (NFM) 1 57m 3

Addison Kalbhenn (IB) 1 52m

Discus: 1 Julia Lemmon (FM) 45 95m

1600: 1 Elle Mehltretter (SO) 5:13 64 8 Mia Moran (CC) 5:45 12

4x100: 1 Dunbar 47 52 4 Nor th For t Myers (Viera, Witter, Rich, Davis, Seidl, Arias) 48 50

400: 1 Liusmar Rivas Velasquez (BC) 56 56 4 Skyla Stevens (NFM) 58 40 400 hurdles: 1 Oksanna Smith (Hill) 1:03 89

800: 1 Tara Watkins (N) 2:16 93

200: 1 Kayla Hopkins (D) 24 98

3200: 1 Elle Mehltretter (SO) 11:14 45 6 Riley McFarland (CC) 12:43 40

4x400: 1 For t Myers 4:03 67 BOYS

Te am score s: 1 Naples 92, 2 Tampa Jesuit 61, 3 For t Myers 56 50, 4 Hillsborough 56, 5 Dunbar 47, 6 Charlotte 42, 7 Gulf Coast 36, Parrish 35 9 Seminole 29, 10 Palmetto 27, 11 Clear water 23, 12 Countr yside 18, 13 Nor th For t Myers 17, 14 Immokalee 16, 15 Lely 14, 16 Braden River 11, Cypress Lake 11, East Bay 11, St Pete Nor theast 11, Seminole Osceola 11 21 Ida Baker 10, Middleton 10, 23 Boca Ciega 9, South For t Myers 9, St Petersburg 9, 26 King 7, Mariner 7, 28 Barron Collier 5 29 Spoto 4 30 Golden Gate 30, 31 Bonita Springs 3, 32 Por t Charlotte 1 Indivi dual eve nts:

High jump: 1 Nicholas Simes (Clr) 1 97m 4 Khalid Bourne (NFM) 1 87m

Discus: 1 Sean Kabengele (N) 48 12m Long jump: 1 Xavier Bogan (Hill) 7:03m Pole vault: 1 Luther Mogelvang (N) 4 50m 5 Dustin Castana (NFM) 4 20m 8 Nick Coppola (IB) 3 90m Javelin: 1 Kaleb

110

100:

4x100: 1

42 10 5

(Car ter, Clark, Sainvil, Wilcox, Williams, Wilson, Davidson, Kendrick) 43 64 8 Ida Baker (Neely, Olmstead, Bayley, Long) 43 89

400: 1 Donovan Terr y (TJ) 48 04 7 Byron Fleming (NFM) 50 55

400 hurdles: 1 Jozell Bing (Palm) 55 50

800: 1 Joshua Dorestin (D) 1:56 18

t

Calusa Waterkeeper guides ‘Eyes on Seagrass’ pilot program across Lee County

Calusa Waterkeeper has announced the start of the "Eyes on Seagrass" pilot program in Lee County, a program developed and managed by Florida Sea Grant in partnership with the University of Florida

Scientists (UF/IFAS) This initiative aims to monitor and protect vital seagrass habitats along the coast that are under threat

Seagrass beds are crucial ecosystems that support a diverse array of marine life, stabilize coastal sediments and play a sig-

However, these invaluable habitats face numerous threats, including pollution, boat propeller damage and climate change

The Eyes on Seagrass program empowers community members to become stewards of their local environment by engag-

Through citizen science efforts, volunteers will collect valuable data on seagrass health, density and distribution, providing scientists and policymakers with essential information for conservation and management efforts

From page 45

200: 1 Donovan Terr y (TJ) 21 88

3200: 1 Craig Allard (FM) 9:40 12 6 Angel Cruz (M) 9;48 21

4x400: 1 Parrish 3:23 62

Baseball Region 3A-2

First round

Bishop Verot 8, Clearwater Central Catholic 0: Braylon Sheffield was 3-for-3 with three RBI to lead the Vikings (25-5)

J o e y L a w s o n h a d t w o R B I , a n d a l s o pitched five scoreless innings for the win Saturday's semifinal Tampa Catholic at Bishop Verot

Softball

Region 3A-3

First round

Bishop Verot 3, Tampa Catholic 1: Melanie Moreno drove in two runs for the Vikings (20-6-1) and McKenna Robbins tripled in the other run Crimson Lawrence allowed one run on three hits over five innings for the win, and Payton Breadmore worked two scoreless innings. Tuesday's semifinal

Eyes on Seagrass surveys have been executed in Sarasota and Charlotte counties by the Sarasota Bay Estuary Program and UF/IFAS Florida Sea Grant respectively The program also runs in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties T

equipped to pilot the program in Lee County, in part because of its team of rangers who could be mobilized Calusa Waterkeeper has trained hundreds of citizen scientists in its Ranger Program over the years who are the boots on the ground

Waterkeeper protect and restore nearly 1,000 miles of waterway

“We are excited to help launch the ‘Eyes on Seagrass’ pilot program in Lee County,” said Calusa Waterkeeper Capt Codty Pierce “Seagrass ecosystems are critical for the health of our coastal waters, and by involving the community in monitoring efforts, we can work together to safeguard these important habitats for future generations ”

Participants in the program will receive

“We are excited to help launch the ‘Eyes on Seagrass’ pilot program in Lee County. Seagrass ecosystems are critical for the health of our coastal waters, and by involving the community in monitoring efforts, we can work together to safeguard these important habitats for future generations.”

Calusa Waterkeeper Capt Codty Pierce

training on seagrass identification and monitoring techniques, equipping them with the skills needed to contribute meaningfully to conservation efforts By harnessing the collective power of citizen scie

enhance our understanding of seagrass dynamics and promote informed decisionmaking for coastal management

PREP REPORT

Bishop Verot at Tampa Academy of the Holy Names

Tuesday

Baseball Region 5A-3

First round

Tampa Jesuit 7, Island Coast 3: Jordi Guerrero's three-run homer accounted for the Gators' offense Island Coast ended the season 19-10

Track and Field

Region 2A-3

At IMG Academy, Bradenton

Bishop Verot's boys track team finished second and the girls fourth in Tuesday's meet in Bradenton

James Little IV was district champion in both the 110 hurdles and 400 hurdles, w h i l e R y a n P e t e r s o n w o n t h e d i s c u s . Mackenzie De Lisle came in first in the girls 1600 meters and second in the 3200

Caroline Muddell was first in the girls

800 The Vikings' 4x400 relay teams both came in second

Oasis' Jazlyn Forbes was third in both the 1600 and 3200

“The Calusa Waterkeeper Rangers are playing a vital role in expanding the program into Lee County by providing a combination of local and technical knowledge,” said Kate Rose, the Florida Sea Grant agent who runs Eyes on Seagrass in Charlotte County and leads efforts to expand the program statewide “The goal of Eyes on Seagrass is to address a need that the entire state is facing (seagrass loss) while allowing local entities to explore phenomenon that they are concerned about We are excited to welcome them into a community we hope will continue to expand throughout Florida.”

The Eyes on Seagrass pilot program represents a significant step forward in coastal conservation efforts, demonstrating the potential for community-driven initiatives to make a tangible impact on environmental sustainability

For more information about the "Eyes on Seagrass" program or to get involved, p

info@calusawaterkeeper org or visit calusawaterkeeper org

G IRLS

Te am scores: 1 Berkeley Prep 119, 2 Sarasota Booker 92, 3 Cardinal Mooney 71, 4 Bishop Verot 55 50, 5

Academy of the Holy Names 49 50, 6 Clear water Calvar y Christian 43 50, 7 Tampa Catholic 40, 8 Aubrey Rogers 28, 9 Gateway 24, 10 Tarpon Spring 21, 11 Robinson 21, 12 Oasis 17, 13 Lakewood 16, Lemon Bay 16, 15 laBelle 12, 16 Estero 11 50, 17 Gibbs 10, 18 Clewiston 9, Frostproof 9, 20 Bayshore 8, Clear water Central Catholic 8, 22 McKeel 6, 23 Bell Creek 5, Hardee 5, 25 Anclote 3, Dunedin 3 Indivi dual eve nts:

Long jump: 1 Alexandra Nicholas (AHN) 5 42m

Shot put: 1 J'nia Simpson (TC) 13 00m

Javelin: 1 Isabella Russell (CM) 31 27m 6 Ellye Henkle (O) 26 74m

Triple jump: 1 Kaylee Raffington (BP) 11 31m

Pole vault: 1 Grace Hroncich (CM) 2 85m

High jump: 1 V'Darielle Johnson (G) 1 57m 3 (tie)

Elise Bolgiano (BV) 1:47m

Discus: 1 J'nia Simpson (TC) 43 94m

4x800: 1 Tampa Berkeley Prep 10:04 47

100 hurdles: 1 Ibre Edwards (SB) 15 09

100: 1 Terrietta Smith (SB) 12 06

1600: 1 Mackenzie De Lisle (BV) 5:04 38 3 Jazlyn

Forbes (O) 5:14 25

4x100: 1 Sarasota Booker 48 09

400: 1 Jakai Peterson (SB) 57 36

400 hurdles: 1 Ibre Edwards (SB) 1:06 53 3 Sofia

Roman (BV) 1:08 26 4 Elise Bolgiano (BV) 1:09 26

800: 1 Caroline Muddell (BV) 2:24 52

200: 1 Terrietta Smith (SB) 26 02

3200: 1 Addison Dempsey (CM) 10:44 74 2 Mackenzie

De Lisle (BV) 10:49 69 3 Jazlyn Forbes (O) 11:11 13 6 Gianna Gyurich (BV) 11:39 70

4x400: 1 Sarasota Booker 4:06 14 2 Bishop Verot (Dalton Bolgiano, Fain, Roman, DeLisle, Garibay, Ward, Muddell) 4:11 05

It’s May: Tarpon season is on in Boca Grande Pass and elsewhere

From page 45

h f r o m Charlotte Harbor for the pass fish to feast on Fishing in the pass is accomplished by controlled drifting with the fleet and tides, correcting your speed and drift with the wheel and always- running motor, while giving way when possible to those already hooked up. Never anchor in the pass, especially with other boats present Simply

move up to the pass but, stay back for a while and observe how the other boats drift and maneuver till you get the idea, then give it a go and join in Think courtesy and common sense.

Special rules apply in April, May and June, such as no more than three lines in the water “Breakaway gear” is strictly prohibited The FWC states: “Gear that has a weight attached to the hook, artificial fly or lure in such a way that the weight hangs lower than the hook when the line or lure is

suspended vertically from the rod, is prohibited”

Circle hooks aren’t mandatory but any reef fish caught in the pass on non-circle hooks must be released.

Consult the FWC website for more special Boca Grande tarpon regulations and clarifications

Since tarpon are believed to be a 120 million-year-old species, how long they’ve been coming to Boca for their annual spring rituals is unknown The pass not

only has a rich fishing history but also offers several other species to target Tired of tarpon? Try that 500-pound Goliath grouper that hangs around the old phosphate docks.

Capt George Tunison is a Cape Coral resident fishing guide You can contact him at 239-282-9434 or via email at captgeorget3@aol com

Spring 2024 Career Fair: Next week at FM Technical School

From page 36

carpentry, electricity and plumbing

■ Tuesday, May 14, Manufacturing Trades - welding; turbine generator maintenance, inspection and repair; electronic technology; mechatronics technology; and biomedical equipment repair technology

Healthcare Trades - early childhood education, professional culinary arts and hospitality, cosmetology, and NET/WEB appli-

(articulated and practical nursing)

■ Friday, May 17, Mechanical Tradesautomotive collision technology technician, automotive service technology and marine service technologies

https://docs google com/forms/d/e/1FAIp

BjMNvfbRxS1RrBsp-SQ kA/closedform Fort Myers Techincal College is at 3800 Michigan Ave , Fort Myers For more information, visit https://fortmyerstech edu/

Cape Coral Breeze Athletes

Week of the

(Selected by the Breeze

Sports staff)

Announcements

Wanted To Buy

Classic & Antique

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