Parking plans for Blue Dog addressed at GPICA meeting
By PAULETTE LeBLANC pleblanc@breezenewspapers.com
The Greater Pine Island Civic Association general meeting was held Tuesday, May 6, at the First Baptist Church of Pine Island. Greg Stuart of Stuart and Associates Planning and Design Services was asked to speak on behalf of the Blue Dog about the restaurant’s request for deviations to parking zoning rules that would allow it to continue to offer outdoor seating.
Members will have an opportunity to vote on the proposed changes.
Stuart began his presentation by telling members he’s been a resident of Matlacha for 29 years and has been involved with the Greater Pine Island Plan since 1992.
“I’m here representing John Lynch, one of the co-own-
ers and co-founders of the Blue Dog,” Stuart said.
He has been working with John trying to get the county to allow Lynch to build a deck for outdoor dining at the restaurant. So far, Stuart said, this decision seems to have been based on a lack of parking accessibility.
“John has sponsored a regulatory reform, if you will, for parking — we’ve managed to change the rules to reduce the parking by around 40%,” Stuart said.
He went on to say that he has run numbers, which show Matlacha has lost a significant amount in property values, jobs and revenues. It is of the utmost importance, he added, that everyone does everything possible to support a viable build back of Matlacha.
“The original thrust of the Pine Island Plan was community, character and conservation and it’s been rela-
Elegant Mother’ Day high tea enjoyed by many at Fishers of Men Lutheran Church
By PAULETTE LeBLANC pleblanc@breezenewspapers.com
On Saturday, May 4, Fishers of Men Lutheran Church held a high tea event, in honor of Mother’s Day, for the ladies and friends of the church. Marilyn Moore, who was honored as hostess and emcee for the event, said over 60 people attended and the event, she described as very lovely. The high tea was technically free of charge, however, guests were encouraged to make a $15 donation to offset some of the cost.
“This was an event that you
would not think a fishing island might do because it was so elegant. The food was well prepared by the committee,” Moore said.
The food, she went on to say, was likened to cuisine one might find at a high tea of long ago, such as finger sandwiches with meats and Dijon cheese, smoked salmon, crab and cucumber crepes.
No effort to make participating guests feel welcomed was missed, she explained.
“Place settings were pink, white
See HIGH TEA, page 11
At left is one of the colorful decorations for the high tea at Fishers of Men Lutheran Church. Below are event leader Debbie Smith and hostess Marilyn Moore.
PHOTOS SUBMITTED BY KAREN HARTSHORNE AND MARILYN MOORE
tively successful — it’s done a good job — but now that we’re 2% into the 21st century, we’ve got to change the orientation for Matlacha,” Stuart said.
He went on to say that he was not including Pine Island itself in that statement, but Matlacha only and that the orientation needs to be changed, to include not only community and character but build back and recovery. Stuart went on to share seven rules and policies he’d thought might be a good idea for Matlacha. He also shared that support is, quite obviously, needed.
“My gosh, Matlacha, we’ve lost our heart and soul. We’ve lost Leoma, we’ve lost Bert’s, we’ve lost the Olde Fish House — we’ve lost so much,” Stuart said.
Celebrating Pine Islanders: Noel Anders
By PAULETTE LeBLANC pleblanc@breezenewspapers.com
Pine Islander Noel Anders said, if he were going to, although he runs 8 different companies, he would describe himself as a palm tree farmer.
“I raise the palm trees and I sell them to all the small landscape guys here down at the Center. I grow the trees. I’ve always liked growing things,” Anders said.
Although Anders is a 5th generation Floridian, he said he came to Pine Island in 1991. Before landing on the island, however, he attended Florida State University where he received a master’s degree in geology. A love for this area came easily he said, as both his father and grandfather were boat builders.
“They built a lot of boats for the fishermen on Pine Island and sometimes I got to go with my father to deliver the boats by water. We would camp out on Cayo Costa and I started buying property out there. One of the things my family and I did was we donated 4 acres, right on the beach, to Lee County,” Anders said.
Anders shared that he is also a real estate investor and that he and his family own over 200 properties throughout the west coast of Florida, which he manages with the help of his wife, son and daughter. Something which attests to his love for Pine Island is his contribution in helping in the beginnings of the Greater Pine Island Civic Association. He credits a woman named Anna Stober, a retired administrative nurse, and a man named, Gene Boyd, two of the GPICA founders, with his getting involved.
NOEL ANDERS, page 11
Noel Anders
FDOT announces transition to Phase 2 on Little Pine Island Bridge reconstruction project
MATLACHA – The Florida Department of Transportation scheduled a transition to Phase 2 of the reconstruction of the Little Pine Island Bridge. This transition was tentatively scheduled to begin the evening of Friday, May 9. Flaggers were set to be on-site to direct traffic through the transition.
When Phase 2 begins, all traffic will shift onto the newly constructed westbound side of the bridge, allowing two-lane traffic on the new bridge. As a reminder, motorists are asked to exercise caution and reduce their speed while driving through the work zone.
FDOT is committed to constructing a bridge that is built to last, capable of withstanding extreme loads and environmental stresses.
Once completed, this structure will embody resilience and sustainability, ensuring it stands strong against future storms and serves the community safely for generations to come.
FDOT reminds residents and visitors:
n Motorists are reminded not to block driveways or entrances and to follow all posted signage throughout the construction zone.
n Please use caution and watch for workers and construction vehicles entering and exiting the roadway.
n Noise from construction equipment in the area is to be expected.
n Since the start of construction with the Little Pine Island Bridge, boaters are asked to be aware of construction equipment and erosion control measures that are in place.
n Pedestrians and bicyclists are not permitted within the constructionzone.
To stay informed, motorists are encouraged to check FDOT’s traffic app at www.FL511.com for real-time updates. Live bridge camera feeds can be accessed at https://www.leegov.com/dot/traffic. To sign up for updates and access the weekly Road Watch, please visit the project website at 451937-2 Pine Island Causeway and Bridge Reconstruction Project. For further inquiries, contact the Communications Team at 239-800-6391 or email pineislandinfo@exp.com.
Lee County Parks & Recreation celebrates tree restoration effort at Matlacha Park thanks to U.S. Forest Service grant
Lee County Parks & Recreation has completed a vital tree replacement project at Matlacha Park, adjacent to the Matlacha Community Center, 4577 Pine Island Road. The work was made possible through grant funding from the U.S. Forest Service’s Urban and Community Forestry Program.
After Hurricane Ian, the park lost numerous trees, severely impacting its natural canopy and environmental resilience. With support from the U.S. Forest Service,
the area has been replanted, helping to restore the park’s beauty and ecological health.
The new trees will provide shade, enhance local wildlife habitat and support stormwater management efforts — all essential benefits for Florida’s subtropical climate.
The Matlacha Community Center remains closed for repairs following Hurricane Ian. However, Matlacha Park — including its boat ramp and pier — has reopened and remains a valued recreational space for residents and visitors.
For more information about Lee County Parks, visit www.leeparks.org/parks, call 239-533-7275, or email leeparks@leegov.com. Follow@leeparksandrecreation on Facebook and Instagram for updates.
To receive updates from Lee County Government, sign up for the newsletter at www.leegov.com/resources/newsletters. Follow Lee County Government on Facebook, www.facebook.com/leecountyflbocc.
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Web Poll
Previous Web Poll Question:
Are you concerned that the new tariffs will increase costs too much here?
n Yes. 46%
n No. 51%
n Maybe. 3%
n I have no opinion. 0%
Current Web Poll Question: Hurricane season is almost here, are you prepared?
n Yes.
n No.
n Getting there.
n When a storm is headed our way, then I’ll get ready.
Share your opinion at pineisland-eagle.com
Why are our government officials afraid of ‘We, the People?’
On Friday, May 2, Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida demonstrated again, that he, along with many of our Floridian legislators, continue to be terrified of the power of “We, the People.” How this time? By approving the most stringent restrictions on our ability to introduce citizen initiatives for amendments to our Constitution.
Right in our Constitution (Article 11, Section 3) it says: “The power to propose the revision or amendment of any portion or portions of this constitution by initiative is reserved to the people.” That’s a clear statement. It says “we the people” have the right reserved to us, the people, to amend the constitution. And as a group, we citizens have done a pretty good job, introducing things like the Sunshine Law (1976), Universal Pre-K (2002) and Fair Districts (2010). However, our governors didn’t like the fact that we had this power, and over the years (since 1976), the state has applied tougher and tougher requirements to get citizen initiatives on to the ballot. Probably because we got Minimum Wage implemented (2004 and 2020), Medical Cannabis legalized (2016) and Voter Rights Restored (2018), and worst of all, almost got all Marijuana Legalized (2024) and a Woman’s Right to Healthcare Privacy (2024) approved.
The last are particularly interesting, as it now seems that there was likely (though yet to be proven) some questionable funding for at-
FIBER presents interesting vision of Restored Matlacha To the editor:
On May 1 a team from the University of Florida Institute for Built Environmental Resistance (FIBER), led by Associate Professor Jeff Carney, presented a remarkable vision of a Restored Matlacha to a group of island civic association leaders. Working with the Fort Myers Collaboratory, the university team of architects and urban designers walked its audience through a 64slide rendition of ways to deal with the public space challenges of Matlacha in the aftermath of three major hurricanes. In attendance were Lee County Planner Dirk Danley Jr., and Florida Department of Transportation Project Manager Steven Andrews.
The first part of the project focused on transportation and parking challenges in Matlacha in the context of the FDOT Shared Path Feasibility Study which has been on hold since the hurricanes. The FIBER team
tack ads against the legalization of marijuana, and certainly, the governor and his cabinet were not shy about threatening the press over the abortion rights campaign. If true, these are hardly the act of a governor who wants to hear the will of the people.
So now we have approval of CB/HB 1205, approved on May 2 and which becomes law immediately. This bill requires that by taking that right that “is reserved to the people,” We the People must now:
n Give up our personally identifiable information, including driver’s license or last 4 digits of our Social Security number if we want to sign a petition.
n Petition gathers may only gather up to 25 petitions, or be subject to a felony. We can be petition circulators and gather more, but only if we go through rigorous training, and also be subject to egregious fines as well as potential felonies.
n Petitions can be gratuitously challenged, and the signer or gather subject to fines.
n Each petition must have the state certified Financial Impact (FI) on them, and if the FI changes, all previously signed petitions
Letters to the Editor
presented charts and maps showing its analysis of parking availability and parking needs for all three island “blocks” which make up Matlacha. Next, the study proposed flood adaptation strategies for Matlacha, focusing on public space, parking, landscaping and land redevelopment.
Drawing from coastal flooding data, the study set out four options for future development and resilience. The first labeled “Tactical Urbanism” proposed immediate interventions without major modifications to Pine Island Road to provide quick, lowcost improvements adaptable to short-term needs. Utilizing colorful asphalt art, landscaping and a variety of traffic and pedestrian controls, this approach focused on common areas and unconventional parking ideas.
The second option called Big Deck Tidal Flooding Resilience proposed large shared deck platforms hosting mobile structures (e.g., tiny homes, containers).
These platforms include stationary uses
are now invalid, and signature gathering must start again. Given that over 900,000 approved signatures are needed to get on a ballot, this requirement seems almost insurmountable, given Amendment 4’s experience with ad-hoc changes being made to the Financial Impact by the state throughout the life of the petition.
There’s more -- but I encourage you to read the bill for yourself, or the AP interpretation at https://apnews.com/article/florida-citizens-ballot-initiative-constitutional-amendment-desantis-50a5ac0048825c0756c7b850d4b81fed
What can you do on this? Talk to your neighbors. Make sure that they know about the state actively taking away our rights as defined by our state Constitution. Help organizations in the process of putting together citizen’s initiatives like the Florida Right to Clean Water. Keep your eyes on the look out for legal activity, as we, the people of this date, take action to protect our right to amend OUR constitution.
Cathie Kozik is president of the League of Women Voters of Sanibel.
such as seating and shop display.
This plan includes no setbacks; development reaches the parcel edge along Pine Island Road. Shared parking is located on the back side of the parcels. This plan includes stormwater management and shoreline restoration with native landscaping.
Options three and four focus on restoration to FEMA base flood elevations and aggressive shoreline restoration and flood management. These options conceive of a Matlacha with permanent structures elevated to current elevation requirements and permanent protection against the FEMA 100-year flood event by state-of-the-art seawalls with nature based shoreline enhancements.
The ingenuity and professionalism of this plan is a real breakthrough for the restoration of Matlacha, and builds on the renderings I circulated after Hurricane Ian of a permanently raised “block one” where we look to the re-opening of Bert’s Bar and other Matlacha icons. I look forward to circulating the FIBER plan in the community.
I am also excited that Mr. Danley of Lee County and Mr. Andrews of FDOT were at the meeting. Already numerous property owners are raising their homes or building new homes to FEMA standards. Many are hoping for assistance from Elevate Florida: Florida Department of Emergency Management Res idential Mitigation Program.
J. Michael Hannon Matlacha
Cathie Kozik Guest Commentary
Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation joins environmental groups in opposing Kingston project
This guest commentary is jointly submitted by Audubon Florida, Audubon Western Everglades, Big Waters Land Trust, Calusa Waterkeeper, Center for Biological Diversity, Conservancy of Southwest Florida, Earthjustice, Florida Wildlife Federation, Responsible Growth Management Coalition, Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation (SCCF), and South Florida Wildlands Association:
Our respective organizations stand united in stating our highest level of concern regarding the Kingston development proposed in the Greater Western Everglades. This 10,000-home project is close to having the authorizations and permits needed to begin construction, despite how harmful this residential and commercial development would be for the last bastion of rural lands in eastern Lee County.
Because of the enormous project size and negative implications for listed species and water resources, including on regionally significant private and public trust conservation lands, we urge the U.S. Army Corps to complete an Environmental Impact Statement under National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) procedures before making any decision on this Clean Water Act Section 404 permit application.
Kingston neighbors the Corkscrew Regional Ecosystem Watershed public lands and is upstream of Audubon’s Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary, where vis-
Guest Column
itors from around the world marvel at the swamp’s ancient trees and abundant wildlife. The Sanctuary is not only an important part of the Everglades, but also a wetland of importance in its own right, recognized internationally as the largest remaining stand of virgin, old-growth bald cypress in the world.
Our organizations are concerned about how the 6,700-acre Kingston project could potentially harm these environmentally sensitive conservation lands and the integrity of wetland habitat ecosystems they’re in place to protect.
Further, Kingston is located within the Florida Wildlife Corridor, a science-based conservation initiative to provide connectivity for wildlife throughout the state of Florida. The project site contains essential habitats for a number of endangered and threatened species like the crested caracara, Florida bonneted bat, and Florida panther.
The Kingston development will have significant negative impacts on the survival and recovery of the Florida panther because it will destroy, degrade and fragment habitat. The project will also increase traffic in the panther’s last occupied territory, resulting in increased deaths from vehicle collisions. Car crashes are already the number one documented cause of mortality for panthers, and we can only
expect that threat to worsen with more cars on the roads.
Despite much of the Kingston property being agricultural in nature, the now fallow citrus groves provide habitat to wildlife and buffer our cherished conservation lands from indirect impacts. It falls within the Lee County Density Reduction Groundwater Resource area, which was established ostensibly to protect animal habitat, wetland flowways, agriculture, and drinking water recharge and supply areas.
Thousands of citizens have written to decision-makers sharing concerns and objections to the project. We have provided substantial rationale for why an Environmental Impact Statement under NEPA is not only warranted, but necessary, before a significant permitting decision should be made.
Watersheds and habitat are lost development by development — where they are allowed and how they are designed matters. Many of Florida’s iconic rural and wild landscapes have already been lost to exurban sprawl, making what remains all the more precious. The Florida Wildlife Corridor and state’s Florida Forever Plan are two good conservation roadmaps — Kingston as proposed would conflict with both.
We are unified in our call that the Kingston development is not within the public interest. We again urge the Army Corps of Engineers to fully study this project before deciding whether to issue a permit which would forever change the landscape of southwest Florida. That study should be an Environmental Impact Statement under NEPA procedures.
This letter was submitted to Col. Brandon Bowman, Jacksonville District Commander, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, on April 7.
Fishers of Men Lutheran Church to host one-day Vacation Bible School June 7
Fishers of Men Lutheran Church is excited to offer Vacation Bible School on one Saturday morning, June 7, from 8:30 a.m. to noon. VBS 2025 is for youngsters 3 years old to 5th graders. This year’s session is from Galatians 5:22-23, “The Fruit of the Spirit.”
This year we are offering a class for
students with special needs up to high school age.
To register, call Eileen Hafer, the director of VBS, at 239-246-7625 or register on the church website at fomlutheran.com, Fishers of Men Lutheran Church is located at 10360 Stringfellow Road, St. James City, FL, 33956.
FruitScapes presentation at Garden Club meeting Thursday
This Thursday, May 15, the Pine Island Garden Club will host Carlie Coopoer at its monthly meeting beginning at 9 a.m. at the Fishers of Men Lutheran Church. She is a seasoned staff member of FruitScapes Nursery whose presentation will include the use, care and benefits of growing your own mangos and other tropical fruit trees here on Pine Island.
FruitScapes offers common and rare fruits on site adjacent to Gary and Donna Schneider’s Pine Island Tropical fruit stand located off Stringfellow Road leading towards Bokeelia.
Founded in 1975, the Pine Island Garden Club mission includes the protection and conservation of natural
PHOTO PROVIDED
Pine Island Chamber makes donation to Youth Baseball
Cynthia Welch of the Greater Pine Island Chamber of Commerce presents a donation check to the Rowell family with Pine Island Youth Baseball, thanks to the generous donations of everyone at IslandFest 2025.
resources, encouraging island beauty and stimulating the study of the fine art of gardening. Its civic duties include the creation and maintenance of the grounds at Phillips Park, Kiwanis Children’s Park, Museum of the Islands, Bokeelia Post Office and the butterfly garden at the Pine Island Elementary School. It also provides financial sup-
port to several island benevolent organizations, such as the Beacon of Hope, Calusa Land Trust, CROW and the Pine Island Food Pantry.
For more information, visit pineislandgardenclub.org or contact Marty Kendall at 239-283-8175
Greater Pine Island Elks offering scholarship opportunities for Florida Elks Youth Camp
The Greater Pine Island Elks are committed to providing unforgettable summer adventures for the children of the island! Islanders are urged to join the Elks in sending them to camp for an experience they will cherish for a lifetime!
The Florida Elks Youth Camp is dedicated to enriching the lives of children from across the state of Florida. The camp staff ensures a safe environment that promotes each camper’s mental, physical and social growth. Located on 405 acres of rolling hills, forests, lakes and open spaces in Marion County, the Florida Elks Youth Camp is a project of the Florida State Elks Association. The Elks are proud to have the camp accredited by the American Camping Association, with recertification every three years to guarantee compliance and a safe camping environment for children.
The camp maintains a ratio of one counselor and one counselor-in-training for every seven campers. Since opening its doors in 1991, the camp has welcomed children from all over Florida and has played a significant role in their development. It provides numerous opportunities that were previously unavailable to them. Campers can enhance their team-building skills, access state-of-
the-art recreational equipment, and enjoy a caring, social environment where the well-being of the children is always the top priority.
The Florida Elks Association provides summer camp opportunities for all children in Florida, as well as the children and grandchildren of Elks members, at an affordable cost for one or two weeks. The Elks also welcome those who are unable to pay. In addition to summer sessions, the camp is utilized year-round by various organizations that focus on enriching the lives of children, particularly those who are underprivileged or have disabilities.
The camp has become one of the finest in the country and is a source of pride for the Florida Elks. It is a popular destination for young people in Florida, with thousands visiting each year. If you have a child or grandchild aged 9 to 13 and want them to experience a lifetime adventure at the Florida Elks Youth Camp in Umatilla, Florida, please contact the Greater Pine Island Elks Lodge 2781 for more information or to inquire about a campership scholarship. You can reach them at 425-346-7226 or via email at pineislandelks@gmail.com. To take a tour of the camp, visit https://floridaelks.org/camp.
Pine Island Travel Club to hold first meeting at Salty Girls Cafe on May 22
Join us for the first Pine Island Travel Club happy hour meeting, Thursday May 22, at 4:30 p.m., at Salty Girls, featuring light hors d’oeuvres and wine provided by Salty Girls!
Discover exciting destinations, share your travel experiences and connect with fellow travel enthusiasts. Whether you’re a seasoned traveler or just starting out, there’s something for everyone. The group will
discuss upcoming trips, learn about new destinations, share some tips and tricks and inspire each other with travel stories.
Don’t miss out on this opportunity to connect and explore together!
RSVP is recommended to either Darcy Conner at 954–816–9779 or Carolyn Ryzanych at 707–2910310.
Hiring, retaining teachers remains a top school district challenge — and priority
By MEGHAN BRADBURY news@breezenewspapers.com
Although the School District of Lee County continues to reduce teaching vacancies, it still struggles with teachers leaving the district.
Human Resources Executive Director Dr. Shanna Johnston said during Tuesday’s School Board meeting that the district began a four-month initiative in January to focus on recruitment as it is one of their priorities — to align their vision and mission with recruiting, developing and maintaining highly developed staff.
At the beginning of the initiative, the district had 211 instructional vacancies, which is now at 31 open and advertised.
Seventeen of those positions are core instructional, she said.
Core classrooms are self-contained with teachers who have students in their classrooms as well as Exceptional Student Education professionals.
“Coaches, speech and language pathologists would be considered within the total,” Johnston said.
Johnston said 11 of the 31 openings are for speech and language pathologist.
1st
2nd
3rd
“We are not centralizing the hiring of speech and language pathologist. We are entertaining the thoughts of using a virtual model of pathologists,” she said, adding that there is a national movement from a case load to a workload. “Recognize not just how many students, but understanding the depths of resources needed.”
Another interesting piece of data that was shared Tuesday afternoon was the number of teachers hired since August and the number of those who have left.
Johnston said they have hired 197 teachers since Aug. 28, and 253 teachers have separated from the district.
“We are losing teachers faster than hiring them,” she said. “We have to focus on retention, which is the large part of the ‘why.’”
Teacher retention was 83.8% with a turnover of 16.2% in October 2023. The 2023-2024 actual results increased to 84.4% with a 15.6% turnover rate.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics the turnover range is from 12 to 16%.
The fiscal year 2024 retention rate was 92% in Collier County and 83% in
Cribbage Corner
4th Place — Rick Parrott
“Spud” of the week: Mike Mulder Thanks to all of you that participated this year. See you all the first Thursday of January next year.
Charlotte County.
Board member William Ribble said moving the needle 1% a year is not going to get the problem of teacher retention fixed.
“Turnover drives everything in the district. (If we) can’t get this fixed, we will be in trouble down the line. What is measured gets results. When you have that accountability, look at what happens to your numbers,” he said.
Johnston agreed in stating that 1% a year is not going to cut it, and the district must focus on high impact and retention.
“Every single aspect of our school district operation is designed to support the teaching process,” Deputy Superintendent Dr. Ken Savage said. “There are no small roles in this district, no small parts. That is part of the challenge. We have to find a way to optimize those services – looking at challenges by thinking differently.”
He said one big strategy is to look at virtual opportunities, as it opens the talent pool up to the entire country.
Board member Melisa Giovannelli questioned looking for talent nationwide with salaries not even competing with local districts.
“I think we need to focus on how to pay people now and competitively against our own district before we can hire and retain something nationally,” she said.
Savage said Florida has made great strides in raising the starting pay for teacher’s salaries, which has raised the compet-
itiveness for the state.
Johnston said within the new organizational structure they must establish metrics, retention rates, stay and exit surveys and interviews. Johnston said they do a great job of focusing on retention in the district – developing teachers, but what about other employees – custodians, cafeteria workers.
“We are too big to be dealing with one teacher, one person at a time,” Johnston said. “Strategies have to affect a lot of people at a time to make the needle move.”
The district learned many things throughout the four-month initiative.
One of those is the pathway to obtain a certification is complex and timely, longer than what the district acknowledged in many cases. She said individuals shared the barriers that they faced, which developed patterns the district saw. One of which is having a hard time passing subject area tests.
The district used Learning Liaisons to provide test prep to help individuals prepare for subject area tests. Forty-nine individuals utilized this service.
Another common barrier – the cost to take the subject area tests. Future Makers offered to pay for the test.
Language was another barrier, which resulted in setting up a course to help ease that barrier.
Johnston said it became more of a longterm initiative, rather than a four-month initiative.
Cribbage scores from May 1 at the St. James City Civic Association:
Place — Pam Placek
Place — Sue Mulder
Place — John Perkowski
Cats of the Week
‘Kitten Saturday’
Every Saturday is “Kitten Saturday” at Helping Paws. We try to keep the little ones out of the shelter, because their young immune systems can’t handle the big cat germs. Our solution is to bring them in every Saturday for a few hours for you to meet. Here are a few of our newest available kittens. They range in ages from 8-12 weeks and as always they are adopt one get one free. Our adoption fee is $60, but considering that all the medical is included and we offer free boarding and nail trims for them, it is actually cheaper than any “free” kitten you could get on Craig’s List. Those kittens are rarely fixed, tested for leukemia or given shots, so by the time you factor in those costly expenses, they are far from “free.” If you would like to meet these adorable fur-babies, stop in any Saturday from 5-7 p.m. We have plenty of kittens to choose from and more coming in soon. Call Helping Paws Animal Sanctuary at 239-283-9100 if you have any questions. If you’d rather just donate, our address is 10060 Mallory Parkway E, Unit D, St. James City, or there’s always our website www.helpingpawsanimalsanctuary.com. Thank You!
Deadline Friday for Legion Post 136 scholarship applications
American Legion Post 136 is offering scholarships to students graduating from high school and attending college or university, accredited programs such as nursing school, technical or trade school an opportunity to continuing education.
Scholarship applications can be downloaded online or are available for pick-up at the Post for students who have attended
Pine Island Elementary, is a member of the American Legion or have an immediate family member who is a member of the Legion.
All applications must be post marked by Friday, May 16. Students can get their application by going online at www. post136fl.org or contacting Ed Mitchell at 239-246-7634.
SJCCA Update
St. James City Civic Association has announced the following upcoming events and activities:
Thursday, May 15
n Ping Pong, 9-11 a.m. It’s a fun way to meet the neighbors and play ping pong
n Mahjongg, 1-4 p.m. This is a great place to learn to play mahjongg! Contact Terry at 239-233-2766.
Friday, May 16
n Shuffleboard, 9-11 a.m. All equipment provided. Beginners welcome.
n Stella’s Flower Cart Craft Workshop, 1-3 p.m. In this month’s workshop you will use a decoupage technique to transform a plain glass jar into a lovely floral vase. Pre-registration is required -- please call Michelle 239-691-1078 or email rainee0405@gmail.com. The cost is $25
per person, which includes all project supplies
Tuesday, May 20
n Shuffleboard, 9-11 a.m.
Wednesday, May 21
n PI Learners Nature Group, 10-11:30 a.m. Fun activities for the island’s children hosted weekly
n Guided Meditation with Christine, 4:15-5:15 p.m. This 30-minute meditation class will be a guided meditation offering techniques to help you focus on the present moment with non-judgmental awareness.
All activities are held at St James City Civic Association, 3300 Fourth Ave., St James City. More details, contacts and ticket sales are available at SJCCAPI. ORG
Pine Island Art Association to hold
Wednesday Summer Art Class
The Pine Island Art Association has space for a few more students in its Wednesday Summer Art Class.
Come join the group for a relaxing start to the day at Pine Island United Methodist Church Wednesday mornings, 9 a.m. to noon, from May through September.
The class fee is $125 for the entire session, along with a membership fee of $30.
The Art Association has a rotation of teachers for the classes.
Please contact Sharon at smtraylo@ gmail.com if you are interested in joining the class.
Free breast healthcare today at
Free breast healthcare will be available today, May 14, from noon to 4 p.m., at the Beacon Of Hope at 5090 Doug Taylor Circle, St. James City.
To qualify for the healthcare, you must: have no health insurance; are a legal resident of Lee, Charlotte, Glades, Henry or Collier counties; and/or be at or below 400% of the federal poverty level — example $58,320 for one person $120,000 for a family of four.
Call 239–454–85833 to qualify for the free healthcare and to schedule an appointment.
Tarpon inshore and grouper offshore
With the exception of tarpon anglers, there are noticeably fewer boats fishing across the inshore waters as season winds down.
Weekends can still get crowded, but overall there are less anglers to compete with.
The largest concentration of tarpon and tarpon anglers is in and around Boca Grande Pass. This is the norm for the next two months as tarpon season is in full swing. This can be stressful fishing as boats and fish are often tightly concentrated. If you haven’t fished tarpon in the pass, do
yourself a favor, educate yourself before heading out, and spend a good amount of time outside the pack of boats and observe. With a little common sense, you will pick up on the drifting/fishing pattern and see what not to do.
While some anglers and guides can give helpful advice when drifting nearby, others can be downright nasty.
If you’re like me and the chaos isn’t your thing, there are plenty of other areas to hook into the silver king.
And often without another boat in
sight. Once you learn a few areas holding fish, it’s often good from season to season as tarpon seem to follow a similar pattern year after year.
Every day tarpon are moving up or down the coast off the beaches and often in schools. On calm days you might see a group swimming in a tight circle called “daisy chaining.” They do this for a few minutes before forming a line and continuing on their path.
It’s the same inshore; tarpon are found throughout Pine Island Sound, often in water 6-10 feet and also in Charlotte Harbor and San Carlor Bay in similar depths. If tarpon are hungry, they aren’t picky on what they eat, but they also can be very finicky and turn away from all baits.
Favored baits include live pinfish, pilchards, thread herring and small ladyfish, and cut baits including ladyfish, mullet and catfish tails, plus small live blue and pass crabs.
While many anglers enjoy fishing with the crowds of Boca Grande Pass, others prefer a more relaxed style of anchoring up around inshore waters, baits out with rods in holders and letting the fish come to them.
Several days of calm seas allowed anglers to venture deep into Gulf waters boxing some good catches. Large red grouper, with some over 30 inches were brought up along with a mix of snapper,
plus reports of blackfin tuna and amberjack.
All reports came from depths beyond 100 feet, with grouper taking both live pinfish and cut bait.
A full moon week should bring strong tides and good fishing. You can feel our weather patterns changing as it’s getting time to keep an eye out for developing thunderstorms while on the water.
Stay up to date with fishing regulatioStay up to date with fishing regulations by visiting the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission at: www.myfwc. com. Also, upload the Fish Rules app on your phone. It has current regulations with pictures to help identify fish. If you turn on your GPS location the Fish Rules app updates to your location. In my opinion, it is more accurate and up to date than FWC’s website.
If you have a fishing report or for charter information, please contact us at Gulf Coast Guide Service -- call or text 239-410-8576; website at www. fishpine island.com; or email gcl2fish@ live.com
Have a safe week and good fishin’
As a lifetime resident of Matlacha and Pine Island, Capt. Bill Russell has spent his life fishing and learning the waters around Pine Island and Southwest Florida, and as a professional fishing guide for over 20 years.
Capt. Bill Russell On the Water
PHOTO PROVIDED
These red groupers were big enough to take first place in the annual NUCA fishing tournament out of Captiva Island. They were caught fishing with Capt. Scotty Darna of Salty Boy Charters out of Bokeelia.
and gold — the plates were stunning. One of our guests said that she had grown up going to high teas and though she went to many of them, this one was the best, ” Moore said.
Above is one of the elegant table settings for the high tea. At right is Pastor Tom Hafer with hostess Marilyn Moore.
Accolades from those involved were tremendous, she said, ascertaining that there will be a plan for next year as well. Pastor Tom Hafer, who led the men of Fishers of Men in volunteering as wait staff for the day’s event, even dressing
Islanders reminded that waste collection schedule has changed
Residents of unincorporated Lee County, the Town of Fort Myers Beach, Village of Estero and city of Bonita Springs are now asked to set their trash, recycling and yard waste to the curb by 5:30 a.m. The new hours began May 1.
This is one hour earlier than the typical set-out time of 6:30 a.m. The seasonal change is to help the contracted haulers’ drivers complete routes earlier in the day as summer’s heat arrives. This annual seasonal adjustment does not impact the day of the week residents have their materials collected; that remains the same.
Pine Island and Matlacha are among the affected areas included in the seasonal schedule change. Other unincorporated
Noel Anders
areas include Captiva, North Fort Myers, Fort Myers Shores, Alva, Lehigh Acres, south Fort Myers and Iona.
To learn more about what to set out at the curb and proper disposal methods, visit Lee County Solid Waste at www. leegov.com/solidwaste. To recall what your collection day is, visit www.leegov.com and input your address into the “Resident Information Lookup” on the home page.
Receive updates from Lee County Government by signing up for the newsletter here: www.leegov.com/resources/newsletters. Follow Lee County Government on Facebook, www.facebook.com/leecountyflbocc.
From page 1
“Stober talked me into serving to represent Pine Island on the Lee County local planning agency. So I was involved with the local planning agency for 17 years in Lee County and I was instrumental in writing a lot of the development proposals that were approved throughout the last 25 or 30 years. I also served as chairman of the county local planning agency at the same time I was chairman of the committee that re-wrote the Pine Island Plan, ” Anders said.
Anders said he really wants folks to understand why the majority of people on Pine Island admit their desire to keep the island the way it is. The reason Pine Island makes folks want to keep it, he said, is due to a handful of people, such as himself, the Boyds and Stobers who were instrumental in getting policies passed. The late Phil Buchanan, he said, was also extremely helpful with making certain things such as a height restriction, limiting building requirements on Pine Island.
“We have a lot of different protections on the island that are not in the rest of the
their part in pink bow ties, she said was wonderful, as always.
“He is a fantastic person, and a fantastic preacher,” Moore said.
Moore went on to say that this event was talked about so well, that people already promised to come back next year with more guests for the church event.
“Our church really helps the people of
offering, and so many other things — we were in decline, but now,our little congregation is growing leaps and bounds,” Moore said.
Fishers of Men Lutheran Church is at 10360 Stringfellow Road, St. James City. Contact the church at 239-283-1170 or online visit Fomlutheran.com
for
PINE ISLAND TIDE CHART MAY 2025
county,” Anders said.
He maintains that there is an organization which represents all of the Pine Island planning community. Things such as public informational meetings on the island to notify islanders before qualifying for an application deemed sufficient in planning and development with the county.
Anders’ ultimate wish is, of course, for the fundamental benefit of Pine Island and the islanders
“I would like to see us develop a program to identify water quality issues over a period of time and try to get grant funding for septic-to-sewer conversion. It’s very important that we retain our height restriction on the island — that is number one right there, because if we do away with the height restriction you’re gonna get too much density. There are thousands of lots on the island that are already fully vested for a home. Our best bet for keeping the island the way it is, is to encourage more density moved off the island,” Anders said.
Courtesy of D&D Matlacha
PHOTOS SUBMITTED BY KAREN HARTSHORNE AND MARILYN MOORE
The servers
the high tea at Fishers of Men Lutheran Church.
GPICA meeting
GPICA president Christine Blum explained to members that since the majority of GPICA members were in attendance online, it would be impossible to take any
From page 4
Restricting the right to amend Florida’s Constitution
To the editor:
Let’s cut the nonsense, folks: Florida’s HB 1205 (just now signed into law) isn’t about “cleaning up” the citizen initiative process. It’s about power. It’s about control. And it’s about the political elite in Tallahassee doing everything they can to
page 1
kind of a vote or get an accurate count.
The next GPICA general meeting will take place Tuesday, June 3, at the First Baptist Church of Pine Island, at
5363 Avenue D, Bokeelia, near Pine Island Center across from Pine Island Elementary School.
To watch this meeting in its entirety
Letters to the Editor
keep the people—the actual citizens of Florida—from going around them.
The bill’s sponsors said they’re concerned about “out-of-state bad actors.” Please. That’s political theater at its laziest. Since when did the ZIP code of an idea determine its merit? If a proposal gains enough signatures and resonates with Floridians, it shouldn’t matter who helped pass the clipboard. Good ideas shouldn’t require a Florida driver’s license.
What’s really going on here? Simple. Politicians are terrified that ordinary people might use the tools of direct democracy to push for things they don’t like. That’s it. Marijuana decriminalization. Term limits. Privacy rights. Things the ruling class refuses to touch, the people put on the ballot. And they hate that.
So instead of listening to us peasants and what we want, they’re attempting a sleight of hand, smoothly changing the rules to benefit bureaucrats.
HB 1205 now adds unnecessary red tape, shortens petition deadlines, raises fines, and—get this—criminalizes people for collecting signatures outside their inner circle. You heard that right. Help gather signatures for a cause you believe in, and you could be hit with a third-degree felony. That’s nuts!
The hypocrisy is rich. After Gov. DeSantis blew millions in taxpayer money to campaign against citizen initiatives he
through live streaming, go to the Greater Pine Island Civic Association Facebook page.
didn’t like, the Legislature is suddenly concerned about public money being used on ballot amendments. Now that someone else might have the mic, they want to unplug it.
Look, I agree the Constitution shouldn’t be amended willy-nilly based on flavorof-the-month politics. But handicapping the people’s ability to amend the basic law of the land is not the way to fix that. If the system is being abused, tighten transparency—not freedom. Fix fraud, don’t fix the fight.
HB 1205 isn’t about protecting the Constitution. It’s about fencing it off from the very people it’s supposed to serve.
We’re losing our freedom, one ratchet at a time. It’s time for us to wake up and smell the rot.
Larry Gillis Director-at-Large
of the Libertarian Party of Florida Cape Coral
Bridge Beat
Bridge is played at 12:30 p.m. every Wednesday at the Fishers of Men Lutheran Church, located at 10360 Stringfellow Road, St. James City.
Anyone wishing to play is welcome and does not need a partner. It costs $3to play, some of which goes back to winners of the game. Come join us. Sharpen your brain!
Winners May 7 were Karen McWright, first place; Barb Carrier, second place; and MaryAnn Kuhn, third place. One slam was bid and made by Karen and Barb.
