053025 Cape Coral Weekend Breeze

Rental registration fee hike

By MEGHAN BRADBURY news@breezenewspapers.com

A controversial plan to hike the registration fee on rentals to fund a proposed city tourism fund will go back to the drawing board following another wave of industry outcry Wednesday.

More than 30 people spoke in opposi-

tion at the Cape Coral City Council workshop, with a Council majority agreeing that a pair of related ordinances could not move forward in their current form.

The two ordinances, 26-25, and 27-25 were sponsored by Councilmember Keith Long, who had an earlier Council consensus to bring the concept forward.

Long said the ordinance was intended for short-term rentals and he will own the fact that that was not correctly conveyed in the contested ordinance he then withdrew.

Long also withdrew the related ordinance which would have given the Cape Coral Police Department the authority to remove renters whose landlords had failed to pay

the registration fee, which the ordinance raised from a one-time levy of $35 to $600 per year.

“This is going to be geared towards short-term registration. The enforcement mechanism provided in there — it should be a civil citation,” he said. “It spawned out

ABy CJ HADDAD cjhaddad@breezenewspapers.com

project that broke ground two years ago to bolster the training capabilities for city first responders celebrated completion on Tuesday.

The Cape Coral Fire Department held a grand opening of the Engineer Michael Camelo Jr. Training Center at 2120 SW 32nd Street.

The opening ceremony featured remarks

from Mayor John Gunter, Councilmember Laurie Lehmann, Division Chief of Professional Standards Greg Markley, and Fire Chief Mike Russell.

The ceremony concluded with heartfelt words from retired CCFD Lieutenant Michael Camelo

By MEGHAN BRADBURY news@breezenewspapers.com

Saying not enough financial information was made available, Cape Coral City Council held off on a consensus vote on the Sands Boulevard Bridge Wednesday. A determination on whether to repair, replace, or remove the structure city officials say was damaged by Hurricane Ian will now take place at a later date.

Residents who spoke at Wednesday’s workshop meeting were adamantly opposed to the bridge’s removal, saying it is needed for emergency access in and out of their neighborhood.

The city Transportation Advisory Commission, where the original discussions were first had, recommended removal of the bridge.

In March, the city said it learned through a field inspection that there is significant deterioration of the seawall, which has led to a progressive loss of fill material behind the wall. This has resulted in panel displacement and excessive stress on the anchor rods.

The structure originally sustained damage to the northbound portion of the bridge over the Eternity Canal in 2022 from

City looks at selling ‘naming rights,’ sponsorships

By MEGHAN BRADBURY news@breezenewspapers.com

The city of Cape Coral has partnered with a firm that helps governments raise money by selling naming rights for assets and sponsorships.

Cape Coral City Council agreed to move forward with a possible partnership with the Superlative Group, which approached to the city.

City Manager Mike Ilczyszyn said staff will begin to put together a package to inform Council what assets they think have value and the get Council buy-in to move forward.

“It is something new for our community. We didn’t want to move forward without having buy-in,” he said.

Parks and Recreation Director Joe Petrella said when Corporate Partnerships and Development Senior Director Sean Gallagher reached out, he researched the firm and saw it as a great opportunity.

“This would be a very good way for us to fund potential tourism types of things. I love this idea. It’s appropriate in what we want to do. I am pleased with this. I think it can be a definite win-win.”

— Jennifer Nelson-Lastra, city councilmember

“I am extremely excited to work with them,” he said, adding that staff needs to stop being what they are not. “I am not a marketer, or sales rep.”

The firm, which was founded 30 years ago in Cleveland, Ohio, spends 85% of its business representing municipalities.

“We are eager to be here. There are assets to sell here,” Gallagher said.

Analytics and Valuation Manager Ethan Richards took council through a fourmonth timeline that began in October. He went over the valuation methodology, which includes quantifying audience impressions, discount wasted impressions, and multiplying impressions by appropriate CPM Media

Rate to get the fair market value.

Gallagher said it’s a sales campaign for the 30-plus assets they have looked at within the city, so they can go out and sell it and pitch it to sponsors. He said to progress, they provided two different options with varying amounts of commission.

Gallagher said they are not reaching out to anyone or pitching before Council approves the prospect list, letter template and marketing materials.

“Everything is approved before pitched,” he said. “During the sales campaign, I look to have monthly progress reports, active conversations – here are the declines, active companies that we are reaching out to.”

Gallagher said once they work through the process, term sheets will be created to

put the assets on paper for negotiation purposes. He said their in-house legal counsel will help build and draft the agreement to share with the city for initial review and include language where they see fit.

“I stand in the middle between the prospect and the city. We are serving as the in-between,” Gallagher said.

He said they will package as many assets as possible together, such as the small parks.

“I’m not trying to find a sponsor for everything. You have a large-term naming rights partner, and you have revenue coming in year over year,” Gallagher said. “I will pitch the highest-value opportunities. My job is getting it to the dotted line.”

Councilmember Bill Steinke said the funds from naming rights could be used for a tourist development fund, as it is growth paying for growth. He said it’s a perfect revenue source for dollars to contribute to that kind of fund — growing additional venues.

“This would be a very good way for us to fund potential tourism types of things,” Councilmember Jennifer Nelson-Lastra said. “I love this idea. It’s appropriate in what we want to do. I am pleased with this. I think it can be a definite win-win.”

City, Boathouse, hope to reach agreement for rebuild by July

By MEGHAN BRADBURY news@breezenewspapers.com

The Cape Coral City Council would like to see an agreement for the Boathouse Tiki Bar & Grill come back to the board by mid July.

Council reached the consensus Wednesday during a workshop that included discussion on its lease with the Kearns Restaurant Group for its restaurant on city land at the Yacht Club.

The Yacht Club park suffered heavy damage by Hurricane Ian, as did the popular Boathouse, which then suffered another devastating loss from a fire shortly after it re-opened.

City Manager Mike Ilczyszyn said the city is continuing to negotiate a replacement contract, or agreement, with the group.

“Essentially what we are looking at is a replacement facility that would service our community into the future,” Ilczyszyn said.

He added that would “involve a total reconstruction of what is there now, and from my perspective, what you all thought were the needs. I have been taking those and utilizing those to get to a new agreement. Zak (Kearns) is aware of those items, and we have been working to make sure all those are covered in the agreement. The hope is a replacement agreement that will reach a new building.”

Mayor John Gunter had the item placed on the agenda, not to talk about the specifics of the lease, but his concern that it is now 223 days since the fire. He said he brought the discussion forward because he believes a date certain for the agreement needed to be made, as well as talk about the damaged structure that has not been demolished.

“I have a concern with the brittle structure that is still partially erected at the Yacht Club, and we are going

“What we are discussing is the timing of the revenues and who participates when. The rest of the deal, idea, we are basically done. I think that we are really close. If the idea is to come back in July with the terms and the deal, I don’t have any issues with that.”

—Michael Ilczyszyn city manager

into hurricane season,” Gunter said. “That structure could become a liability.”

Zak Kearns, of Kearns Restaurant Group, said they can get to an agreement within a timeline.

“We value what we have had with the city for 10 plus years. I do feel confident and what it has evolved into,” he said of the restaurant. “We are more than capable and able to do it. I am more than confident we will get a deal done.”

Kearns said they are taking an existing lease and constructing it into a concessionaire agreement.

“We are up to almost eight months,” he said, adding that they want to be back in business. “We will come to an agreement, and I am excited to do so and be there for many more years to come.”

Ilczyszyn said they are down to one item with the agreement – the Kearns Group’s return on investment of what they have to build. The options are front-loaded, level loaded, or tail end loaded.

“What we are discussing is the timing of the revenues and who participates when,” he said of the expectation of the two parties. “The rest of the deal, idea, we are basically done. I think that we are really close. If the idea is to come back in July with the terms and the deal, I don’t have any issues with that.”

City Attorney Aleksandr Boksner said if an agreement is not reached by July 16, a scheduled City Council meeting, he will take the necessary and appropriate steps for the legal best interest of the city.

As far as demolition, Kearns said they did apply for a permit, which was not handed down to them.

“I would be happy to pay for the demolition tomorrow, (if you) waive any rights against us for the safety of the residents,” he said.

Boksner said the city took the position that the Kearns Group is not lawfully permitted to take down the structure.

“I wasn’t going to permit the structure to be demolished based on evidence value,” he said.

Ilczyszyn said they are prepared to issue the demolition permit once they have an agreement that satisfies the need based on the replacement.

“Staff is on standby,” he said.

Council asked for worse-case scenarios and if the riverfront building off Driftwood Parkway could be demolished.

Boksner said there are ways to document the evidence value of the structure.

“There are ways to preserve the evidence value of what I have identified in the structure right now,” he said. “There is a legal mechanism to secure the things that remain there.”

The Breeze OpiniOns

Cape COral Breeze

RAYMOND M. ECKENRODE Publisher

VALARIE HARRING, Executive Editor

CHRIS STRINE, Editor

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

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

Member Florida Press Association

Congratulations to the Class of ‘25

Here’s to the Class of ’25.

Graduations in Lee County wrapped up two weekends ago with nearly 6,200 graduating from the Lee County School District’s 15 high schools, many of them with not only a diploma but with various advanced academic program and industry certifications.

Hundreds more graduated from private and other schools.

They did not have an easy path.

Born during the Great Recession, the Class of 2025 saw their educations interrupted by both a global pandemic and a Category 5 hurricane.

They now face young adulthood in a time of worldwide change and unrest.

To them we say kudos — you got here.

And you’re going to get to your next step of choice.

And the next.

Just like the graduates who have entered the adult world during all the roadblocks in paths past.

We could offer the same sage advice that adults have proffered for generations: Don’t expect points for effort anymore; accept that nobody owes you anything, and be prepared to deal with the hard, cold fact that life is often neither fair nor easy.

But we know that the Class of 2025 is well aware of life’s harsh realities.

So instead of the traditional get-ready-to-grow-up mantra, we will again recognize that there are many in this year’s graduating class, both here in Lee County and across the state of Florida, who are, indeed, already adults, young adults who want to change a world that needs changing.

On that mission, we wish them well.

And we wish that there was far, far less for them to tackle.

—Breeze editorial

Yes. ∫ I’m getting ready.

No. ∫ I don’t “prepare,” I evacuate. Vote at capecoralbreeze.com.

Previous poll question:

Should the city increase its $35 one-time registration fee for rental properties to $600 per year to create a Tourist Development Fund? ∫ Yes.

May 30, 2025

Hidden crisis: Senior hunger in S.W. Florida

Southwest Florida is often seen as a haven for retirees enjoying the rewards of successful careers. Yet beneath this image of affluence, many seniors are quietly struggling to make ends meet.

Not every senior is living the life of luxury. Many who devoted their careers to education, customer service, hospitality, the public sector and other admirable fields are having an increasingly difficult time keeping up with rising costs of food, housing, health care and transportation.

In a region where affluence is abundant, one in 12 Southwest Florida seniors is food insecure. These individuals never expected at this point in their lives to be experiencing hunger and needing help to put food on the table. The death of a spouse, underperforming investments, cuts in pensions and other unexpected financial situations present significant challenges to seniors on a fixed income.

Richard LeBer Guest Commentary

The federal government’s Administration for Community Living recognizes May as Older Americans Month, a designation meant to reaffirm our commitment to serving older adults in the community. Part of that commitment is ensuring that in a region as prosperous as ours, no senior – and no child, veteran or parent, either – should ever go hungry.

Harry Chapin Food Bank is delivering on its commitment to ensuring no one in our community goes hungry. The non-

profit offers several programs specific to older populations:

n The Care and Share Senior Feeding Program supports 2,600 lower-income seniors in Charlotte, Collier and Lee counties by providing pre-packaged food kits with easy-to-prepare meals and shelf-stable fruits, vegetables, proteins, cheeses and grains. When possible, the Food Bank supplements food kits with fresh produce and other perishable foods.

n The Federal Commodity Supplemental Food Program supports seniors in Hendry and Glades counties by supplementing their diets with nutritional foods that often are lacking in diets of lower-income, older individuals. Food is provided once a month in boxes through the USDA.

n Meals on Wheels is offered through our agency partners like Community Cooperative and relies on volunteers to deliver daily, nutritious meals to the homes of seniors who cannot regularly shop and cook for themselves. Recipients include seniors recovering from illness or surgery, as well as those who are disabled or chronically ill.

Many seniors are on a fixed income. Unfortunately, their expenses aren’t fixed... they are rising. Food costs for staples like proteins, vegetables, fruit and dairy products have skyrocketed in recent years.

We shouldn’t need a reminder, but Older Americans

See GUEST COMMENTARY, page 6

Letters to the editor

Redfish Pointe rezoning – A balanced vision for Cape Coral’s future

To the editor:

As an active outdoor enthusiast and nature advocate, and advocate for our community’s smarter growth in Cape Coral, I am seeing a solution that will provide over 2,000 desperately needed jobs to the community plus the active conservation of our beautiful land.

I am compelled to address the concerns raised by Joseph Bonasia in a recent letter to the editor regarding the proposed rezoning of Redfish Pointe, a 350-acre parcel south of Rotary Park. While I share the passion for protecting our natural environment, the opposition’s call to preserve this land in its current state overlooks the opportunity to create a vibrant, sustainable future for Cape Coral. Rezoning Redfish Pointe is not about erasing our natural heritage but about enabling responsible development that balances economic prosperity, cultural enrichment, and environmental stewardship.

Joe Mazurkiewicz, representing the property owners, has proposed a plan that preserves 240 acres — nearly 70% of the parcel — as open space, directly addressing environmental concerns. This is a commitment to thoughtful growth. As someone who values Cape Coral’s natural beauty, I understand the importance of safeguarding our ecosystems. Modern development practices, such as advanced stormwater management, wildlife corridors, and native landscaping, allow us to protect and even enhance our environment. As a matter of fact, one of my friend’s fathers created the storm drain covers that are stamped with “Save Our Fish” (with an image of a fish) which I have promoted everywhere I have lived since. Rezoning Redfish Pointe would ensure these measures are implemented, with legally binding provisions like the proposed Restrictive Declaration to hold developers accountable.

The economic benefits are undeniable. Rezoning could unlock an estimated $18 million in annual revenue for Cape Coral, create over 2,000 jobs that are desperately needed here, and introduce amenities like shops, restaurants, more recreation like boardwalks, bike/walking paths, and cultural venues such as galleries and concert spaces. These are opportunities to elevate our city’s quality of life, attract tourism, and support local businesses. Picture families enjoying more waterfront trails, visitors boosting our economy at a resort destination, and residents benefiting from a stronger tax base to fund schools and infrastructure (something the city of Cape Coral desperately needs in

order to be less burdensome on the local taxpayers). This is the kind of progress that defines a thriving community. Opponents argue that leaving the land untouched is the only way to preserve it, but this view ignores the reality seen in our recent hurricanes, that unmanaged land can degrade without active conservation. Rezoning allows the city to enforce strict environmental standards, addressing concerns about flooding and habitat loss raised by Mr. Bonasia. For instance, developers could be required to restore native habitats and implement flood-mitigation systems, making Redfish Pointe a model of sustainable development. Tarpon Point, a local success story, shows how waterfront development can enhance both our economy and our city’s aesthetic appeal which is badly needed here in Cape Coral... Cape Coral is at a pivotal moment. Our growing population demands forward-thinking solutions, and rezoning Redfish Pointe is a step toward meeting those needs while respecting our environment. Denying this opportunity risks stifling economic growth and leaving our community unprepared for the future. As a resident who has seen Cape Coral evolve as we’ve struggled and excelled through hurricane after hurricane, I believe we can embrace progress without sacrificing our values. Recent challenges, like rising insurance costs and storm risks, underscore the need for resilient development. Rezoning Redfish Pointe can incorporate cutting-edge flood defenses (which as seen during the last few hurricanes, are desperately needed here) and sustainable design, making our city stronger, not weaker.

As an ardent fan of our beautiful area, and a professional focusing on real estate while sustaining nature’s bounty, I urge Cape Coral’s residents and leaders to support the rezoning of Redfish Pointe. This is a chance to shape a future that honors our environment, enriches our community, and secures prosperity for generations to come. Let’s move forward together, ensuring that development reflects our shared vision for a vibrant, sustainable Cape Coral.

David Don Hobley Cape Coral

Public invited to Flag Day boat parade

To the editor:

This Flag Day, Saturday, June 14, at 10 a.m., the Lee GOP America First Club will be celebrating patriotism in motion at Freedom Fleet — Sailing the Sovereign Seas, a red, white, and blue boat parade on the Caloosahatchee

Proposed Endangered Species Act changes pose huge threat to wildlife

The federal government is considering revising the Endangered Species Act in a way that will make protections for imperiled populations far less comprehensive, and in result, species far more vulnerable.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Marine Fisheries Service are proposing a revision to the ESA where habitat modification would no longer be included in the regulatory definition of “harm.” Under current ESA regulations, the modification or degradation of habitat that species rely upon is considered “harm” to imperiled populations and given weight in legal proceedings.

The stripped-back definition being proposed by the FWS and NMFS would rescind the regulatory definition of “harm” and instead use the statutory definition of “take.” Utilizing the definition of “take” would protect imperiled species from being intentionally maimed or killed, but fail to protect the habitats they rely upon for survival.

This seemingly minor change in phras-

ing could have far-reaching, devastating impacts on currently intact habitat and all of the biodiversity fostered by these spaces, not just imperiled species.

Maintaining suitable habitat is paramount to species survival as these forests, grasslands, wetlands and other natural landscapes provide them every life-sustaining condition they rely upon. Without sufficient habitat, imperiled species have nowhere to find food, shelter from the environment, find mates or raise their young. They are equally reliant on their habitats as humans are on homes and communities, and the destruction of these ecosystems will greatly lessen their chances of population recovery, let

Commentary

From page 4

River in Fort Myers. This sounds like this may be one of the best Flag Day events Lee County has seen in a long time.

This event will be honoring historic milestones — the adoption of the American flag, the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Army, and President Donald J. Trump’s birthday — with a “Made in the U.S.A.” theme that proudly celebrates American freedom, strength, spirit, and small business.

This is an event I will definitely be attending to honor our U.S. Army, and our great American flag that stands for freedom. All patriotic Americans who want to have a fantastic time celebrating our great heritage are invited to attend.

For more information, contact the Lee County GOP Headquarters at (239) 936-8779 or visit www.leegop.org.

Arthur E. Amidano Committeeman Ptc.111 Cape Coral

Support for DOGE should cross party lines

To the editor:

I’m sure we all have many friends on both sides of the political aisle. Over the years, I have intentionally refrained from revealing my own personal positions on either side because I value each of their political opinions and their friendships. That being said, I will again try to remain neutral in this discussion.

As a member of the Baby Boomer generation, I can remember back in the ’60s all of us hippies wanted to change the world. Well… it looks like we did, just not in the way it was expected.

One of the major focuses of the current administration is the country’s debt and spending deficit. Most of us know the U.S. is $37 trillion in debt. That number is expected to increase by about $2 trillion a year at the current rate of governmental spending.

The average American can’t comprehend those numbers. So let’s put it in the perspective of a typical household budget. If a family earned $80,000 last year, it would have spent every penny of that. In addition, they would

alone survival.

Additionally, the extreme development pressure likely to ensue if this regulation were to be revised could push species that previously maintained healthy populations to become threatened or endangered. Missing in the proposed ESA revision is the consideration that habitat loss and destruction are one of the largest drivers of extinction, and a main reason imperiled species become listed at all.

The ESA is one of the strongest pieces of federal legislation protecting biodiversity, and inherent in this strength is the consideration for the habitats supporting listed species. The value of protected habitat is immeasurable — especially unmodified areas with strong habitat connectivity.

Letters to the editor

have added ANOTHER $30,000 on their credit cards… this in spite of having a current balance of over $560,000 already on the credit cards! With that understanding, anyone with a checkbook (does anyone write checks anymore??) and a family budget can see this cannot continue without a major course correction.

The country’s credit rating has already been downgraded because of our deep budget deficit and ever-increasing debt. This administration is trying hard to address that debt. The current administration is being led by a businessman. He has brought in another businessman to oversee and help form a newly created committee to address this deficit. It’s called the Department Of Governmental Efficiency (DOGE). Its purpose is to eliminate wasteful spending, fraud, and inefficient use of taxpayer money.

Government has gotten too big and there are too many special interest groups, many with specific earmarks to support their own pet projects. DOGE is looking at all the waste. A leaner, trimmer, more efficient government is what the public demands in order for this country to survive.

Whether you support the current administration or not, everybody in the country should all support the creation and mission of DOGE.

Alan Bosworth Cape Coral

Food safety notices are not a place to cut back

To the editor:

The E. coli outbreak sickened more than 80 people, but details did not surface.

Trump, Kennedy, and Musk have scaled back food safety inspections and the public was not notified after an investigation into E. coli contamination.

Colton George felt sick. The 9-year-old Indiana boy told his parents his stomach hurt. He kept running to the bathroom and felt too ill to finish a basketball game.

Days later, he lay in a hospital bed, fighting for his life. He had eaten a tainted salad. The E. coli bacteria that ravaged Colton’s kidneys was the same strain that killed one person and sickened nearly 90 people in 15 states last fall.

But most people have never heard about this outbreak.

At a time where ecosystems face relentless development pressure and undisturbed habitat is increasingly harder for wildlife to find, they are more reliant than ever on the functioning habitat remaining.

The Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation sent out an action alert urging interested parties to submit comments on the proposed rule change and to emphasize that healthy habitats are critical to species survival and recovery.

The public comment period ended on May 19, and the SCCF will be providing updates after the next communications on this proposal are made from FWS and NMFS.

—Allie Pecenka is policy and advocacy associate for the Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation (SCCF). Founded in 1967, the SCCF’s mission is to protect and care for Southwest Florida’s coastal ecosystems. For more information, visit www.sccf.org.

In what many experts said was a break with common practice, officials never issued public communications after the investigation or identified the grower who produced the lettuce.

Ray Allen Fort Myers

Elimination of fluoride in water harmful to kids’ dental health

To the editor:

The ongoing debate regarding fluoridation of public water has significant implications for community health. Evidence suggests the discontinuation of Florida can lead to adverse outcomes.

Evidence from Calgary:

The city of Calgary decision to discontinue fluoridation in 2011 -2021 resulted in a troubling increase in cavities in children. Reports indicate that 64.8% of children had cavities in their primary teeth during that period Calgary voters reinstated fluoridation in 2021 understanding public support to reinstate preventative measures that safeguard children ‘s health.

The annual cost breakdown is:

Communities over 200,00 people pay 12 cents to 21 cents per person

Communities 10,000-200,000 pay 18 t0 74 cents per year

Communities fewer than 10,000 pay 60 cents to $5.41 per year.

The return on investment far exceeds its minimal cost in effectively preventing cavities, promoting public health leading to dental decay and lowering health care in the long run. Investing in a preventative measure enhances community health.

Fluoridation should be a public health initiative.

On May 10, Florida banned the addition of fluoride to public drinking water. The law Senate Bill 700 signed by Gov. DeSantis prohibits local governments from unilaterally adding fluoride to public water supplies.

OK, parents in Lee County, how are you going to protect your young children from forming cavities?

Kathleen Callard RNBS North Fort Myers

Guest Commentary: Volunteers, donations can help feed the hungry

From page 4

Month should be the trigger that sparks action. There are many ways we can help seniors:

n Volunteer: Be the difference in a senior’s life. Join us to pack and sort food donations or organize food drives in your neighborhood, workplace or community group. Your time can help restore dignity and hope.

n Donate: Fuel the mission.

Every dollar you give helps provide nutritious meals and essential groceries to older adults struggling with food insecurity. Support Harry Chapin Food Bank, a local pantry or one of our dedicated agency partners committed to feeding Southwest Florida’s seniors. We all know that children need balanced, nutritious meals full of vitamins and minerals to grow and thrive. Seniors need them too. Poor nutrition leads to poor health, no matter the age. We cannot let food insecurity impact one in 12 seniors when a solution is within reach.

Richard LeBer is president and CEO of Harry Chapin Food Bank, Southwest Florida’s largest hunger-relief nonprofit and the region’s only Feeding America partner food bank. Visit HarryChapinFoodBank. org for more information.

Allie Pecenka Guest

Brotherhood of Heroes holds USS Nimitz tribute on Memorial Day

The Brotherhood of Heroes Military Museum & Library in Cape Coral held a special tribute to those who served aboard the USS Nimitz, honoring those who perished and veterans who were aboard the ship on May 26, 1981, when a Marine Corps EA-6B Prowler crashed on the carrier’s flight deck. Fourteen sailors died and 49 were injured in the accident. Above is a display of the USS Nimitz at the museum. At left, veteran Chris Cammarota, an organizer of the anniversary event, addresses the crowd gathered for the occasion.

or

PHOTOS BY MARK CLIFFORD

“We’ve created a place where our firefighters can train with cutting-edge equipment, learn new strategies, and build camaraderie as a team. It’s an investment in our safety, our future, and our firefighters’ well-being. It’s about ensuring that when danger strikes, we have a team of highly trained, capable individuals ready to respond with skill and confidence.”

—Fire Chief Mike Russell PHOTOS PROVIDED

Training center: Facility to provide CCFD with cutting-edge skill set

From page 1

Sr., who expressed his deep gratitude and pride in having the facility named in honor of his son, Engineer Michael Camelo Jr. Camelo Jr. tragically lost his life in the

line of duty in 2018 and was deeply respected and loved by his family and peers.

“He had a particular passion and talent for training his fellow firefighters, and I am confident that he is proud of where the CCFD has progressed to today,” said Russell during his remarks.

The Training Center was officially opened with the unveiling of a memorial statue, which CCFD officials said symbolizes the “ever-ready state” of a prepared firefighter. The statue is dedicated to Engineer Camelo Jr. and stands as a tribute to his legacy.

Built on 6.29 acres just north of the Oasis schools and west of the Cape Coral’s Southwest Water Reclamation Facility, the facility is a significant investment in firefighter development and public safety. Phase 1 of the facility includes a fivestory training tower and administrative offices, along with numerous hands-on training props such as elevator, sprinkler systems, and vertical ventilation simulations. The centerpiece of the facility is its four live-fire propane-fed props—replicating a kitchen, living room, office, and bedroom—designed to provide realistic and challenging training scenarios.

“We’ve created a place where our firefighters can train with cutting-edge equipment, learn new strategies, and build camaraderie as a team,” said Russell. “It’s an investment in our safety, our future, and our firefighters’ well-being. It’s about ensuring

that when danger strikes, we have a team of highly trained, capable individuals ready to respond with skill and confidence.”

Additional capabilities include forcible entry, technical rescue, standpipe systems, reduced visibility training, a drafting pond, and an EVOC (Emergency Vehicle Operations Course) area. The Training Center was designed by Sweet Sparkman Architects and built by Wright Construction.

The training facility will provide firefighters with the opportunity to train on realistic scenarios in a controlled environment. Officials added the Insurance Services Office sets annual training requirements that include 18 hours of facility training, and that accomplishing this training has been difficult due to the lack of a training facility in Cape Coral.

All materials used at the facility are safe and non-toxic. CCFD officials said fire will be created using propane fire props -- a clean burning gas that people use regularly in grills at their home. Smoke will be created using a smoke-simulator. The liquid used and smoke created is non-toxic and dissipates quickly. It is the same as what is used recreationally in haunted houses, theater performances, concerts, and nightclubs.

In addition to a fence with screening, there will be approximately 50 feet of natural vegetation to buffer light and sound from areas neighboring the facility. CCFD officials said local areas to the facility should experience “no more light or noise than is currently produced by the water plant.”

The facility will also be able to be used to help with career training for local high school students.

For more information on the training facility, visit capecoralfire.com/training.

Above: Cape Coral Fire Department Command staff with the memorial statue at the department’s new training facility at 2120 S.W. 32nd Street.

Right: A look at the Engineer Michael Camelo Jr. Training Center, which includes a training tower.

CCPD’s Palmer earns ‘Officer of the Year’ commendations

Lee County Bar Association, American Legion Post 90 recognize officer’s efforts

By MEGHAN BRADBURY news@breezenewspapers.com

A Cape Coral officer was recently recognized as the Officer of the Year by both the Lee County Bar Association, and American Legion Post 90.

“I am very humbled to receive the award,” Cape Coral Police Department Officer Coby Palmer said of the Lee County Bar Association commendation. “Our agency has many officers that work hard in each bureau. I am happy to be a contributor and grateful for the opportunity to work at CCPD.”

With it being a surprise, he was able to enjoy the moment with his family and co-workers.

“I would like to thank the Lee County Bar Association for the award. I would also like to congratulate the winning officers from the neighboring agencies as well,” Palmer said, adding it was also very special to be recognized by the American Legion.

“It was very special to also be recognized as our department’s ‘Officer of the Year’ by the American Legion,” Palmer said.

Palmer is in his 13h year with the CCPD, as he started in 2012. Currently he is the activities director for the Cape Coral Police Athletic League. Palmer has also been a patrol officer and school resource officer throughout his career.

“When I moved to Florida in 2005, I worked for Cape Coral Parks and Recreation Department for six years,” he said. “I worked at William Austen Youth Center as a recreation specialist, program-

ming activities for the youth of Cape Coral. I worked alongside a Cape Coral police officer who oversaw the Police Athletic League at the time. I saw firsthand how the officer was helping many kids in this community make good choices through the mentorship he provided through sports. I wanted to help kids in this community succeed in life.”

Palmer said the most enjoyable part about being a police officer, in particular, a Police Athletic League Officer, is the opportunity to help many kids be successful and make positive choices in life.

“Through sport sponsorships, mentorships and coaching, I can lead the youth of Cape Coral down the right path of life,” he said.

The LCBA held its annual Law Week Awards and Luncheon on May 2 where it honored the Officer of the Year from local law enforcement agencies. It celebrates Law Week as an extension of Law Day — recognized on May 1 — and offers events and outreach services to the community.

Other award recipients were Lee County Sheriff’s Office Detective Pablo Magallanes, Sanibel Police Department Officer Cpl. James Serrago and Fort Myers Police Department Sgt. Constant Brown.

The LCBA also recognized North Fort Myers Academy for the Arts teacher Michael Pape as the Dr. James A. Adams Teacher of the Year for Law Related Education and honored Twentieth Judicial Circuit Treatment Courts Manager Bridget Washburn with the Liberty Bell Award.

PROVIDED

Cape Coral Police Department Officer Coby Palmer with CCPD Chief Anthony Sizemore.

With a modern touch in a bisque finish and chrome handles and modern-day convenience with USB ports on the nightstands and a six-drawer storage bed. Queen Bed, Dresser, Mirror and One Nightstand.

Oasis Elementary North raises funds for Honor Flight veterans program

Students donate nearly $15,000 over two years; celebrate with a ‘slime’ party at school

By CJ HADDAD cjhaddad@breezenewspapers.com

The efforts of Cape Coral elementary school students will result in deserving veterans getting the flight of a lifetime.

Oasis Elementary North students celebrated hitting a fundraising milestone for the Collier/Lee Honor Flight last Friday with a field day.

More than 800 students from kindergarten to fifth grade attended, as all met an objective of fundraising $50 or more in T-shirt sales that will benefit local veterans.

A bonus?

Kids were able to “slime” their favorite teachers.

To add in on the fun, Principal Kevin Brown had to dance on the roof for all of the students to witness.

“Goals were reached for a donation of almost $15,000 in two years,” said Steve Romaine of Collier-Lee Honor Flight. “The Collier-Lee Honor Flights received the gift which will be put to good use for deserving veterans.”

Walter Yeaw, a veteran and volunteer coordinator for the honor flight coordinated the event with Oasis North.

Yeaw awarded Principal Brown and physical education teacher Wendy Hearyman a certificate of appreciation from the Honor Flight organization.

“The sliming event was very exciting,” Romaine said. “Hundreds of kids watched as teachers were slimed. Wendy Hearyman did a great job with the boot camp and organizing the sliming event.”

All in all, eight veterans and honor flight volunteers spent the day with the kids participating in a grade school

boot camp.

Collier-Lee Honor Flight’s mission is to transport local veterans to Washington, D.C. to visit those memorials dedicated to honor their service and sacrifice.

The organization to bring the program to the Collier and Lee County areas was established on Sept. 25, 2013.

A very successful inaugural flight took place on Nov. 9, 2013, just six weeks after forming.

Support for these trips is provided by volunteers and is at no cost to the veterans.

Top priority is given to the most senior veterans — survivors of World War II and any veteran with a terminal illness who wishes to visit their memorial.

All veterans are eligible on a chronological basis.

Collier-Lee Honor Flight’s next mission (its 29th) is on Oct. 18.

For more information, visit www.collierhonorflight.org

Honor Flight program thanks school, students

Luke Bryan concert coming to JetBlue Park

By CJ HADDAD cjhaddad@breezenewspapers.com

One of Southwest Florida’s Spring Training venues is gearing up for a superstar headliner to take over the ballpark grounds.

Country music’s Luke Bryan is set to make history on June 14, when he will be the first artist to perform inside JetBlue Park at Fenway South.

The show also will feature some of country music’s up -and-coming artists as special guests on this show including Conner Smith, Ashland Craft and Adrien Nunez. DJ Rock will also make an appearance.

“For over a decade, JetBlue Park has been the heart of Red Sox baseball in Southwest Florida, and now we’re excited to expand its role as an entertainment destination,” said Sam Kennedy, president and CEO of the Boston Red Sox, in a release. “Live music is such a huge part of the Fenway Park experience and bringing that tradition to Fort Myers has been a longtime goal. We’re thrilled to have Luke Bryan kick things off, and we can’t wait for fans to be part of what we hope is the start of something special. Huge thanks to our incredible partners at Live Nation and in Lee County for making this happen.”

Bryan, over the course of his career, has amassed 22.6 billion global streams, with 11.5 million global album sales. He is the most digital single Recording Industry Association of America certified country artist of all time with 96.5 million digital single units.

Bryan has recognizable hits, with a staggering 31 No. 1 singles.

He has hosted the American Country Music Awards on five occasions and has won more than 50 major music awards, and is a five-time Entertainer of the Year.

His accolades continue, as Bryan was the first-ever recipient of the ACM Album of the Decade Award for “Crash My Party.” He’s won seven CMT Music Awards, five Billboard Music Awards, and four American Music Awards— as well as being named Billboard’s Top Country Artist of the 2010s, the Most Heard Artist of the Decade by Country Aircheck, Artist Humanitarian Recipient by the Country Radio Broadcasters and the ACM Lifting Lives Award honor due to his devotion to improving lives through music.

As the first “inside” stadium style concert, the Boston Red Sox and Live Nation are providing details on what to expect for attendees of the show.

Parking at the venue will open at 3 p.m. with gates welcoming attendees at 5. No tailgating is permitted. The show starts at 6:30 and runs until 10:30.

Similar to Spring Training events, Aramark will be onsite serving hamburgers, hotdogs, popcorn, peanuts, beer, wine, mixed drinks, bottled water, soda and more. Additionally, vendors including Del’s Lemonade, Dippin’ Dots and Maine Shack will be offering their well-known fresh lemonade, ice-cream treats and famous New England seafood favorites.

“The Boston Red Sox are committed to creating a safe, enjoyable and welcoming environment for all fans,” stated officials in a release. “Our staff is here to proactively assist you to help ensure a positive family experience through the enforcement of our Code of Conduct.”

Attendees should be aware of the Red Sox zero-toler-

ance policy with respect to abusive fan behavior and the use of derogatory language or hate speech. Everyone entering JetBlue Park is subject to screening through

the use of metal detectors and, on occasion, a physical search by a trained team member. Only small, single-compartment bags and carry-ins will be allowed.

For a full list of prohibited items, and Code of Conduct, visit www. mlb.com/redsox/spring-training/ ballpark/security.

Seats are still available with tickets starting at $72.50 including all fees at redsox.com/lukebryan.

Onsite parking is limited. Parking will open 3 p.m. and will be by credit card only at $30 per vehicle if purchased through redsox.com/ lukebryan.

JetBlue Park is located off Daniels Parkway in Fort Myers at 11500 Fenway South Drive.

Country music sensation Luke Bryan will headline at JetBlue Park at Fenway South on June 14 as part of his “Country Song Came On Tour.”

PHOTOS BY EDEN LEACH OWNERS KATIE ZIMMERMAN & LIVE NATION

City, CCCIA to host hurricane expos Saturday

By CJ HADDAD cjhaddad@breezenewspapers.com

With the official start of the Atlantic hurricane season starting Sunday, and the prediction of another “above average” season ahead, there are a pair of informational expos set for this weekend to help you get prepared.

The city of Cape Coral will hold a free event offering a comprehensive look at how to get ready for the upcoming hurricane season.

The city’s annual Hurricane Expo takes place Saturday, May 31, at Mercola Market from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Attendees will have access to resources and information from multiple organizations, including key community partners.

“Cape Coral’s Hurricane Expo is a onestop shop for residents to prepare before the 2025 Hurricane Season begins,” said city spokesperson Kaitlyn Mullen. “With over 30 organizations, including the City’s emergency teams, LCEC, the U.S. Coast Guard, and Lee Health, attendees can access the latest information, expert advice, and practical resources-all in one place.”

The Expo will feature:

n A special presentation by Matt Devitt, Chief Meteorologist for WINK News, providing insights on hurricane forecasting and preparedness.

n Expert guidance from city of Cape Coral departments, including Emergency Management, Police, Fire, Development Services, and more.

n Educational sessions covering evacuation zones, family emergency plans, and disaster supply kits.

n Opportunities to connect with disaster preparedness experts and learn life-saving

Another resource: The Breeze Newspapers’ annual Hurricane Guide has published both in print and online at capecoralbreeze.com. The 120-page guide features interviews with county and municipal emergency operations officials; preparedness articles to help you protect your home, business and family; evacuation and shelter information; emergency numbers and more. Home delivery customers on the Lee County barrier islands will receive a copy with their papers this week, as will residents in Cape Coral’s coastal ZIP codes. Copies are also available at the Breeze offices in Cape Coral and on newsstands around the region.

best practices.

n Giveaways to help residents build or enhance their hurricane kits.

Mullen said this expo will be especially useful for new residents of the fast-growing city.

“For new residents, the Hurricane Expo is an invaluable opportunity to learn how hurricanes impact Cape Coral and what steps to take to stay safe,” she said. “Many newcomers may not be familiar with evacuation zones, local shelter options, or the importance of flood insurance. Our experts will walk you through the essentials, answer your questions, and connect you with community partners who can help you prepare.”

The Hurricane Expo is open to the public and designed to ensure the community is prepared for the 2025 hurricane season before it arrives.

After all, it’s never too early to prepare.

“Our message is simple: Don’t wait until a storm is on the horizon to get ready,” Mullen said. “Preparation saves lives and property. Know your evacuation zone, review your insurance coverage, and make sure your emergency kit is stocked. You may be on your own for the first 72 hours after a storm, so having a solid plan is critical. The Hurricane Expo is designed to give every resident the tools, information, and support they need to weather the season safely.”

For more information, visit CapeCoral. gov.

Mercola Market is at 125 SW 3rd Place.

CCCIA Hurricane Expo

The Cape Coral Construction Industry Association also will host a Hurricane

Preparedness Expo this Saturday, May 31, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the German American Social Club of Cape Coral.

This free and open-to-the-public event brings contractor experts together under one roof.

“Learn how to protect your home, your business, and your family before the next storm strikes,” stated CCCIA officials.

Featured speakers with questions and answer presentations include Meteorologist Katie Walls of Fox 4, Storm Smart, and AA Home Solutions.

Attendees will receive a free hurricane contractor resource guide, hurricane preparedness kits, and checklists.

There will be a variety of business with booths at the expo. They include: AA Home Solutions, ACE Screen Repair & More LLC, ACRA Electric, Aubuchon Homes, Aztec Irrigation, Ball Home Services, LLC, Bath Fitter, Coastal Waste and Recycling, D&D Garage Door, Floodwater Pros, Florida Window and Door, FOX 4, Freedom Heating & Cooling, Ace, Garage Door Works, Gator Gypsum, Gigi’s Accounting, Giza Roofing, Green Technologies of SWFL, Innovative Construction Pros/Innovative Roofing, Lake Michigan Credit Union - providing FREE Hurricane Preparedness Kits, LCEC, OnTrack Doors, Personal Plumbers, Premier Plumbers, Renewal by Anderson, Roof EZ, Service Works Commercial Roofing, ServPro, Stilwell Solar, Storm Smart, Toto Custom Homes, WB Williamson Bros, and title sponsor Windforce.

The German American Social Club is at 2101 SW Pine Island Rd.

For more information, visit www.cccia. org.

Weekly B reeze Recap

Land lease negotiated for ambulance site on Pine Island

Lee County, M/PIFCD discuss issue

By PAULETTE LeBLANC pleblanc@breezenewspapers.com

At the Board of Lee County Commis-sioners meeting last Tuesday, May 20, Public Safety Director Benjamin Abes told commissioners that an agreement had not been reached in the negotiations for the lease of property near Matlacha/Pine Island Fire Control District’s Station 1, located at the corner of Stringfellow Road and Pine Island Road in Pine Island Center.

“We’ve been in negotiations with the Fire Department for some time — those negotiations between their legal counsel now — the County Attorney’s office and County

Lands have continued. We continue to be, however, at a point where we’re not getting to mutually agreeable terms and conditions,” Abes said.

Because of this, he said, the concern is that there won’t be a place for an ambulance on Pine Island. In this case, he said, they are trying to address the issue proactively instead of having to wait until they find a location needs ambulance service.

The lease amount on the property in consideration is very similar, he said, to the lease amount that the Fire Department is wishing to charge. In addition, the property has other benefits to consider.

“This property would allow us dedicated space, so our crew of an EMT and paramedic would have the entire

Coral Ridge Cemetery holds 44th annual Memorial Day service

Coral Ridge Funeral Home & Cemetery in Cape Coral held its 44th annual Memorial Day service in the Veterans Honor Garden Monday morning. The event was held as a special tribute all of the men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice for their country. A number of local officials, including guest speakers District 79 State Rep. Mike Giallombardo, a U.S. Army combat veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom, and Capt. Vivian Gomez, right, of the Army National Guard, 164th Air Defense Battalion, and a school counselor at North Fort Myers High. A number of local veterans organizations, above, along with the Cape Coral Police and Fire Departments, also took part in the program.

CLIFFORD

facility as dedicated space for their own use … our intention would be to lease a location near Pine Island Center for a period of time and within the next two to three years, have a capital improvement project to have a fixed station at Pine Island Center, “Abes said.

M/PIFCD Chief Ben Mickuleit said the district found the situation where they are negotiating the lease agreement with the county very upsetting.

“The district was not aware that there’s any intent of Lee County EMS moving out of Station 1, so it’s kind of a shock to us that we’re currently negotiating with the county and not being made aware of any intent of EMS moving out of the station,” Mickuleit said.

Woman accused of attacking child with knife; attempting to hide injured girl under brush

A North Fort Myers woman is in the Charlotte County Jail, accused of stabbing a 12-year-old girl in the face and neck and attempting to hide her body, though still alive, the Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office reported this morning.

Gwendolyn Girard, 35, was arrested by the Lee County Sheriff’s Office after the Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office Major Crimes Unit secured a warrant for her arrest on charges of aggravated battery and aggravated child abuse.

Girard is being held on a $750,000 bond, according to the Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office.

The victim has been treated for her wounds and is in stable condition, officials said.

The investigation began Monday afternoon after Charlotte County deputies responded to the Cecil Webb Wildlife Management Area in reference to a child found by bystanders with cuts to the face and neck.

The girl, whose name has not been released, was weak and in need of immediate medical attention, officials said.

“The victim was only able to tell deputies that the suspect, identified as Gwendolyn Girard... had attacked her with a knife and left her under the brush before leaving in a gold-colored van,” officials stated in a release related to the incident.

“Through investigative means, the van was located in North Fort Myers by members of the Lee County Sheriff’s Office, with Girard at the same location. The van was towed to impound, and Girard was transported for questioning,” the release states. “During this time, the Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office Major Crimes Unit secured a warrant for her arrest on charges of Aggravated Battery and Aggravated Child Abuse.”

Girard confessed to the incident and told investigators where to find the knife, officials said.

“The Major Crimes detectives interviewed Girard and obtained a full confession to include the location of the knife used in the attack,” the release states.

“In my 33-year career, there are only a handful of times that I have been left speechless,” Charlotte County Sheriff Bill Prummell said. “This is one of those times. To attack a child with a knife… I can’t understand it. It is only by God’s grace that she is still with us today, and I pray for her as she heals from this horrific incident. Unfortunately, the mental trauma inflicted on her may never heal.”

The investigation remains open at this time.

PHOTOS BY MARK

CoMMuniTy

PHOTO PROVIDED

The living wall

By SYLVIA SWARTZ news@breezenewspapers.com

One of my favorite things to plant is a vine! I’m trying to create a living wall of green on the fences of my rear gardens as a backdrop to the eclectic collection of plants. Growing vines can be a rewarding and beautiful way to add greenery to your space, whether in your garden, on a trellis or even indoors. Vines can be grown to give privacy or to provide food or shade. Here’s some pointers to help you get started with growing vines:

Choose the vine to suit your purpose

Garden Club of Cape Coral

There are different types of vines, so choose one that not only fits our climate but also suits your purpose – do you want something that flowers –or has a scent – or is edible or do you want to have ground cover? Here are some examples of types that are suitable for our growing zone:

n Climbing vines (e.g., Clematis Polish Spirit, (Clematis viticella); Cherries Jubilee Allamanda (Allamanda cathartica). These vines are the true climbers but do need support like trellises or fences to climb.

n Ground cover vines (e.g., sweet potato vine (Ipomoea batatas), Creeping Jenny (Lysimachia nummularia), Frogfruit (Phyla nodiflora is salt tolerant and a good nectar source for bees and butterflies.) These spread along the ground, providing good coverage of empty spaces at the front of your garden beds or preventing erosion.

n Fruiting/edible vines (e.g., grapes, kiwis). These can produce fruit, though they may need more care and space than you are prepared to give. A reliable edible vine is Malabar spinach (Basella alba) which grows well in our hot and humid summers. Another good edible is Chayote which is not only fast growing but also a great edible plant similar to zucchini or marrow. It may die back over winter but will pop up and regrow each spring. Any fruits left on the ground will also easily regrow.

n Flowering vines (e.g., the heavily scented Confederate jasmine); (Trachelospermum jasminoides) which blooms in spring; Queens Wreath (Petrea volubilis – these vines are twiners which wrap their stems around their support.

Queens Wreath in particular is a great choice because it flowers several times a year – its flowers hang down, rather like Wisteria.

Most vines prefer a sunny spot, but some can tolerate partial shade. Make sure the location you choose provides enough sunlight for your specific vine type and that it has enough room to spread its wings. Vines typically thrive in slightly acidic to neutral soil. Mulch well and space the vines according to the recommended distance (usually 12-36 inches apart) to ensure healthy growth and airflow. Vines like consistent moisture, especially

The School District of Lee County and Summer BreakSpot are teaming up to provide free breakfast and lunch meal kits to feed children 18 and under for an entire week over the summer. Nine locations will distribute the 7-day meal kits on Mondays only from 9-10 a.m. between June 9 and July 28.

Parents should bring a school ID, report card or other documentation to provide proof of the number of children needing a 7-day meal kit. Children do not need to be present. Meals are available for any child 18 and younger. Among the local locations distributing the meal kits on Mondays only are:

Pine Island

n Pine Island Elementary, 5360 Ridgewood Drive, Bokeelia

n Palms at Pine Island, 15061 Stringfellow Road, Bokeelia

North Fort Myers

n Prairie Pines Preserve, 18400 North Tamiami Trail, North Fort Myers

The School District of Lee County is also partnering with Summer BreakSpot to provide daily opportunities for breakfast and lunch at no cost for children 18 and younger. More than 100 sites are enrolled to serve healthy and nutritious meals from June 9 to July 30.

May 30, 2025

Next month’s roster of activities at Cape Coral Lee County Public Library offers topics for all ages. The following activities are free to the public:

Adult Programs

English Café

6 p.m., Tuesday, June 3, 10, 17, 24

10 a.m., Friday, June 6, 13, 20, 27

Free, informal conversation sessions for adult ESOL/ ESL students.

Book Discussion: “The Murder of Mr. Wickham” by Claudia Gray

11 a.m., Wednesday, June 4

A summer house party turns into a whodunit when Mr. Wickham, one of literature’s most notorious villains, meets a sudden and suspicious end in this mystery featuring Jane Austen’s leading literary characters.

Crafts at Cape: Beach Ornament

2 p.m., Wednesday, June 4

10 a.m., Saturday, June 28

A plastic ornament, a bit of twine, some sand and some odds and ends from the beach will be used to create these classic beach ornaments. Feel free to bring your own beach treasures. Each class has a maximum seating of 20. Participants may only register for one class in the series. Registration is guaranteed until the start of the program.

Download Drop-In

11 a.m., Thursday, June 5, 19

Receive personalized help downloading eBooks, eAudioBooks, movies, music and more from Libby/OverDrive and hoopla, two of Lee County Library System’s largest online content providers. Support also will be available to registered users of the National Library Service’s Braille and Audio Reading Download service (BARD) which is provided through Home Borrower Services and Lee

The Cape Coral Parks & Recreation Department is also teaming with the School District for the BreakSpot program for meals to be provided every weekday. Cape locations and times include:

n Del Prado Linear Park, 1222 NE 16th Place, from 11:15 a.m.-12 p.m.

n Four Freedoms Park, 4818 Tarpon Court, from 12-1 p.m.

n Gator Trails Park, 3612 Garden Blvd, from 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

n Paul Sanborn Park, 2310 SE 3rd St, from 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

Children 18 and under can go to any site during the designated serving times and receive a free meal. No documentation or ID is required.

The child must be present, and the meals must be consumed on-site.

The full list of site locations and serving times can be found on the Summer BreakSpot website at https://www. summerbreakspot.org/find-location/. Days, times and locations can change, so families should check the Summer BreakSpot website for the most up-to-date information before proceeding to a site.

Location information is also available by calling 2-1-1 or 850-617-7170.

Free breakfast and lunch available for youngsters during the summer June programs set at Cape Coral-Lee County Library

County Talking Books. Note: Attendees should bring their preferred, charged device (tablet, phone, e-reader, etc.) along with any passwords needed to download apps. Kindle users also must have an Amazon account and password. Patrons interested in BARD should contact Talking Books at 239-533-4780 before attending to ensure they have an active account or find out how to set one up.

Beginner Spanish Class

2 p.m., Wednesday, June 11

This course is designed for those new to the Spanish language. Learn fundamental vocabulary, essential phrases and basic grammar in a fun, informal and interactive environment. Join us and learn the basics to start a conversation. Registration is required.

Children’s Programs

Summer Reading Kickoff Party

2 p.m., Thursday, June 5

Join us for a colorful summer bash that celebrates reading in our community. No registration is required. Sign up for the summer reading program, learn about the programs the library will offer and enjoy two special meet-andgreets with the Tower Princess and Way Too Tall Torrie. Children and teens through age 18 years will receive a free book, while supplies last.

Kids Read Down Fines

1-2 p.m., Saturday, June 7

5:15-6:15 p.m., Wednesday, June 18

Children and teens can earn a $2 credit on overdue fines for every 15 minutes they read in the designated area for a total of $8 in one session. Please bring your library card. Please check in at the Youth Services Reference Desk.

See JUNE PROGRAMS, page 35

Nelson-Lastra to hold Town Hall meeting June 7

Cape Coral District 4 Councilmember

Jennifer Nelson-Lastra will hold a Town Hall meeting, from 10 a.m. to noon, Saturday, June 7, at the Cape Coral - Lee County Public Library

This community-focused event allows neighbors to connect and engage directly with Nelson-Lastra. The Town

Hall will be held in the Library’s Meeting Room. Residents are encouraged to share their concerns, ask questions and discuss ideas for the future of District 4 and the City of Cape Coral.

The library is at 921 S.W. 39th Terrace, north of Mohawk Parkway, just west of the Skyline Boulevard.

A butterfly on a Frogfruit vine blossom.

Jennifer NelsonLastra

City stresses information as hurricane season begins

By MEGHAN BRADBURY news@breezenewspapers.com

With hurricane season officially beginning Sunday, Cape Coral City Council said it wants to make sure residents can hear and find information if communication is down following a storm.

The 2025 CSU Hurricane Activity Forecast includes 17 named storms, nine hurricanes, and four major hurricanes.

Council heard a presentation by Emergency Management Resiliency Director Ryan Lamb during the Wednesday workshop that touched upon many topics that are shared every season — hurricane hazards, ingredients for a hurricane, EOC activation levels, “watch” versus “warning” and preparation for the family and home.

Among the information shared:

If other forms of communications go down, the city of Cape Coral plans to deliver messages through radio stations — 96.1 FM, 103.9 FM and 106.3 FM. Fire stations will also be information centers, providing daily fliers if power and internet are not available.

The city does not support the use of sandbags, something the city has not supported for at least 15 years.

Lamb said the average Cape Coral home would need 300 sandbags per property.

“Sandbags take a ton of time, money, and energy, and become hazardous materials because they absorb toxins in flood water,” Lamb said.

The city encourages residents to know their evacuation zones.

Zone A, for example, is an area with high probability of evacuation if the condi-

tions warrant.

Shelters are lacking.

“Right now, the City of Cape Coral has one shelter, Island Coast High School, that fits 3,000 people. We are still going to be at a great shelter deficiency,” Lamb said, as there is only shelter space for 40,000 people in Lee County.

For communications, Lamb said the plan is to deliver messages through radio stations — 96.1 FM, 103.9 FM and 106.3 FM.

“The radio is a primary one if we lose

social media and interconnectivity,” he said, adding that the fire stations will be back up in providing daily fliers.

Councilmember Keith Long asked if the city would be acquiring additional Starlink equipment moving forward.

Lamb said they recently switched over to T-Mobile service for public safety staff. He said T-Mobile’s goal is that every cell phone can become a satellite phone.

One of the concerns with Starlink, is you pay for the hardware – satellite up front and subscription along with it, Lamb said.

“I would hate to have them sitting,” he said.

The city is holding its Hurricane Preparedness Expo this Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Mercola Market, 125 SW 3rd Place.

DeSantis vetoes medical malpractice-related bill

By CJ HADDAD

cjhaddad@breezenewspapers.com

Gov. Ron DeSantis made an appearance in Southwest Florida Thursday morning to veto a bill regarding medical malpractice and “Free Kill” law.

DeSantis was joined by Florida Department of Health Surgeon General Dr. Joe Ladapo at Gulf Coast Medical Center in Fort Myers, where House Bill 6017 was formally vetoed.

“Most of all, access. We have an access challenge here in the state of Florida, we’ve all experienced it. This is just a bill that will make that worse. Any barrier you put between patients and physicians and hospitals is not the right decision to make, and this bill does that. It will clearly increase costs. It’ll affect emergency services.”

— Dr. Larry Antonucci, Lee Health president and CEO

The bill related to the recovery of damages for medical negligence resulting in death. The bill would have removed a provision that precluded certain persons from recovering damages for medical negligence.

spouse and provides that the parents of an adult decedent may recover noneconomic damages if there is no surviving spouse or surviving minor or adult children.”

The bill was voted on by the Senate on May 1 and passed 33 yeas to four nays.

DeSantis said with a cap, there would be incentive for litigation to be brought in the state of Florida.

The bill repeals this exception and thus provides that, where a wrongful death occurs as a result of medical negligence, a decedent’s adult children may recover noneconomic damages if there is no surviving

According to the bill’s summary, “... there is a limited exception by which neither an adult child (25+) of an unmarried person who dies due to medical negligence, nor the parents of an adult child (25+) who dies due to medical negligence, may recover non-economic damages.

“Many of them probably won’t be successful, but even then, you can probably get a settlement,” DeSantis said. “Again, even if you haven’t done anything wrong, there’s incentive to settle because it’s very See VETO, page 26

Cape Coral Friends of Wildlife to announce winners of Burrowing Owl Photo contest

Public invited to ceremony to be held Saturday at Rotary Park

By CJ HADDAD cjhaddad@breezenewspapers.com

With more than 100 submissions in hand, the Cape Coral Friends of Wildlife will unveil the winners of this year’s Burrowing Owl Photo Contest this weekend.

This Saturday at Rotary Park in the Cape starting at noon, CCFW has invited the community to take in the photo contest awards ceremony.

The annual contest showcases the talents of amateur photographers and celebrates the city’s commitment to wildlife conservation. The grand prize-winning photo will be featured on the official T-shirt for the 2026 Burrowing Owl Festival. This year, the contest drew an impressive 165 entries, reflecting the community’s deep appreciation for local wildlife and creative expression.

“It was a great turnout this year,” said CCFW spokesperson Janet Windisch. “Every year we get amazing photos. Just incredible photography. We had more than 60 additional entries compared to last year.”

The ceremony will be emceed by WFTX Community Correspondent Bella Line, alongside Dawn Andrews from Cape Coral’s Rest Estate Department.

AwArds Ceremony

CCFW has invited the community to take in the photo contest awards ceremony to take place this Saturday at Rotary Park starting at noon,

First-, second-, and third-place prizes will be awarded to the highest-scoring photograph from the adult division and youth division. Prizes include CCFW swag and a one-year membership to the group. The winning youth image will be used for the 2026 Ground Owl Day T-shirt.

Awards will be presented for the adult category (18-plus) and youth category (7 to 17). CCFW saw more than a 50% increase in submission from the youth division this year.

This year’s winners were selected by a panel of judges that included Cape Coral City Manager Michael Ilczyszyn, NBC-2 meteorologist Rob Duns and Darlayne Coughlin, who was the 2024 contest grand prize winner.

Windisch said the contest drew lots of

attention on social media as well, where numerous users posted their own photos of owls in their neighborhood for all to see, even if it wasn’t a contest-submitted photo.

“Everyone was showing how cute their owls are and sharing their photos,” she said. “

Participants were allowed to submit just one photo, and were permitted to crop; make minor adjustments to color, white balance, lighting levels and curves, shadows and highlight, saturation, contrast,

sharpness; moderate dodging and burning; removal of dust sports and moderate reduction of image noise. Photographs that had been digitally or otherwise altered beyond standard optimization would have been disqualified.

Judges scored eligible photographs on technical quality (30%), originality (30%), and artistic merit (40%).

There will be first-, second-, and thirdplace prizes given to the highest-scoring photograph from the adult division and youth division. Prizes include CCFW swag and a one-year membership to the group. The winning youth image will be used for the 2026 Ground Owl Day T-shirt.

Cape Coral Friends of Wildlife is a volunteer-driven organization dedicated to preserving and enhancing habitats for protected wildlife species while educating the community about Cape Coral’s unique wildlife resources.

“It’s great to see the support from the community and photographers for this contest,” Windisch said. “We had great support this year from the city as well.”

To learn more about CCFW, visit ccfriendsofwildlife.org or call 239-9802593.

Rotary Park is at 5505 Rose Garden Road.

The Breeze Business

May 30, 2025

Business Briefs

Greater

Fort Myers Chamber to host nonprofit luncheon June 10

The Greater Fort Myers Chamber of Commerce is hosting a nonprofit luncheon to showcase 10 nonprofits Tuesday, June 10, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:15 p.m.

During the luncheon, attendees will hear from the local nonprofits about the work that they do and the services they provide to the Southwest Florida community. The featured nonprofits include American Cancer Society, Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Sun Coast, Cameo of Lee County, Children’s Advocacy Center, From the Ground Up Ministries, Gulf Coast Humane Society, Hope Clubhouse of SWFL, LARC, Our Mother’s Home and Providence Family Life Center.

The June 10 luncheon will take place at Margaritaville Beach Resort Fort Myers Beach, at 251 Crescent St. Registration is $35 for members and $45 for future members and includes lunch. Attendees must register by Friday, June 6; walk-ins will not be accepted.

To learn more or to register, visit FortMyers.org or call 239-332-2930.

Latest data on local tourism industry topic of REIS June 2025 luncheon

On Tuesday, June 10, the Real Estate Investment Society will hear a presentation about the latest data and trends in Lee County’s tourism industry. Lee County Visitor & Convention Bureau Executive Director Tamara Pigott will provide an update on what the data says about the rebound of tourism in Southwest Florida following a few years of hurricane recovery and the recent developments in international travel.

This event is sponsored by the Chamber of Southwest Florida and will be held at 11:45 a.m. in the Osprey Room at Pelican Preserve’s Clubhouse, 9802 Pelican Preserve Blvd, Fort Myers.

Admission is $30 for members and $45 for guests.

For more information or to register, visit https://reisswfl.org/

Prince joins Forbes-Snyder as regional sales director

Veteran restaurant operator Travis Prince has been named regional sales director at Forbes-Snyder, a leading national provider of point-of-sale systems, to spearhead its Southwest Florida expansion.

Prince brings over 30 years of restaurant management experience to the role, most recently serving as director of operations at Prime 239 Steakhouse in Cape Coral.

Founded in 1936, Forbes-Snyder began as a business machine supplier and evolved into a nationwide leader in advanced POS systems. Its technology is designed to streamline restaurant operations, offering benefits like cloud-based remote access, enterprise software for multi-location management, automated updates and reduced downtime, self-service kiosks and mobile ordering integrations.

Forbes-Snyder South is now open at 3525 Edison Ave., Fort Myers, providing support Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., with emergency assistance available 24/7. For more, visit www.forbes-snyder.com, call 239418-1889 or email sales@forbes-snyder.com.

Waterfront estate listed as Fort Myers’ second-highest priced home

A custom-built waterfront estate located within Gulf Harbour Yacht and Country Club’s Edgewater enclave in Fort Myers has entered the market as the second-highest priced residential listing in Fort Myers. Represented by Elise Starr of John R. Wood Christie’s International Real Estate in partnership with Olesya Marta of Douglas Elliman Real Estate, the residence is offered at $12.990 million.

Situated on a half-acre homesite at 11380 Longwater Chase Court, the residence includes 110 feet of direct Gulf-access river frontage and a private beach stretching across three neighboring properties.

For more information or to arrange a private showing, contact Elise Starr at 239-209-3960, EStarr@ johnrwood.com, or Olesya Marta, Douglas Elliman Real Estate, 239-297-2960, Olesya.Marta@elliman.com.

SWFL Inc. to hold State of the Region 2025 June 4 at the Hyatt Regency Coconut Point

SWFL Inc. has announced the speakers headlining State of the Region 2025, taking place Wednesday, June 4, from 8:30-11 a.m., at the Hyatt Regency Coconut Point. This year’s event will bring together five influential leaders on one stage for exclusive conversations designed to shape the future of Southwest Florida.

Syd Kitson, chairman and CEO of Kitson & Partners, will join his son Tyler Kitson, senior vice president of Communities, for a special “Fireside Chat.” As the visionaries behind Babcock Ranch, the first solar-powered town in the U.S., the Kitsons will share insights on how thoughtful urban planning and development help foster a true sense of place.

Dr. Denise Carlin, superintendent of the School District of Lee County, will lend her decades of experience in education to a panel discussion. As the first elected superintendent in over 50 years, Carlin will offer perspectives on the evolving landscape of education and its impact on Southwest Florida’s future workforce. The panel will be moderated by Tiffany Esposito, president and CEO of SWFL Inc.

Keynote speaker Richard Stern, director of the Grover M. Hermann Center for the Federal Budget at the Heritage Foundation, will provide expert analysis on the federal budget and the national economic issues influencing local business and policy. With over seven years of experience on Capitol Hill, Stern brings a valuable national lens to the regional conversation.

State of the Region 2025 is designed for business

leaders, community stakeholders, and professionals who want to stay informed, make meaningful connections, and position themselves for what’s ahead.

The event will address the most pressing topics facing the Southwest Florida region’s economy, workforce and communities.

State of the Region is where leaders come to connect, learn, and prepare for the future. We’re excited to welcome such a powerful group of speakers who are actively shaping what’s next for Southwest Florida.

London Bay Development Group is the presenting sponsor of State of the Region 2025.

SWFL Inc. also thanks its additional sponsors for their generous support: Kitson & Partners, Gravina Smith Matte & Arnold, Royal Palm Coast Realtor® Association, M&M Multimedia, Lee Health, Suncoast Credit Union, Bonita Springs-Estero Realtors, Rosier Insurance, Sanibel Captiva Community Bank, DeLisi Inc., LJA Engineering, and Business Observer.

Tickets are available now at swflinc.com/sotr-2025.

For assistance or additional questions, contact Katy Johnson at Katy@swflinc.com.

IncredibleBank welcomes new employees

Murray named VP of cash management

IncredibleBank has announced the addition of Stephen Murray as vice president of Cash Management, serving both of its Cape Coral branches — 2512 Skyline Boulevard, which opened in February 2024, and the newly opened branch at 2494 Liberty Park Drive location.

Murray brings over 23 years of banking and management experience, including retail, commercial, and government banking.

As vice president of Cash Management, Murray will work closely with Cape Coral business customers to streamline daily financial operations with tailored cash management solutions.

For more information about cash management services at IncredibleBank, visit incrediblebank.com/business/ cash-management-solutions.

Hazen market manager for Cape Coral branch

IncredibleBank has welcomed Kailee Hazen as market manager for its newest branch at 2494 Liberty Park Drive in Cape Coral. This is IncredibleBank’s second branch in the community, following the opening of its Skyline Boulevard location in February 2024.

Hazen brings years of experience in financial services and leadership. In her previous role, she managed Southwest Florida’s largest banking center, earning multiple awards for her commitment to excellence.

Headquartered in Wausau, Wisconsin, IncredibleBank is a leading financial institution recognized for its innovative approach to banking. With 17 locations across Wisconsin, Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, and, most recently, Cape Coral, the bank promises an Incredible Customer ExperienceS with every interaction. For more information, visit incrediblebank.com.

Westin Cape Coral Resort at Marina Village promotes Wilson to destination sales executive

The Westin Cape Coral Resort at Marina Village recently announced the promotion of Noelle Wilson to the position of destination sales executive. In this role, she will be instrumental in driving group business to the resort, coordinating site visits and ensuring seamless transitions from sales to event execution, all while embodying Marriott’s commitment to excellence.

Raised in Phoenix, Arizona, as one of seven siblings, she earned her degree in photography and advertising from Northern Arizona University. She embarked on a career that spanned sales in the printing and trade show display industries, followed by over a decade managing operations at her family’s optometry practice.

After relocating to Cape Coral in 2019, she transitioned into the hospitality industry, starting at The Boat House in Cape Coral, where she managed boat storage and the Boat Club.

Her passion for travel and customer service led her to The Westin Cape Coral Resort, where she has been

a standout performer, generating over $150,000 in hotel revenue through the property’s upsell program. In her new capacity, Wilson will collaborate closely with the sales office to secure group events, coordinate and execute site inspections for off-property sales managers, and ensure timely and effective transitions for quality service delivery.

Her responsibilities will also include achieving group revenue goals by actively up-selling each business opportunity to maximize revenue, implementing the brand’s service strategy, and driving customer loyalty by delivering service excellence throughout each customer experience.

Nestled in Southwest Florida’s waterfront community at 5951 Silver King Blvd, Cape Coral, The Westin Cape Coral Resort at Marina Village offers an immersive coastal lifestyle experience.

For additional information, please visit westincapecoral.com.

Rental: Council member to form stakeholders group to address proposal

From page 1

of a discussion we had about tourist tax and whether or not we are receiving appropriate amount of our share with the city and county. I fleshed that out and this is the result of that.”

After continued lengthy conversation, Long said he was not married to the idea — he read the room and saw how much “we muddied it up.” He said he did not have the desire to continue and wanted to stop wasting time talking about it.

“If someone else wants to pick it up, I would rather move on. The idea doesn’t stick. I wish we would move on. I am completely giving it up — someone else wants to carry the torch,” Long said.

Councilmember Jennifer Nelson-Lastra volunteered to work with the city manager prior to Council going on its summer hiatus. She said she would put together a stakeholder group that would meet on Council’s summer break.

“I am happy to take it and move it forward and work on it over the break,” Nelson-Lastra said.

The two concerns highlighted by the public were the fee increasing from $35 registration to $600 per year, as well as the police department and code compliance division being “authorized to remove all occupants from the residential rental property until such time that the residential rental property is registered with the city.”

“I see this as nothing more than another money-grabbing scheme because you can’t stay in your budget,” said Neil Graham, among those opposed.

The city said the fee, at $600 per unit, would raise $6 million. With enforcement

estimated at $125 per unit, the remainder to be allocated to tourism-based initiatives and infrastructure.

Critics said the annual fee would be passed on to the tenants, many of whom are already struggling to make ends meet.

“Such a fee can lead to an increase cost to residents,” said President Elect of Royal Palm Coast Realtor Association Shane Spring, adding that there is a risk of turning a community asset into a financial burden.

He urged Council to focus on collaborative solutions that uphold resident’s rights and did not threaten and undermine community fairness, affordability and trust.

Royal Palm Realtors Association Director of Public Policy Kevin Besserer said most of the homes are rented for 35 nights a year and short-term rentals are making $9,000 a year, and long-term rentals are barely making enough to pay their costs.

“This will only add to that — attacking our affordable housing stock,” he said. “Vote both of these ordinances down. These are not ready for primetime. Too many questions, or unanswered questions. We are very happy to work with you, code enforcement, to make sure they are following the rules.”

JJ Jones, a Realtor, property owner and property manager of mostly annual property rentals, said if landlords cannot make money or profit, they will take their money and leave the city, leaving behind empty units.

“It is important that we create an environment for all investors, citizens, and Realtors to stay in the city of Cape Coral

and continue to enjoy all the great services you provide,” she said.

Giving police the authority to remove tenants put up a red flag for many.

“No one can be deprived of property,” said Lisa Cohen, owner and broker of Valor Management, “Forcing people out of their homes is un-American. Property must be secured, or liberty cannot exist.”

City Attorney Aleksandr Boksner said when a code is violated, the code enforcement process is brought before a code special magistrate who carries the force of law.

“Once the order has been issued, it is the responsibility of the city, by and through the police department, to enforce that order,” he said. “In addition to the applicable code enforcement provisions and procedures, upon a finding of violation of this section, the individual would receive due process, a legal proceeding before a special magistrate.”

After the conclusion of citizen’s input, City Manager Mike Ilczyszyn explained the difference between a fee and a tax. He said the city cannot create a new tax and levy it in the community, and all user groups pay without any specific service in return.

“Fees are another method by which there is a direct correlation between services provided,” he said. “An identifiable user group that is consuming services and funds those services.”

Ilczyszyn said the original purpose of the $35 one-time fee was to establish a registry, a listing of property manager, and owners, so the city knew who to contact if there was an issue.

All listings advertised will pay a Selling Side Commissionask agent for more information.

“We do have a business tax receipt. Any business that is wanting to operate in the city, regardless of type of business, you pay a business tax receipt. In the city we redirect all of those funds to economic development, so we take the taxes our business pay and send them back into the community to generate more economic development and keep our business sector and commerce moving forward,” he said. “Fees — if you don’t want to participate in paying a fee, then you don’t participate in short-term rental, or rental.”

Many Council members voiced concerns with the ordinance, that they got a little bit ahead of themselves. There was a consensus that a stakeholders group needed to be formed to put together a well-written ordinance.

“I am going to recommend that we kill this and here is why. I think we have a lot of work to do. In this economy, I don’t know if it is a good time to have a 1700% increase,” Nelson-Lastra said.

Long said he disagreed with the ordinance being scrapped entirely, as there are dozens of cities doing the exact same thing for short-term rentals with fees ranging from $350 to $2,500. He said he was not inventing something new or out of the ordinary.

The council member brought the $600 number forward as a starting point for negotiations, as he was certain that the number would not stay at $600.

“You can buy a new wallet, but if you don’t have any money to put in it, you are wasting space in your pocket,” he said.

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Veto: Local medical industry leaders support governor’s position

From page 19

costly to go through with all of this.

“If this bill became law, I do think the cost would be borne by the physicians who would potentially flee the state, to people that wouldn’t have as much access to care, as then also to the costs that would go up as a result of it.”

DeSantis said in speaking with healthcare experts, it was “unanimous” that the bill as proposed would bring negative impacts to healthcare in Florida.

“It’s insane to have a system with no caps on non-economic damages and expect for that system to continue to sustain itself and function as it was intended to function,

which is to provide care for patients,” Ladapo said.

The state surgeon general said there’s no doubt the bill would hurt the state, the doctors, and patients.

“What you want is a doctor who is thinking about your interests when they’re providing care for you, not about the risk of liability,” he said.

“In addition to harming (quality of care), it’s going to make things even more expensive. Who needs that? This system is already unrecognizable in terms of how distorted it is. Healthcare is so expensive in this country.”

Lee Health President and CEO Dr. Larry Antonucci said Lee Health supports the decision from DeSantis to veto on many fronts.

“Most of all, access,” Antonucci said. “We have an access challenge here in the state of Florida, we’ve all experienced it. This is just a bill that will make that worse. Any barrier you put between patients and physicians and hospitals is not the right decision to make, and this bill does that. It will clearly increase costs. It’ll affect emergency services.

“It will be a deterrent to the one thing that is critical for all of us, and that is the

recruitment of physicians to this state. We are recruiting literally hundreds of physicians every year, and this is a deterrent. There are other places people are going to want to go because of the risk of malpractice.

“People here in Southwest Florida and throughout the state deserve better. They deserve a strong sustainable healthcare system, and this bill just simply doesn’t do that. It’s focused on legalities. It’s focused on finance. But it’s not focused on the patient.”

Sands Bridge: Transportation Advisory Commission recommended removal

From page 1

Hurricane Ian.

Transportation Manager Brian VandeWalker said the city entered into an agreement with the Florida Department of Transportation to design and permit repairs and the city was responsible for 20% of the design cost, while Federal Highway Administration funded the rest.

The course of action, though, is up to Council.

“Today if the consensus from you all is to repair, there will be no more discussion about removal. If the consensus is to remove that bridge, we will take that direction. Administration always stands by for direction,” City Manager Mike Ilczyszyn said.

Resident William Carrigan said removal should not be an option because it is the city’s civic responsibility to do what is right by residents.

Safety was cited as a major concerns, as it is a main way to leave the neighborhoods during an evacuation, or for fire and police to enter and leave.

Others said the city has done nothing since Hurricane Ian hit the city on September of 2022 expect let the bridge sit there.

“There is a whole community that counts on this bridge,” one speaker said. “I would appreciate very much (if you) pass the idea of getting rid of the bridge and get working on it as soon as possible because

Cape Coral City Council was presented with three options — removal of the 42-year-old bridge at a price of $1.5 million: repair for $1.7 million or replacement at $3.3 million.

All three options would require permitting from the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers.

we all need that bridge”

Another resident said he has 400 signatures and $400 in donations to save the bridge as the “bridge exists with a purpose. We are a city of bridges – built by bridges and connected by bridges.”

Ilczyszyn said the city did not receive authorization to begin the design work until June of last year. He said there is a regulatory burden to receive federal dollars and do repairs if it is not considered an emergency and it takes time.

“We had a responsibility to perform that work. Staff has been working on this since Hurricane Ian,” Ilczyszyn said. “What was done – an immediate inspection, divers sent into the water. It was not deemed to be an emergency.”

The community should know the city takes life safety emergency repairs seriously, he added.

VandeWalker said the project was progressing on schedule with a target begin date in 2025 until additional damages were identified by the city’s consultant

after hurricanes Helene and Milton, which require newly identified permitting requirements.

The articulated concrete blocks are no longer effective as a repair method, resulting in a full redesign.

“We have closed the northbound lane to secure safety,” VandeWalker said, adding that some interim mitigation will be implemented to prevent further erosion while the permanent plan is finalized.

The council was presented with three options —removal at a price of $1.5 million: repair for $1.7 million or replacement at $3.3 million.

All three options would require permitting from the Army Corps of Engineers.

VandeWalker said removal is not eligible under the cost share with FHAA, resulting in staff engaging in discussions to determine if there is eligibility for alternative options.

“One of the main considerations, police and fire have issued official letters of no objection to the impact of emergency re-

sponse times,” VandeWalker said of the removal of the bridge. “We can’t speak to any cost allocations, or cost shares. $1.4$1.5 million is what we have to stand on right now.”

The city is eligible for a 20/80 cost share for the repair option and the replacement would provide support up to the level approved for the repair scope.

There is a submittal deadline for construction cost allocation from the state by August 2026. VandeWalker said they could reach a full design in a six-month timeframe.

Council was not sold on pulling the trigger for removal.

“Repair makes a hell of a lot more sense because the bridge is 40 years old,” Councilmember Laurie Lehmann said. “Removal is not even an option. It’s either repair or replace.”

Councilmember Jennifer Nelson-Lastra said 75% of the emails she has received are for the replacement of the bridge.

“This bridge is 42 years old, and it definitely served its purpose. I went and visited the bridge and walked the neighborhood last week. There is a lot for sale signs in the neighborhood. After looking at the traffic study, in 10-15 years that neighborhood could be pretty well populated. Without the bridge it is a traffic issue. I will do whatever the majority of the will of the residents. I don’t think it is a good investment to repair this,” she said.

Clear contract can prevent disputes

Dear Mr. Feichthaler:

I recently hired a local Realtor to sell my house and they found a buyer fairly quickly. The buyer’s agent wrote the contract that the house is to be sold “fully furnished”, which I signed. My intention was that all couches, beds, dining room tables (all furniture) would all be included. However, the buyers have stated they expect everything in the house to be included, even items like my flat screen television, toaster, even the artwork on the walls! They say if all of this is not included, they will not go through with the purchase. What should I do? The closing is in two weeks and we need the proceeds to buy our new condominium.

- Leanne M.

Dear Leanne,

One of the basic principles in my practice is to keep my clients out of disputes, therefore out of any potential legal action. It is key that the expectations of all parties are met in a real estate transaction, from the very beginning. The best way to do this is to make sure the contract is written in a clear and concise way. There should be no room for interpretation and subjectivity. Simply saying “fully furnished”, without more, can lead to a dispute like you are having. With just a small amount of care and planning, this situation could have been avoided.

Real Estate Law

Generally speaking, “fully furnished” means that you are selling the house ready to move into and use, with nothing needed with the exception of personal items. Small kitchen appliances like toasters, pots and pans, and stemware typically are included in this definition, although some people will disagree. Generally speaking, a list of all items to be included leaves no doubt what the parties expect from the sale and purchase. In situations where nearly everything is included, you could make a list of items to be excluded. For example, you would likely want to take the family portrait and other artwork from the wall as well as other items of sentimental value. These should be listed as items to be excluded from the purchase.

If you are clear about what is (or is not) included in the real estate contract, a smooth closing with happy parties on both sides is much more likely. The last thing anyone wants is a lawsuit over the next several months over televisions and kitchen appliances. So, your Realtors or attorney should immediately set out to negotiate this dispute and settle the matter so the closing can occur on schedule. You may need to offer a small credit to satisfy your buyer, but this may be better than starting over with a new buyer.

Eric P. Feichthaler has lived in Cape Coral for over 37 years and graduated from Mariner High School in Cape Coral. After completing law school at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C., he returned to Cape Coral to practice law and raise a family. He served as mayor of Cape Coral from 2005-2008, and continues his service to the community through the Cape Coral Caring Center, and Cape Coral Kiwanis where he serves as president. He has been married to his wife, Mary, for 24 years, and they have four children. He earned his board certification in Real Estate Law from the Florida Bar, and primarily practices in real estate law and wills and trusts. He is AV Preeminent rated by Martindale-Hubbell for professional ethics and legal ability, and is a Supreme Court Certified Circuit Civil Mediator. He can be reached at eric@capecoralattorney .com, or 239-542-4733. This article is general in nature and not intended as legal advice to anyone. Individuals should seek legal counsel before acting on any matter of legal rights and obligations.

Eric P. Feichthaler

PROPERTY TRANSFERS

Source: Lee County Property Appraiser

April condo sales mixed, median sales prices lower

The main takeaway in the Cape Coral condo market is that we continue to be experiencing weaker market conditions as the real estate market correction here in Southwest Florida, and throughout growing portions of the entire state, maintains a firm grip on sellers. The facts about the correction are backed up by the April median sales prices, which were down sharply from April 2024, while the results for the number of condo sales came in mixed compared to last year. In addition, median list prices for active condo listings in the MLS, along with median pending sales prices are both also lower versus a year ago.

Homes and condos are still being sold, but it is a very price sensitive market where seller pricing matters most. Compared to about a year ago in the overall Cape Coral condo market, median list prices are down about 16%, median pending sales prices are down about 9% and median sales prices are down between 11-16% depending upon how they are measured. The numbers, shown below, are worse in some of our market segments. Just to paint a picture for you, in April 2023 the overall median sales price for condos in the Cape was $305,000 before dropping to $275,000 in April 2024, and then down to $231,000 this April.

Active condo listings and pending sales

As of Tuesday, May 27, there were 450 active listings for Cape Coral condos in the MLS at prices ranging from $93,000 for a one-bedroom, one-bathroom, 711-square-foot unit, to $1,599,999 for a riverfront penthouse condo in the Southeast Cape. The second lowest priced condo was listed for $117,000 and the median condo list price came in at $250,000. Currently, 74% of the active condo listings are priced at $325,000 and under, including 133 units priced below $200,000. A total of 60 condos are listed at $500,000 and above, with 13 of these units listed for more than $1 million. Back on Jan. 1, there were 422 Cape Coral condos listed for sale with a median list price of $266,000 and based on our daily market surveys, we reached a seasonal peak of 506 active condo listings on March 29 of this year when the median list price was at $254,900. One month ago on April 29, there were 497 condos listed for sale in the MLS with a median list price of $249,900. About 13 months ago on April 30, 2024, there were 438 condos in the Cape listed for sale through a Realtor at prices ranging from $144,900 to $3.9 million, and the median list price was at $299,000.

As of May 27, there were 57 Cape Coral condos under contract with buyers as pending sales at prices ranging from $109,000 to $1.05 million. The second highest-priced pending condo sale was at $609,000 and the median pending condo sales price came in at 249,900. A total of 50 of the 57 pending sales were priced at $325,000 and under, including 16 units below $200,000. Four condos are under contract with buyers for between $360,000 and $449,000 with another two pending sales at $575,000 and $609,900. Back on Jan. 1 of this year, there were a total of 39 pending condo sales in the pipeline with a median pending sales price of $259,900 and based on our daily market surveys, we reached a seasonal peak of 71 pending condo sales for three consecutive days from March 12-14. One month ago on April 29, there were 50 pending condo sales in the Cape with a median pending sales price of $259,495. About 13 months ago on April 30, 2024, there were 70 condos under contract with buyers as pending sales, and the median pending sales price was $274,600.

April condo sales and median sales prices

of this year. In the first four months of 2025, there were a total of 87 saltwater condos sold in the Cape, up 11.5% from the 78 units sold in the first four months of 2024.

The April median sales price was $245,000 for the Cape’s saltwater canal condo segment, down 20.9% from $309,900 in April 2024, but 0.2% above the $244,500 in March of this year. In the first four months of 2025, the median sales price in this segment averaged $269,800 per month, which was down 14% versus the average of $313,875 per month in the first four months of 2024.

Direct sailboat access canal condos

In the Cape Coral direct sailboat access canal condo segment, which is a subgroup of gulf access condos where boaters have no bridges to go under in the canal system, there were 15 closed sales in April. This was up 7.1% from the 14 condos sold in April 2024, but 6.3% below the 16 sold in March of this year. In the first four months of 2025, there were a total of 56 condos sold in this segment, up 36.6% from 41 units sold in the first four months of 2024.

The April median sales price came in at $255,000 for the Cape’s direct sailboat access condo segment, down 19.3% from $316,000 in April 2024, and down 5.7% from $270,500 in March of this year. In the first four months of 2025, the median sales price in this segment averaged $336,063 per month, which was down 5% versus the average of $353,688 per month in the first four months of 2024.

Dry lot condos

In the Cape Coral dry lot (non-canal) condo segment, there were 21 closed sales in April, which was 30% lower than the 30 condos sold in April 2024, and 27.6% below the 29 sales in March of this year. In the first four months of 2025, there were a total of 78 dry lot condos sold in the Cape, which was 22.8% less than the 101 dry lot condos sold in the first four months of 2024.

The April median sales price came in at $189,000 for the Cape’s dry lot condo segment, which was 24.9% below the $251,500 posted in April 2024, and 4.1% less than the $197,000 in March of this year. In the first four months of 2025, the median sales price in this segment averaged $198,125 per month, or 10.5% below the average of $221,250 per month in the first four months of 2024.

The sales data for this article was obtained from the Florida Realtors® Multiple Listing Service Matrix for Lee County, Fla., as of May 23, 2025, unless otherwise noted. It was compiled by Bob and Geri Quinn and it includes information specifically for Cape Coral condominiums, townhouses and villas, and it does not include any single-family homes, short sales or foreclosures. The data and statistics are believed to be reliable, however, they could be updated and revised periodically, and are subject to change without notice.

The Quinn’s are a husband and wife real estate team with the RE/MAX Realty Team office in Cape Coral. They have lived in Cape Coral for over 45 years. Geri has been a full-time Realtor since 2005, and Bob joined Geri as a full-time Realtor in 2014. Their real estate practice is mainly focused on Cape Coral residential property and vacant lots.

In the overall Cape condo market there were 51 closed sales in the month of April, which was 22.7% less than the 66 condo sales in April 2024, and 10.5% below the 57 sales in March of this year. In the first four months of 2025, there were a total of 181 condos sold overall in the Cape, down 13.4% from the 209 units sold in the first four months of 2024.

The April median sales price came in at $231,000 for the overall Cape Coral condo market, which was 16% below the $275,000 posted in April 2024, but 2.7% higher than the $225,000 in March of this year. In the first four months of 2025, the median sales price averaged $237,000 per month in our overall condo market, or 11.1% below the average of $266,500 per month in the first four months of 2024.

Gulf access canal condos

The Cape Coral gulf access canal condo segment, which includes all “saltwater” canal condos, recorded 23 closed sales in April. This was down 14.8% from 27 sales in April 2024, and 11.5% below the 26 sales in March

12-4pm 1309 SE 10th Ter, Cape Coral, FL 33990

5/31/2025 12-2pm 1817 SW 3rd Ave, Cape Coral, FL 33991

5/31/2025 11-2pm 4608 SW 25th Ct, Cape Coral, FL 33914

5/31/2025

The Breeze SporTS

May 30, 2025

Along with tarpon, now’s

a good

time to fish for Mr. Shark

Don’t get me wrong, I love tarpon fishing, especially at night, but when tarpon time rolls around in May, it’s also time to challenge another personal favorite — Mr. Shark.

What’s not to like? They get big, as in really big. They are powerful and will definitely test your tackle and your endurance. They hit lures and flies and, of course, respond very well to chumming. They jump and spin and can be caught in both shallow and deep water. You don’t need a boat to enjoy the sport and they taste good.

If you plan on fishing sharks from land or area beaches, you must take the Shark-SmartFishing Educational Course at MyFWC.com/ SharkCourse and get your Shore-based Shark Fishing Permit as both are required when fishing for sharks from land and must be renewed annually. A permit is not needed when fishing from a vessel.

FWC hook and other requirements are as follows: Hook and line only. Harvest prohibited by or with the use of a treble hook or any other multiple hook with two or more points and a common shaft in conjunction with live or dead natural bait.

Non-offset, non-stainless-steel circle hooks are required when targeting or harvesting sharks when using live or dead natural bait (when fishing from shore and from a vessel).

The possession/use of a device capable of quickly cutting the leader or hook when targeting sharks is required (when fishing from shore or a vessel).

All sharks that are retained for use must remain in whole condition with heads, tails and fins attached until landed. Gilling and evisceration while on waters or in a fishing location is allowed.

One thing we don’t need when fishing from crowded beaches is a gang of sharks drawn in and ready to chow down because of the chum you’ve put out and why chumming from beaches is prohibited. As a matter of fact, chumming is prohibited when beach fishing for any and all species of fish in Florida.

n Many species of sharks are prohibited from harvest, possession or landing in Florida waters.

n Prohibited shark species must remain in the water with the gills submerged when fishing from shore or from a vessel.

n Prohibited shark species must be released without delay when fishing from the shore.

n Do not bring prohibited species onto a fishing vessel, a pier or bridge or onto dry land beyond the surf zone.

n If hook removal will delay release, cut the hook or the leader as close to the hook as possible. A device capable of cutting the hook or leader such as bolt or cable cutters is required gear when fishing for sharks from shore.

n Treat unknown catches as a prohibited species and release them.

Consult the FWC website for an in-depth look at the many and prohibited to harvest species list with illustrations.

Limits are one shark per person per day or two per vessel per day.

Lee County APA Pool League championship tournaments set

Southern Billiards in Cape Coral to host special events over next two weekends

The Lee County APA Pool League will host its annual local championship tournaments over the next two weekends at Southern Billiards at 2138 Santa Barbara Blvd., in Cape Coral. The 8-Ball tournament will take place May 31 and June 1, followed by the 9-Ball tournament on June 7-8.

Sixteen teams made up of local players will compete for a coveted prize — an all-expense-paid trip to Las Vegas to participate in the APA World Pool Championship in August, where more than $1 million is up for grabs.

The Lee County APA Pool League is composed of area residents who compete on weekly pool teams throughout the year.

Members of the Lee County APA Pool League became eligible to compete in the World Qualifier by participating in weekly league play during this past year and placing tops in their division during the summer, fall, or spring sessions. The Lee County APA currently has a membership of over 700 players, which make up about 100 teams that play in bars and pool halls across the county. Previously, more than 1500 teams comprised the APA World Championship field.

The APA, based in Lake Saint Louis, Mo., sanc-

tions the world’s largest amateur pool league, known as the APA Pool League throughout the United States and as the Canadian Pool League in Canada. Over 250,000 members compete in weekly 8-Ball and 9-Ball League play. The APA is generally recognized as the governing body of amateur pool, having established the official rules, championships, formats and handicap systems for the sport of amateur billiards.

The APA produces three major tournaments each year – the APA World Pool Championships, the APA Poolplayer Championships and the U.S. Amateur Championship – that, together, pay out nearly $2 million in cash and prizes annually. In 2010, the APA World Pool Championships were recognized by Guinness World Records as the “world’s largest pool tournament.”

The APA and its championships are sponsored by PoolDawg, Aramith, Action Cues, Kamui and Diamond Billiard Products.

For additional information about the tournaments or to get signed up with the APA, please contact James McCarthy at 239-900-9040 or by email at jmccarthy@ leeapa.com. Or you can visit the official Lee County APA website at leeapa.com

Lee BIA’s 18th Annual Bricks & Sticks

Fishing Tournament set for June 12-14

The Westin Cape Coral to host welcome cocktail party, awards ceremony

The Lee Building Industry Association’s 18th Annual Bricks & Sticks Fishing Tournament, presented by the Modern Tile and Carpet, will be held June 12–14, in Southwest Florida.

This three-day tournament brings together building industry professionals, local businesses and anglers for a weekend of fishing, fun and networking — all in support of the Lee BIA’s mission to strengthen the building industry through advocacy, education and community engagement.

Last year’s tournament was the biggest yet, with 87 teams, over 320 anglers, and 450-plus guests attending the Saturday night awards celebration. Organizers say this year promises to be even bigger, with cash prizes totaling $10,500, including:

n 1st Place: $5,000

n 2nd Place: $3,000

n 3rd Place: $2,000

n Mystery Fish Winner: $500

Early bird registration is now open for $325 per angler and includes:

n Entry to all three event nights (captains’ party, tournament day, and awards dinner)

n Open bars

n Tournament swag, including an exclusive fishing shirt and hat.

The Captain’s Dinner is at The Ranch at 2158 Colonial Blvd., Fort Myers, June 12, from 6-8 p.m. The Roof’s Right Welcome Cocktail party is June 13 from 6-8 p.m. at The Westin Cape Coral Resort at 5951 Silver King Blvd. The tournament kicks off at 7 a.m. June 14 with all pictures submitted by 4 p.m.

Closing out the event will be the Awards Party, also to be held at The Westin Cape Coral Resort Ballroom starting at 6 p.m.

Sponsorship opportunities are also available, offering prime brand exposure to hundreds of local professionals and decision-makers.

“The Bricks & Sticks Tournament is more than just a fishing event—it’s a celebration of our industry and community,” said Phillip Ford, executive vice president of the Lee BIA. “From the docks to the dinner party, this event is packed with great energy, meaningful connections, and a whole lot of fun.”

To register or to learn more visit https://members.bia.net/events

Capt. George Tunison

June programs: Activities planned at Cape Coral-Lee County Library

From page 18

Symphony Storytime

10:30 a.m., Wednesday, June 11

Join us for a special summer reading storytime featuring a musician from the Gulf Coast Symphony. Preschoolers will enjoy live music, learn about an instrument and engage in stories, songs and movement. For ages 2-5 years. No registration is required, but space is limited to 40 children plus their caregiver. Tickets available 30 minutes before start of program.

Professor Universe: Found in the Stars

2 p.m., Thursday, June 12

Join us for a fun, playful and interactive experience as Professor Universe explores the wonders of space through stars, blackholes, color changing light and energy. For ages 6-11 years. Registration is required and is valid only until the start of the program. Please arrive 15 minutes early to guarantee your spot in the program.

Pre-K Art Adventure

10:30 a.m., Wednesday, June 18

Explore each color of the rainbow through arts and crafts. Little artists will have a blast using different materials to create vibrant, colorful masterpieces while learning about colors in a hands-on, imaginative way. Please dress for mess. For ages 2-5 years. No registration is required, but space is limited to 40 children plus their caregiver. Tickets available 30 minutes before start of program.

Ranger Rob: Amazing Adaptations

2 p.m., Thursday, June 19

Local naturalist Ranger Rob’s captivating presentation is specially designed for curious minds, bringing the fascinating stories of animals and their unique survival strategies to life. Adaptations will focus

on the five senses and putting yours to the test. For ages 6-11 years. Registration is required and is valid only until the start of the program. Please arrive 15 minutes early to guarantee your spot in the program.

Brighten Your Morning & Color Together

10 a.m. – Noon, Saturday, June 21

Start your weekend with colorful creativity. Drop in for a relaxing morning of coloring fun for the whole family. Explore beautiful designs, create your own masterpieces and enjoy a vibrant start to the day. All supplies provided.

Help Me Grow: Books, Balls, & Blocks

10:30 a.m., Wednesday, June 25

For families with children through age 5 years. Children will participate in games and activities while parents complete a screening to ensure that their children are developmentally on track. Parents will also be provided with resources for activities they can do at home with their children. In partnership with Healthy Start of SWFL/ Help Me Grow. No registration required, but space is limited to 40 children plus their caregiver. Tickets available 30 minutes before start of program.

JiggleMan

2 p.m., Thursday, June 26

Join us for a zany and humorous show featuring leaf blowers, physical feats that defy gravity, juggling with balls of all sizes, giant suits, music and more. You will be laughing for days. For ages 6-11 years. Registration is required and is valid only until the start of the program. Please arrive 15 minutes early to guarantee your spot in the program.

Teen Programs Summer Reading Kickoff Party

Living wall: Vines for your garden

From page 18

when they’re young. Water regularly, ensuring the soil doesn’t dry out but also that the roots don’t sit in water.

Most important of all, support your vine! For climbing vines, you’ll need a strong support structure although some have their own inbuilt support system in the shape of tendrils. Trellises or arbors can be wooden, metal or even fences like the chain link variety.

As your vine grows if it isn’t of the tendril type, you may need to help it by gently tying it to the support or guiding it in the direction you want it to go.

To keep vines healthy, remove dead or damaged growth. Pruning encourages new growth — some vines may bloom better after being pruned. Be sure to monitor growth. Some vines (like English ivy

or Morning Glory) can be invasive and spread aggressively. Check the University of Florida list of invasive species before choosing and planting a vine.

And fertilize! Use a balanced fertilizer every few months. Avoid over fertilizing, as this can cause excessive leaf growth at the expense of flowers or fruit and be sure to observe our local fertilizer ban June to September.

Vines can satisfy many of a gardener’s needs – they add beauty and privacy to our garden and can also provide fruits or vegetables – cucumbers vine well as do tomatoes. There is a huge selection of flowering, fruiting and even evergreen vines from which to choose but only you know what your purpose is so choose wisely!

Sylvia Swartz is president of the Garden Club of Cape Coral.

Mr. Shark: From shore or on a boat

From page 34

There are eight shark species that have no size requirement for harvest: Atlantic Shar pnose, Blacknose, Blacktip, Bonnethead, Finetooth, Smooth dogfish, Florida smoothhound and Gulf smoothhound.

Other sharks require a 54-inch fork length like the Bull, Nurse, Spinner, Blue, Porbeagle and Thresher (common).

My favorite and, in my opinion, the most exciting way to catch these guys is from a small boat using lures, flies and fairly lite tackle.

Set up in a likely area like on the edge of a channel in 3-4 feet of water and start

chumming. If you are in the right spot it won’t be long before you have customers right off the transom. By this time they are ready to eat and will take a well presented lure or fly dropped right on their nose. It’s important to get the lure right in front of them.

Get ready for a drag-burning reel test and be prepared to follow along in your skiff. Pull hard to minimize stress on the fish in hot water.

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

2 p.m., Thursday, June 5

Join us for a colorful summer bash that celebrates reading in our community. No registration required. Sign up for the summer reading program, learn about the programs our library will be offering and enjoy two special meet-and-greets with the Tower Princess and Way Too Tall Torrie. Children and teens through age 18 years will receive a free book, while supplies last.

Kids Read Down Fines

1-2 p.m., Saturday, June 7

5:15-6:15 p.m., Wednesday, June 18

Children and teens can earn a $2 credit on overdue fines for every 15 minutes they read in the designated area for a total of $8 in one session. Please bring your library card.

Please check in at the Youth Services Reference Desk.

Art With Ocasiocasa

2 p.m., Tuesday, June 10

Join us for a mini art workshop with local artists Jeff and Dale Ocasio of Ocasiocasa. Jeff will demonstrate his sculptural techniques with masking tape, share his unique and quirky characters, talk about their journey into art and each student will get to create their own sculpted rose. No experience necessary. Space is limited and registration is required. Snacks provided. This program is intended for attendees ages 11-18 years to attend independently. Please speak with staff if caregiver assistance is needed.

T.E.A.M. - Together Everyone Achieves Magic

2 p.m., Tuesday, June 17

Learn the intricacies of creating a magical moment and how preparation determines the outcome of a successful performance. Everyone who attends will have the opportunity to learn and perform their own

magic effect. Space is limited and registration is required. Snacks provided. This program is intended for attendees ages 11-18 years to attend independently. Please speak with staff if caregiver assistance is needed.

Brighten Your Morning & Color Together

10 a.m. – Noon, Saturday, June 21

Start your weekend with colorful creativity. Drop in for a relaxing morning of coloring fun for the whole family. Explore beautiful designs, create your own masterpieces and enjoy a vibrant start to the day. All supplies provided.

R.I. Pirate Guy’s Pirate Adventure 2 p.m., Tuesday, June 24

Set sail on a magical summer reading adventure with R.I. Pirate Guy where you become a pirate on the hunt for buried treasure. Learn real life navigational skills with a compass and create your own flag while engaging in pirate games and team building challenges. Welcome aboard if you dare. Space is limited and registration is required. Snacks provided. This program is intended for attendees ages 11-18 years to attend independently. Please speak with staff if caregiver assistance is needed.

The Cape Coral Lee County Public Library is located at 921 SW 39th Terrace in Cape Coral. For more information about a program or to register, please call the library at (239) 533-4500. Check the Lee County Library System’s website at www. leelibrary.net to find out about programs at other locations. Call the host library, or Telephone Reference at (239) 479-INFO (4636), for more information about a specific program.

To receive updates from Lee County Government, sign up for the newsletter here: www.leegov.com/resources/newsletters.

Cape Coral animal Shelter

Looking for a loving home

Country is a 1 to 3-year-old male. He can be a little shy when he first meets new friends, but give him a little time and he’ll be your loyal shadow. He loves a good walk or play session in the yard, but his favorite thing? Snuggling up with his person afterward. Country is strong (like, really strong), so he’ll need someone who can handle him on a leash — but we promise he’s worth the effort. Teller (Tiger) is a 1 to 3-year-old male. He is a sweet, gentle guy with a calm spirit and a curious heart. He loves nothing more than exploring

his surroundings and taking in all the sights and sounds—so if you have a screened-in lanai or a catio, he’d be in heaven! He is easy to love, and is just looking for a cozy place to call home with someone who appreciates quiet companionship and a little adventure.

The Cape Coral Animal Shelter is located at 325 S.W. 2nd Ave., Cape Coral, and hours of operation are Tuesday and Thursday, noon to 5 p.m., and Friday through Sunday, noon to 4 p.m. Please call 239-573-2002 for additional information.

Country Teller

Memorial Day 2025

Coral Ridge Funeral Home & Cemetery in Cape Coral held its 44th annual Memorial Day Remembrance Ceremony in the Veterans Honor Garden on Monday to say “‘thank you’ to the men and women who have served and who have sacrificed.”

Right: A Color Guard from the Cape Coral Police Department.

Center below: Flags decorate graves at Coral Ridge Cemetery on Memorial Day and, right, Gold Star father Bill Eggers shares the story of how his son, Capt. Daniel Eggers, died in combat in Afghanistan in May of 2004.

Bottom: A bagpiper; a contingent from the Knights of Columbus Assemby 215; and Mick Sheldrake, a U.S. Navy vet who served multiple deployments, rings the Bell of Honor in memory and respect for the fallen.

MARK CLIFFORD

Religious

Thanksgiving Novena to St. Jude, Apostle and Martyr, great in virtue and rich in miracles, near kinsman of Jesus Christ, faithful intercessor of all who invoke your special partonage in time of need. To you I have recourse from the depth of my heart and humbly beg to whom God has given such great power to come to my assistance. Help me in my present and urgent petition. In return I promise to make your name known and cause you to be invoked. St Jude pray for us and all who invoke your aid. Amen. Say three Our Fathers, three Hail Marys, and Glorias. Publication must be promised. This Novena has never been known to fail. I have had my request granted. Publication promised.

and hemmer for sale. Thread included. Everything you need to start. Call 239-224-2612

I BUY ALL RV’s I BUY ALL Boat’s HH I PAY CASH HH I will Come To You To See It Quick & Easy Sale. CASH ON THE SPOT! Vince~941-301-9946~Local

Power Boats

I BUY ALL RV’s I BUY ALL Boat’s HH I PAY CASH HH I will Come To You To See It Quick & Easy Sale. CASH ON THE SPOT! Vince~941-301-9946~Local

Dock Space Rental/Sales

50 foot BOAT DOCK for rent

Wide enough for a Catamaran. 105 foot canal, best in Cape Coral. No bridges or locks. Closet to the gulf. Private home $800 per month includes electric and water. Bill 239-910-1650

Acreage

8395 Bogart Dr, N. Fort Myers. 1+acre mobile home lot, no HOA Impact fees paid, septic & well on site. Cleared for double-wide, trees for privacy. Drainage ditch in back, no standing water Meter pole w/ co-op swing-over. Quiet area, agriculture allowed. $109,000 – Cash or financing. Brokers & direct buyers welcome. 239-691-9000 Gda.landtrust@gmail.com

Waterfront Homes

Waterfront property, 2855 sqft under roof, 4 bedroom / 2 bath, assessments fully paid. Screen enclosure 26’x13’ inground saltwater South facing, autofill, overflow pool 2021. Many new mechanics...roof 2023, HVAC 2024. All LG kitchen appliances, dovetail drawers, Corian counter, disposal, cathedral ceilings, 5 1/2’ baseboard, tray ceiling in master suite, mstr bath equipped with 8” spread faucets, jetted tub. Extra storage racks in 20’x21’ garage, newly paved driveway 2022. Landscaping freshly finished with classy concrete edging. Firepit & side patio 15’X13’ (2024) to watch the sunset with a view down the canal that leads to Lake Saratoga and adjoining freshwater lakes. Buyers Assistance Available. Call 412-657-2840, Owner $519,500.

7747 Grand Pine Rd. 3-bed den home w/recent updates: remodeled baths, saltwater pool, metal roof, new A/C, epoxy garage floor & fresh paint. Overlooks pond with serene views. Hurricane shutters & more. Never Flooded. Tranquil luxury awaits! $700,000 Paul Orsenigo, EXP Realty 239-888-9125

Pine Island Homes

Obituaries

Cape Coral

Gerald “Jerry” Razowsky

Gerald Razowsky, “Jerry”, 92, of Cape Coral Florida, formerly of Chicago’s West Rogers Park neighborhood; retired electrician, IBEW Local 134, artist, actor; passed away May 20, 2025, surrounded by love. Access video link and full obituary here: https://www.inclusivefuneralcare.com/obituaries/ jerry-razowsky/#!/Obituary.

Services were held at Shalom Memorial Park. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his name to Jewish United Fund https://www.juf.org/ or the Old Town School of Folk Music https://www.oldtownschool.org Arrangements by Inclusive Funeral Care, 773-318-1305 or www.InclusiveFuneralCare.com.

Cape Coral Death Notices

Jack Donald Miller, 93 of Cape Coral, passed away on May 15, 2025. Arrangements are by Coral Ridge Funeral Home, Cemetery and Cremation Services, Cape Coral. Please visit www.coralridgefuneralhome.com for additional information.

Joanne Marie Karras, 86, of Cape Coral, passed away Sunday, May 25, 2025. Mullins Memorial Funeral Home & Cremation Service, Cape Coral, is entrusted with final care.

Rebecca Janette Blasi, 78 of Cape Coral, passed away on May 20, 2025. Arrangements are by Coral Ridge Funeral Home, Cemetery and Cremation Services, Cape Coral. Please visit www.coralridgefuneralhome.com for additional information.

Jeffrey Lee Smith, 77, of Cape Coral passed away on May 26 2025. Arrangements by Lee County Cremation Services of Cape Coral.

Lorraine Lucille Pratt, 59 of Cape Coral, passed away on May 18, 2025. Arrangements are by Coral Ridge Funeral Home, Cemetery and Cremation Services, Cape Coral. Please visit www.coralridgefuneralhome.com for additional information.

Jesus Serrano, 75 of Cape Coral, passed away on May 19, 2025. Arrangements are by Coral Ridge Funeral Home, Cemetery and Cremation Services, Cape Coral. Please visit www.coralridgefuneralhome.com for additional information.

Difficulty: BRONZE

Cape Coral

David Dorn Hackworth, 72 of Cape Coral, passed away on May 17, 2025. Arrangements are by Coral Ridge Funeral Home, Cemetery and Cremation Services, Cape Coral. Please visit www.coralridgefuneralhome.com for additional information.

Jesus Arnaldo Gonzalez, 69 of Cape Coral, passed away on May 16, 2025. Arrangements are by Coral Ridge Funeral Home, Cemetery and Cremation Services, Cape Coral. Please visit www.coralridgefuneralhome.com for additional information.

Sandra Kay Schofield, 62 of Cape Coral, passed away on May 12, 2025. Arrangements are by Coral Ridge Funeral Home, Cemetery and Cremation Services, Cape Coral. Please visit www.coralridgefuneralhome.com for additional information.

Diana Harpel, 84, of Cape Coral passed away on May 17 2025. Arrangements by Lee County Cremation Services of Cape Coral.

Fort Myers

Jerry Allen Wilborne, 73, of Fort Myers passed away on May 19, 2025. Arrangements by Lee County Cremation Services of Fort Myers.

Charlotte Clotworthy, 93, of Fort Myers passed away on May 17, 2025. Arrangements by Lee County Cremation Services of Fort Myers.

SUDOKU SHEFFER CROSSWORD