090525 Cape Coral Weekend Breeze

Mobility fee plan fails with deadlock vote

By MEGHAN BRADBURY news@breezenewspapers.com

A plan to replace road impact fees with a different — and higher — tax on new construction failed Wednesday after Cape Coral City Council deadlocked on the issue.

With a tied vote of 4-4, the proposed mobility fee plan failed to move forward. A supermajority of at least six votes in favor was required for passage.

Recognizing student athletes

The Cape Coral Breeze presents its weekly tribute to local high school sports standouts.

— Page 32

The business community hailed the measure’s defeat.

“This is a tremendous win for our members and the community,” said Wade Kundinger, executive director of the Cape Coral Construction Industry Association in an email update sent to its membership Thursday morning. “The CCCIA along with Royal Palm Coast Realtor Association, Lee BIA and Chamber of Commerce of Cape Coral came together

as one voice to educate city leaders about the unintended consequences of the original plan. The Council listened, and the outcome proves the power of collaboration between government and industry.”

He said industry organizations will continue to work with the city.

“The CCCIA remains committed to working together with the City on infrastructure planning, mobility solutions, and smart growth initiatives. Today’s outcome

City to hold 9/11 remembrance

By CJHADDAD cjhaddad@breezenewspapers.com

Americans, as a people, vowed to always remember the events that took place on Sept. 11, 2001. And next Thursday morning in Cape Coral, first responders, city leaders, and members of the public will gather to “never forget.”

On the lawn in front of City Council Chambers at 8:30 a.m., the public is invited to gather to pay tribute to the thousands who lost their lives in the terrorist attack that rocked not just the nation, but

See REMEMBRANCE, page 29

is proof of what can be accomplished when we advocate, collaborate, and stay engaged,” he wrote.

Those opposed to the measure as proposed were Mayor John Gunter, and council members Laurie Lehmann, Jennifer Nelson-Lastra and Rachel Kaduk.

Gunter said it was a difficult decision as he recognizes the need for transporta-

Council vote expected Sept. 17

By MEGHAN BRADBURY news@breezenewspapers.com

Cape Coral’s plan to raise registration fees for rental properties moved forward Wednesday with a public hearing now set for Sept. 17.

Many in the business community, though, continue to say the proposal to hike the fees will only add to other increases they are facing.

In August, the Cape Coral City Council supported leaving the $35 registration fee for annual rentals at the current rate but collecting it every year. Council also supported a $350 annual registration fee for short-term rentals at the same workshop.

Ordinance 52-25 calls for an annual registration fee for long-term residential properties of $35, and $350 for annual short term residential properties.

The ordinance includes a 30-day grace period for renewals, and a $50 late fee after the period ends. The City Clerk’s Department will oversee the registration.

There are also three separate circumstances where fines will be imposed –misrepresenting the type of rental a property owner is doing, not renewing in time, and failure to identify.

Councilmember Laurie Lehmann said she had a problem with the $350 annual registration fee.

“If we are encouraging property owners to register their homes to follow the

Mayor’s Scholarship Ball kicks off fundraising

recurring scholarships that have a real impact on the lives of Cape Coral students throughout their post-secondary education.

Cape Coral Resort on Oct. 11 starting at 5 p.m.

The non-profit funds one-time and four-year

President of the Cape Coral Mayor’s Scholarship Fund, Joanne Hayden, said the organization created the ball three years ago as part of the organization’s 40th anniversary, with the hopes to give back more and more for local students.

“It’s held to raise additional funding for scholarships,” Hayden said. “It is one of our major fundraising events, and probably our highest-attended event. We’ve raised over $25,000 each event.”

Hayden added they are putting the “fun” in fundraising, as the event begins with a social

See SCHOLARSHIP BALL, page 28

‘Flexibility’ changes for Seven Islands project move forward to final hearing

Would allow for different mix of residential and non-residential uses

By MEGHAN BRADBURY news@breezenewspapers.com

An ordinance that would amend the allowable development parameters for the Seven Islands project advanced to a final public hearing without discussion Wednesday.

The introduction for the amendment of the Seven Islands Sub-District read during Cape Coral’s City Council meeting allows for a different mix of residential and non-residential uses.

The second hearing for Ordinance 46-25 was set for Sept. 17.

The amendment would eliminate the cap “on non-residential square footage, eliminating the requirement

for a mixed-use development while still requiring a mix of uses, eliminating language discussing Planned Development Projects, and eliminating the legal description for the Seven Islands area.”

The removal of the cap on non-residential would provide more flexibility, as well as more commercial space, according to documents posted with the Wednesday’s Council agenda.

If approved by city council, state approval would be required. The effective date would be 31 days after the state land planning agency notifies the city that the plan amendment package is complete.

According to the ordinance, “within the Seven Islands Sub-District, development shall be limited to a maximum of 995 dwelling units and an FAR of 1.0 for non-residential development, along with a hotel of no more than 240 rooms.”

The city acquired the Seven Islands acreage — a series of seven undeveloped man-made “hammerhead” islands connected to land on the east side of the North Spreader Canal — as part of a $13.7 million foreclosure sale during the Great Recession’s real estate collapse.

Gulf Gateway Resort purchased the site from the city which, prior to selling the acreage, held public meetings and subsequently approved a concept plan for development.

The development’s original submitted master site plan showed a mix of condos, apartments and fish houses, with a total of 995 units planned. Those units were to occupy Islands 1 through 5, with Island 6 to include a hotel and resort lagoon, and Island 7 to include event halls, community center park, restaurant, and more.

Plans have since been modified with the renditions in December showing a majority of the components originally proposed included.

Changes included “a shuffling” of the marina slips and relocation of proposed commercial shops to the frontage along Old Burnt Store Road.

Island 6 still was to feature a hotel, as well as amenities including a restaurant, pool, and resort lagoon.

Island 7 would offer restaurant space along with community centers, according to the renditions in the permit application.

Council extends city attorney’s contract

By MEGHAN BRADBURY news@breezenewspapers.com

Cape Coral’s city attorney has a new, longer contract with more pay and better benefits.

Cape Coral City Council on Wednesday approved the contract for City Attorney Aleksandr Boksner, which includes a 7.25% raise, pushing his annual base salary

to $320,609.69.

The raise includes a 4% market cost-of-living adjustment and a 3.25% merit increase based on his evaluation score of 3.3 on a scale up to 4.

Mayor John Gunter said the 7.25% increase was a discussion council had at a past meeting, as they are trying to provide the same raise for all bargaining unit and nonbargaining employees.

“That’s exactly what our other employees had gotten this year and trying to follow suit,” he said.

Boksner’s contract was extended by three years until midnight on Aug. 13, 2029. The contract commenced on Aug. 14, 2023. Another provision was in reference to leave time. According to the contract, “Boksner shall be entitled to accrue annual lave at the accrual rate of 20 hours per month, which accrual rate shall commence on Aug. 13, 2025.” In addition, “the city acknowledges and affirms that Boksner shall be entitled to be paid for any accrued annual leave time that is in excess of 200 hours, and will only be required to carry over 200 hours to the next fiscal year.”

The last portion of the contract was for deferred compensation.

The contract states that “within 14 days following the employment date anniversary of Aug. 13, 2025, and every anniversary employment date during the initial term, the city shall make a minimum lump sum contribution on Boksner’s behalf into the plan, after the payment of any applicable federal or state taxes by the city, the total minimum amount of $10,000, which contribution is in addition to the annual base salary.”

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

More than a remembrance

The city of Cape Coral will again hold a 9/11 remembrance on the lawn at City Hall.

This year’s ceremony to be held next Thursday beginning at 8:30 a.m. will again focus appropriately on the victims — all those who died in New York at the World Trade Center, in Washington, D.C., at the Pentagon, and in a field in Pennsylvania in the terrorist attack of Sept. 11, 2001.

Nearly 3,000 Americans died, including first responders — firefighters, paramedics and police officers — who put duty first as they climbed the stairs of the plane-struck Twin Towers to save others.

Each — all 2,977 — will remembered with an American flags bearing their name.

As a community, as a country, we vow to never forget, not only the fallen of 9/11 but all those who have followed — the more than 800,000 who enlisted and voluntarily served in Operation Enduring Freedom, including the near 2,400 who did not come home from that fight in Afghanistan; the more than 20,000 who returned wounded in the effort to prevent another such attack on American soil; survivors who continue to die each day due to suicide, addiction, cancers and other ailments directly linked to 9/11 and its aftermath.

We thank those who rose up in its wake of the worst attack our country has seen on American soil, everyone from those heroes who entered the Twin Towers to save lives at great risk to their own to all who volunteered to serve when our country needed them.

We thank the city for its continued efforts to remember those who died.

Events such as these are more than a remembrance: They are a promise and a vow to the fallen, to the families and to those who worked to make our world safer: We will not forget.

We will not forget.

This week’s poll question:

Should Florida “end all vaccine mandates?”

∫ Yes. The decision to vaccinate or not should be made by parents or guardians.

∫ Probably not but the list of required vaccines should be vetted.

∫ No.

∫ No opinion. Vote at capecoralbreeze.com.

Previous poll question:

What do you think of President Trump sending National Guard troops into D.C. and possibly other cities?

∫ No issues, I support his efforts. 44%

∫ Some concern; it seems like a stretch of authority. 3.25%

∫ Grave concern; it’s an abridgment law. 51.25%

∫ No opinion. 1.5%

September 5, 2025

Come meet Cape’s Youth Council

One of the great privileges of my time on the Cape Coral City Council was serving as liaison to our Cape Coral Youth Council. This group of 16 juniors and seniors from seven local high schools work each year on projects that not only benefit our community but also the youth who live here.

An opportunity presented itself earlier this year to become advisor to this amazingly talented group. I jumped on it. These students are the city’s future and to assist them in any way continued a goal of mine to better prepare them for life’s journey.

Part of that journey includes the youth council’s first-ever Meet and Greet from 5:30-7:30 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 18, at Nice Guys Pizza, 1404 Cape Coral Parkway E. in Cape Coral.

this year and into 2026. One of the biggest is a trip to Washington D.C. for the annual National League of Cities Congressional City Conference next year. The Meet and Greet will also serve as a fundraising event for the students, who are trying to raise about $20,000 to sponsor 11 students for the trip, which is planned for March 14-18.

The event will be an opportunity for the community to interact with the council and learn about the various projects the students are participating in

Cape Coral city taxes: Assessments and reality

To the editor:

This conference not only allows the students to interact with other youth councils from around the country but also provides a platform for skill and leadership development, insights into federal programs and to engage actively in civic life, helping their local governments develop more effective, youth-informed community programs. The Congressional City Conference Youth Program is led and created by youth representatives on NLC’s Council on Youth, Education, and Families (YEF Council).

See GUEST COMMENTARY, page 6

Letters to the editor

For 238 years, this remarkable document, the first of its kind, has stood as a safeguard of liberty, a protector of rights, and a guide for our Republic.

Social Security Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) went up 2.5% last year. The Consumer Price Index (CPI) for 2025 is stated at 2.9%. So why did City Council approve our three-legged stool of taxes (Property Taxes, Fire Service Assessment and Public Service Tax) by an increase of 13%-14% or $27 million - $30 million?

My personal impact of my Property Tax and Assessments is up 7.2% or $213.26. This raises my concerns that these tax increases are not proportionate to the cost of living and resident income based on the lower COLA and CPI rates stated above. I believe most residents have seen the impact of the troubled housing market with a significant downward adjustment to the market value of your property. Although our home values are decreasing, the city continues to support higher taxes and assessments. The city council has emphasized public safety concerns for higher taxes by increasing budgets for Fire and Police. The council and city manager will also argue that they did not raise the millage rate; it is important to look beyond the stated rate. Tax Revenue from Ad Valorem (Property Tax) still increased by $12 million or 8% due to increased “assessed” values from the Appraiser’s office. Like many residents, I value essential city services and want to ensure our community remains strong, but at what costs?

The council is furthermore giving out significant raises to city employees. For our city executives the council is comparing their compensation to the 10 largest cities. It may be more helpful to compare our city to similar tax bases. The city of Cape Coral’s tax base is 92% from residential; our city staff should not be priced as high as cities with large commercial based taxes; it may not be financially sustainable for our community. The council recently approved a 7.25% pay increase for our city attorney on top of a 20% raise last year. His pay will now be $320,610, plus $10,000 in deferred compensation and increasing his vacation to six weeks a year. We are not a city that can afford this. I am concerned that recent tax and compensation increases are unsustainable given current economic trends and residents footing much of the bill. Our new council members appear to be closely following the City Manager’s recommendations based on his insatiable appetite for more budget.

Tom Shadrach

Cape Coral

LCREC’s gala and fundraiser to celebrate Spirit of 1776

To the editor:

Many take the Constitution for granted. We must remember its importance; it places the power of government in the hands of the people, ensuring that freedom, justice, and equality remain the cornerstones of our nation. Its words inspire us to be vigilant and engaged citizens, dedicated to preserving the God given blessings of our Republic not only for ourselves, but for generations yet to come and for the world.

It is for this reason, on Sept. 20, 2025, the Lee County Executive Republican Committee will be hosting a U.S. Constitution Day Gala and Fundraiser titled, “Spirit of 1776.” This event will host State Sen. Jon Martin, Congressman Byron Donalds, Conservative Broadcaster Chanel Rion, Attorney General James Uthmeier and the Republican Party of Florida Chairman Evan Power. The MC will be Jason Jones, Host of Daybreak on 92.5 Fox News. The event will take place at the Marriot Sanibel Harbour Resort.

If you are interested in inquiring more about this event you can go to the LCREC website at https://www.leegop. org or call them at 239 936 8779 for more information. Arthur E. Amidano Pct. 111 Committeeman Cape Coral

Subject certification matters

To the editor:

The Lee School District said there is a certified teacher in every classroom. This is not valid statement for the Lee District to make.

There is no way this sweeping generalization holds true. Certification is complex set of requirements such as K-3; K-6 Elementary, Middle School 7-9; High School 10-12; Special Education, etc. On top of all this, is a battery of subject area tests to pass to be certified. Science, Math, Language Arts, Social Sciences, Special Education. Reading, Early childhood Education etc.

While the teacher may be certified, they are considered to be “working out of field” by the Florida State Department of Education.

A teacher working out of field is not qualified to teach the subject area but can TEMPORALLY teach “out of field in this classroom.”

The Lee County School District has misrepresented the facts. There is a difference in a certified teacher in field and one out of field.

The School District has also misled the public about the A, B, C school district report card.

* Total votes at press time: 207 votes. Percentages are “rounded.”Poll results are not scientific and represent only the opinions of Internet users who have chosen to participate. See LETTERS, page 6

On Sept. 17, 1787, the United States Constitution was signed, giving shape to the framework of our Republic.

You go by the State FAST scores, tests NOT the School Report Cards. The percentages of 83% and 77%

—Breeze editorial

Tom Hayden Guest Commentary

Guest Commentary: Youth Council issues meet and greet invitation

From page 4

“Everyone should attend the Meet and Greet because it is not only a chance for us to introduce ourselves, but also for citizens to see what we do,” Youth Council Chairperson Lexie Skorzak said. It’s a way for people to see the programs that mean a lot to us and to meet city council members, our advisors and to learn about funding the National League of Cities trip.”

The Meet and Greet will feature speeches from Cape Coral City Council member Jennifer Nelson-Lastra, who is this year’s youth council liaison, as well

From page 4

Cape Coral Youth Council donations

A GoFundMe page has been created to help fund the Cape Coral Youth Council’s trip to Washington, D.C. for the annual National League of Cities Congressional City Conference March 14-18 in 2026. To donate, go to https://gofund.me/2d4907d3 er.

as from various members of the youth council.

Among the topics:

n Introducing the Hope for the Holidays project, by youth council vice chair Emma Brown.

in third grade Language Arts literacy for the Cape Coral Charter Schools is outstanding. The Lee County School District Language Arts third grade literacy scores are at 48%.

Congratulations Cape Coral Charter Schools. Lou Navarra, Retired Lee District school teacher Cape Coral

Enough!

To the editor:

Telling the truth about American history is considered “woke” by the president and his MAGA acolytes and they believe all they need do is use this ridiculous word to persuade us their efforts to rewrite history are valid. Here in Florida, we have already seen concerted efforts by our governor and his allies at revisionist history and textbook companies and have been ready and willing to assist them. For example, according to one textbook, Rosa Parks was not protesting racial injustice when she refused to give up her seat on the city bus; she was merely upset at the discourtesy. Furthermore, the civil rights movement was not about systemic racism in America; it was a self-help crusade by people like MLK, encouraging African Americans to simply be better. And of course, the Civil War was not really about slavery.

In his dystopian novel 1984, George Orwell states that one of the abiding truths for the ruling fascist government is: “Who controls the past controls the future, who controls the present controls the past.” Trump and his minions, such as our Florida governor, believe they control the present and therefore, they can rewrite the past to conform with their myth of American exceptionalism and the idea that racial injustice is an insignificant aspect of our history, hardly worth talking about. Ours is a great country and we certainly need to celebrate our many achievements as a nation, but the truth is there are dark stains on our history and the way forward ought to be owning our mistakes, not minimizing them, not consigning them to footnotes.

Trump wants an America where students sing patriotic songs all the time and read in their history books that the 2020 election was stolen from him, only for him to be re-elected in 2024 to save the nation from woke politicians and educators who hate the country they work so hard to improve. As Orwell points out, it’s all about power. Trump’s edict to the Smithsonian Institute which, in essence, commands them to revise their depiction of American history, is quite possibly the most dangerous of his initiatives and should be fiercely resisted.

The president’s goal is clearly to distract us from the very real problems facing the country. He has been promising for well over a decade to introduce a health care plan that is far better and more affordable than Obamacare, but instead of giving us better health care, his “big, beautiful

n The council’s Mental Health project, by youth council member Claire Johnson.

n The Drive-In movie programs, by Berenice Sanchez.

n The Trunk or Treat event, set for Oct. 24 at Cape Coral City Hall, by Emily Salazar.

Letters to the editor

bill” cuts $1 trillion from Medicare and Medicaid over the next 10 years. Instead of more affordable health care, millions of Americans stand to lose their insurance, and it is estimated that thousands will die each year as a direct result of these cuts. Universal healthcare seems a dream that will never be realized.

If we are such an exceptional people, why has poverty not been eliminated here, as it has been in numerous other nations? Millions of American children suffer from hunger each day. About 60 percent of our families live paycheck to paycheck. Where are the president’s initiatives to end poverty? Instead of protecting working families, the president chooses to give a whooping tax cut to the wealthiest Americans. Instead of fighting for a living wage for all our working people, the president thinks he deserves lavish praise for eliminating the income tax on the tips some of our lowest-paid workers receive.

One of Trump’s most effective campaign strategies was to pose the question: Is your life better under Joe Biden? Many voters responded in the negative; food prices were up, interest rates high; housing was far less affordable, etc. Trump promised us lower grocery prices, but those prices continue to rise. First-time buyers still can’t afford house prices. Where are the Trump administration initiatives to ease the pressure on working families? Tariffs? Does anyone seriously believe Trump’s chaotic tariff policy will make our lives better? And how will our economy survive Trump’s mass deportation scheme? The strength of our economy depends upon the labor of millions of workers who are being deported or have self-deported out of fear of ICE.

No president in our history has been more obsessed with settling political scores or visiting suffering upon groups such as immigrants and Medicaid and other welfare recipients. No president in our history has been more anti-science. Many scientists consider vaccines the greatest advance in the history of medicine, having saved untold millions of lives, yet Trump’s Secretary of Health and Human Services, RFK, Jr., is doing everything he can to sow doubt upon the efficacy of vaccines. At the NIH, grants worth billions of dollars have been cancelled, ending research into fighting disease and improving our overall health. Foreign aid programs to help AIDS victims in Africa have been cancelled. Clean water initiatives, both here in the U.S. and abroad, have been gutted.

Many Americans are now repenting of their votes for Trump; his approval rating is plummeting, yet he still believes he has a mandate from the people to impose authoritarian rule and end democracy as we have understood it for 250 years. The MAGA agenda, as outlined in Project 2025, is fundamentally a Christian nationalist, white supremacist initiative. Most Americans don’t want this, but we have allowed a faction of vocal, well-funded hucksters to get their hands on the levers of power. It’s time to say ENOUGH!

Ray Clasen North Fort Myers

“This is going to be a great opportunity for the community to meet the dynamic, young individuals who are our future leaders,” Nelson-Lastra said. “This event is the perfect way for the community to come and learn about all the things the youth council is doing, how it works and the money they are raising for D.C.”

Tom Hayden served on the Cape Coral City Council from November 2020, through November 2024. He is currently Cape Coral Youth Council advisor.

Consumers are funding Trump’s trade war

To the editor:

The trade war initiated during the Trump administration continues to exert pressure on various sectors of the U.S. economy and influences prices significantly. On Aug. 7, according to “investigatemidwest. org/2025/04/16 tariff tracer,” tariff rates were 25% on India, 19% on Indonesia, 35% on Iraq, 15% on Japan, 35% on Canada, 20% on Vietnam, 55% on China, steel and aluminum tariffs were 50%, and copper 25%.

The tariffs increase costs for imported goods, leading to higher prices for consumers, of industries, including construction, automotive and manufacturing, cascading down to the consumer prices such as cars, food, and household goods. As the tariffs are in place in production costs, many companies pass the expense to the consumer, affecting everyday purchases.

Given these ongoing impacts, adjusting your buying habits could be a prudent measure. Here are a few strategies.

Buy local: whenever possible, choose local products to avoid hefty tariffs.

Check brands: Look at what is the source of the brand. Is the source using materials outside the high tariff countries, potentially offering better prices? Look for sales! Prioritize needs over wants and research alternatives. Help mitigate the impact on your wallet while navigating the complex economic leaders.

Many of us are walking together in this path of economic uncertainty!

Stay healthy and strong.

Kathleen

Callard RNBS North Fort Myers

Public insight: Public records requests

Have you requested public records from the city of Cape Coral? The Breeze is interested in hearing about your experience. Email us at vharring@breezenewspapers. com. Please include the date the request was made to the city, the date the record was received and the cost, if any. If the request was denied, please include the reason provided by the city.

Agree? Disagree? Weigh in! Letters, guest opinions, comments welcome

The views expressed on The Breeze Opinions pages are just that — opinions. These pages are intended to convey a range of viewpoints; opinions printed on these pages do not necessarily reflect the views of this newspaper. Opposing views are welcome. Letters to the editor or guest columns may be e-mailed to vharring@breezenewspapers.com. All letters and guest opinions must be signed and must include a phone number for verification purposes. Readers are also invited to comment on any letter or editorial opinion online at: capecoralbreeze.com.

Democrats should dismantle this ‘legal’ drug cartel

Just before President Trump pushed her out at the behest of his corporate donors, former Federal Trade Commission chairwoman Lina Khan released a damning report about the most rapacious and anti-competitive actors in the entire healthcare system: pharmacy benefit managers.

These middlemen in the drug supply chain don’t discover new medicines. They don’t manufacture them. They don’t even physically dispense most prescriptions. Yet they rake in tens of billions of dollars each year by driving up costs for everyone else — especially patients battling cancer, HIV, heart disease, and autoimmune conditions.

In their report, FTC investigators documented how the PBM industry — which is dominated by just three firms, CVS Caremark, Express Scripts, and OptumRx, that collectively oversee roughly 80% of all prescriptions dispensed nationwide — imposed eye-popping markups on generic drugs used to treat deadly diseases. The PBMs’ affiliated pharmacies charged hundreds — even thousands — of percent more than they paid to acquire drugs

like the cancer treatment Gleevec and multiple sclerosis medication Ampyra.

This isn’t just a case of corporations being greedy. It’s the result of a rigged market structure.

In theory, pharmacy benefit managers could play a valuable role by negotiating with drug manufacturers for lower prices.

Instead, PBMs have made the supply chain so convoluted that almost nobody on the outside — whether the patient filling the prescription, the pharmacist dispensing it, the doctor writing it, or even the employer sponsoring the health plan — can easily tell how much a drug will cost after discounts, rebates, and various fees and clawbacks are applied.

Howard Dean Guest Commentary

Congressional investigations have revealed numerous instances in which PBMs steered patients towards more expensive

drugs — which come with bigger discounts and rebates for the PBM — “even when there are lower-cost and equally safe and effective competing options” available. PBMs almost never disclose the total discounts they negotiate on specific drugs. So patients’ cost-sharing obligations are calculated based on a drug’s unnegotiated, inflated “list price,” rather than its true discounted price. As a result, patients spend billions more out-of-pocket than they otherwise would if the discounts were publicized.

These inflated costs are a key reason that 21% of American adults have skipped filling a prescription in the past year due to affordability concerns, while 12% have skipped doses or cut pills in half.

The FTC also found clear patterns of self-dealing, where PBMs steered the most profitable prescriptions to their own affili-

Cape Coral City Council members set town hall meetings for Sept. 6, Sept.13

Two Cape Coral City Council members have upcoming town hall meetings.

Cape Coral District 2 Councilmember Laurie Lehmann will hold a Town Hall meeting this Saturday, Sept.6, from 10 a.m. to noon at the Cape Coral Lee County Public Library, 921 S.W. 39th Terrace

Cape Coral District 4 Council Member Jennifer

Nelson-Lastra will hold a Town Hall Saturday, Sept. 13, from 10 a.m. to noon at the Northwest Regional Library, 519 Chiquita Blvd., Meeting Room BC.

Town Halls are an opportunity for residents to share their concerns, ask questions, and discuss ideas for the future of their district and the City of Cape Coral.

ated pharmacies while boxing out independent community pharmacies. Thousands of independent pharmacies have closed in recent years, leaving entire counties without a single brick-and-mortar store where patients can fill a prescription.

Finally, PBMs use their consolidated power to keep drugs off of health plan formularies — unless manufacturers pay exorbitant fees.

Congress has previously considered two bipartisan bills that would rein in PBMs’ worst abuses. And just last month, FTC chair Andrew Ferguson reignited an FTC lawsuit against PBMs that accuses them of anticompetitive behavior.

Taking on PBMs doesn’t just lower drug costs. It shows voters that we’re willing to fight the entrenched interests hurting their families and their finances. It shows that we’re the party that puts patients ahead of profiteers.

— Howard Dean is the former chair of the Democratic National Committee and former governor of Vermont. This piece originally ran in Salon.

Laurie Lehmann

Jennifer Nelson-Lastra

‘Just feels right’

Lee County and its islands promoted as the place where visitors can relax with the ultimate vacation mindset

By CJ HADDAD cjhaddad@breezenewspapers.com

With “season” just about ready to kick into full gear across Southwest Florida, county officials and independent agencies are marketing the region far and wide.

Data from the Lee County Visitor & Convention Bureau showed that in 2024, economic impact from both vacationers and “snowbirds” saw dollars in the billions spent locally.

According to the VCB, 3,199,500 visitors came to the area in 2024, an increase of 15.5% from the year prior. Visitor spending in ’24 generated a total economic impact of $4,951,755,500, an increase of 17.3%.

Despite recent setbacks, VCB officials state that tourism indicators continue to move in a positive direction. The number of passengers traveling through Southwest Florida International Airport (RSW) continues on an upward trend, with officials seeing notable growth.

“Each year the Lee County Visitor & Convention Bureau develops a robust marketing approach designed to attract both domestic and international visitors,” said Tamara Pigott, executive director of the Lee County Visitor & Convention Bureau. “Key domestic markets areas in-

“In terms of consumer marketing, the VCB’s ‘Just Feels Right’ campaign is designed around the idea that people want to find moments where they can let go of everyday stressors and prioritize their well-being by visiting the area. With a focus on how a vacation to this area feels, the campaign is built around our desire to be adventurous, connected, curious, playful and relaxed.”

— Tamara Pigott, executive director of the Lee County Visitor & Convention Bureau

clude the Midwest, Northeast and in-state visitors. The primary international markets are Canada, Germany and the United Kingdom.”

According to the VCB’s Sales & Marketing Plan. Target Audience Strategy is:

n Focus strategies to reach a more qualified audience based on who is currently visiting.

n Continue leaning into addressable audiences and leverage for year-round, 1:1 prospecting.

n Utilize contextual, behavioral, purchase, search, and social targeting to capitalize on demonstrated intent.

n Target past visitors from 2021–2022 and encourage them to return.

The VCB also is focusing on categories such as meeting planners, travel advisors,

and weddings.

In terms of an international approach, the VCB is keeping its presence in well-established markets such as Canada, Germany, and the United Kingdom. The VCB hopes to drive inbound visitation and visitor spending by capitalizing on rising international travel. There have also been media campaigns running during key travel-planning periods.

VCB is also using data to learn from new search and booking patters as they return to pre-pandemic levels.

“In addition to directly targeting consumers, the VCB utilizes sales, public relations, and destination weddings efforts to drive additional visitation to the area,” Pigott said. “We also partner with the Lee County Sports Development who helps fill area hotel rooms by hosting amateur sport-

ing events throughout the year.”

In 2024, the “top reasons” for visiting Fort Myers included “relax and unwind,” “beaches,” and “visiting friends/relatives.”

Promotions also play a role in getting visitors to the area, as 38% of visitors recalled promotions within the six months prior to their visit.

Promotions influenced 20% of all visitors to come to Lee County and its islands.

According to data from the VCB, 88.5% of visitors to the area came domestically, with 34.4% from the Midwest, 20% from the Northeast, and 18.9% from the South/ Southeast. Internationally, 6.2% of visitors came from Canada, and 2.1 traveled from Germany. Other international markets such as the UK and other European countries made up 3.2% of visitors.

As for how much time is spent here, VCB data shows that visitors spend an average of 6.4 nights in the area, with 25% being first-time visitors, and 21% having visited more than 10 times.

The top communities visitors traveled to were Fort Myers (34%), Cape Coral (18%), Fort Myers Beach (12%), and Bonita Springs (9%).

A new marketing campaign titled “Just

See VISITORS, page 9

AT LCEC, MEMBERSHIP MEANS EVERYTHING

In partnership with the United Way, Power to Share by Rounding Up allows members to round their monthly electric bill to the nearest dollar to help a neighbor in need. These contributions can help members avoid choosing between

Membership Matters

Visitors: Cape Coral popular among guests from Germany

From page 8

Feels Right” was designed around the idea that people want to find moments when they can let go of daily and prioritize their peace of mind, with the underlying premise being that when you reclaim your sense of being present, you can follow what feels right.

“In terms of consumer marketing, the VCB’s ‘Just Feels Right’ campaign is designed around the idea that people want to find moments where they can let go of everyday stressors and prioritize their well-being by visiting the area,” Pigott said. “With a focus on how a vacation to this area feels, the campaign is built around our desire to be adventurous, connected, curious, playful and relaxed.”

The campaign uses emotion and humor to connect with consumers. With short attention spans in mind, the VCB created five 15-second videos based on five key feelings: playful, curious, adventurous, connected and relaxed.

When it comes to total travelers making their way through Southwest Florida International Airport (RSW), 2024 saw record-high numbers. A total of 11,028,182 passengers made their way through the gates last year, the highest on record, and up nearly 1 million from 2023.

According to data from RSW, during July of 2025, 720,973 passengers traveled through RSW, an increase of 6.5 percent compared to July 2024 and the second-best July in the 43-year history of the airport. Year-to-date, passenger traffic is down 0.8%. The traffic leader

“Cape Coral offers exactly what German travelers and buyers are looking for: waterfront living, boating canals, year-round sunshine, family-friendly neighborhoods, and proximity to beaches like Sanibel, Captiva, and Fort Myers Beach.Compared to Miami or Naples, Cape Coral is more affordable, less crowded, and still offers a very high quality of life.”

—

Jens Struck.

founder of Florida-Scout.com

in July was Delta with 173,395 passengers. Rounding out the top five airlines were Southwest (127,070), American (118,972), United (102,374) and JetBlue (70,046). Southwest Florida International Airport had 6,353 aircraft operations, an increase of 12 percent compared to July 2024.

Cape Coral and Germany

With a strong tie to Germany, Cape Coral is a popular choice for those looking to come to the states from Deutschland.

The German American Club of Cape Coral has been a staple for year in the Cape, and annually holds a two-weekend Oktoberfest event that draws tens of thousands to its Biergarten. Cape Coral is also home to Germany eateries and businesses.

Jens Struck founded Florida-Scout.com, a bilingual (German/English) online magazine that provides practical information and insider tips about Florida. They cover travel, lifestyle, real estate, and local culture.

“Our main audience are German-

speaking tourists, snowbirds, investors, and expats,” Struck said. “We reach them primarily through SEO-optimized editorial content, a strong presence in Google search (over 370,000 monthly impressions in July 2025), and targeted social media channels.”

According to Visit Florida and Lee County VCB, Germany is one of the top European source markets. Before the pandemic, Florida welcomed more than 400,000 German visitors annually. Lee County alone registered around 200,000 German-speaking guests per year.

“Cape Coral is particularly popular among home buyers,” Struck said. “In the past decade, several thousand German families have purchased vacation homes in the area, making Germans one of the largest international ownership groups.”

Florida-Scout’s reach covers all German-speaking countries, including Germany, Austria, and Switzerland.

“Within Germany, the majority of our readers come from metropolitan areas such as Berlin, Munich, Frankfurt, Hamburg,

and Duesseldorf – cities with a strong tradition of Florida tourism and investment,” Struck said.

Struck launched Florida-Scout in 2012 as a German-language travel magazine. In 2023 they relaunched the site with a fully modernized bilingual setup.

“Since our U.S. naturalization in 2025, we are expanding the platform as a business,” Struck said. “We have also been living in Cape Coral for more than ten years, which gives us deep local insight and connections.”

So, why is Cape Coral such a hit with Germans?

“Cape Coral offers exactly what German travelers and buyers are looking for: waterfront living, boating canals, year-round sunshine, family-friendly neighborhoods, and proximity to beaches like Sanibel, Captiva, and Fort Myers Beach,” Struck said. “Compared to Miami or Naples, Cape Coral is more affordable, less crowded, and still offers a very high quality of life.”

According to Struck’s expertise, there’s no signs of German visitors slowing down their travels to Cape Coral, or even taking up a full or part-time residence.

“Cape Coral has seen continuous growth in German-speaking visitors and buyers,” Struck said. “Even after the pandemic, interest recovered quickly. Today, Cape Coral is often referred to as ‘the secret capital of Germans in Florida,’ with one of the highest concentrations of German-owned vacation homes in the U.S.”

Commercial vehicles subject to fines for parking on city’s rights-of-way

By MEGHAN BRADBURY news@breezenewspapers.com

Cape Coral City Council approved a city-wide prohibition of the parking of commercial vehicles and trailers in the public rights-of-way Wednesday.

City Attorney Alexandr Boksner said a new section of the city ordinance deals with enforcement by the parking enforcement officer issuing violations within public property and recognizing code compliance to enforce parking regulations on private property.

“The purpose of the proposed ordinance is to consolidate all existing parking regulations currently located throughout the City’s Code of Ordinances and the Land Development Code into one Article in the Code of Ordinances. The proposed ordinance also establishes a city-wide prohibition for the parking of commercial vehicle and trailers in the public rights-of-ways. The intent of the ordinance is to protect the health, safety and welfare of the citizens of the City reducing the obstruction of views

“The purpose of the proposed ordinance is to consolidate all existing parking regulations currently located throughout the City’s Code of Ordinances and the Land Development Code into one Article in the Code of Ordinances. The proposed ordinance also establishes a city-wide prohibition for the parking of commercial vehicle and trailers in the public rights-of-ways. The intent of the ordinance is to protect the health, safety and welfare of the citizens of the City reducing the obstruction of views of drivers and pedestrians who are attempting to navigate City streets; by reducing impediment to the flow of traffic; and by reducing aggravate to the aesthetic standards of the City.”

— Ordinance summary

business commits a violation of various parking prohibitions.

Civil penalties will be assessed at $100 for violations with violations for parking in areas designated for disabled persons to be a $250 civil penalty.

The ordinance includes provisions for certain circumstances including emergency situations such as vehicle mechanical issues, driver incapacity, or similar circumstances with the emergency parking not to exceed 24 hours. Emergency situation violations not subjected to fines are limited to two within a 12-month period.

of drivers and pedestrians who are attempting to navigate City streets; by reducing impediment to the flow of traffic; and by reducing aggravate to the aesthetic standards of the City,” the summary included in documents post online with the council agenda states.

The ordinance was developed to address the city experiencing “a great increase in the proliferation of commercial vehicles being parked and stored along public

rights-of-way in the city.”

The public right-of-way is to “enable pedestrians and lawfully permitted vehicles to safely and efficiently move from place to place, facilitate the delivery of goods and services, and provide the general public with convenient access to goods and services.”

Businesses will be subject to a civil penalty under Ordinance 44-25 if a commercial vehicle or a trailer registered to that

Councilmember Bill Steinke said he was very supportive of the ordinance and content but he had concern of a “sea turtle getting caught in a fishing net” when it comes to passenger vehicles with lettering. He said a passenger vehicle currently has exemption for the driveway at a house. The same exemption for right-of-way parking did not gain any traction from the other council members.

Prime acreage site in North Fort Myers sold

By MEGHAN BRADBURY news@breezenewspapers.com

A parcel on North Tamiami Trail in North Fort Myers that may turn into a light industrial development on the more than seven acres.

R.B.E. Investments of Southwest Florida, Inc. purchased the 7.24-acre site between De Navarra Parkway and U.S. 41 for $550,000. Cushman & Wakefield CEO and Principal Broker Gary Tasman and Senior Director Shawn Stoneburner rep-

resented the seller in the sale at 17501 N. Tamiami Trail.

Stoneburner said the property has to go through a rezone, mitigation, and lots of approval before anything takes place. He said it will take every bit of a year to two years for development.

Tasman said the sale was very straight forward, an old land trust partnership ready to monetize as it reached the natural investment cycle.

“They hired us to market the property for them. We succeeded with a strong offer in a short amount of time because of marketing capabilities,” he said. “Basically, the client came to us through a combination of our aggressive position in the market and our relationships.”

Tasman said they first wanted to identify what they felt they could market and the urgency to monetize in a reasonable amount of time to get the highest price.

“We put our research team to work to research the market and understand the property and whether it should be positioned to monetize in its market,” he said. “It’s a very detailed process in identifying

the property, understanding its features and benefits and capabilities of what it could be, and understanding the active listing to where it could be priced to attract buyers.”

Due to the research, Tasman said they knew exactly where to target and were able to identify several qualified buyers in a short amount of time creating competition at a very good price. The contract was done in 60 days.

He said the property will most likely be a flex type of property where it would attract tenants from the home building industry and tenants that serve the community in terms of homeowners and renters in proximity.

“We anticipate companies like insurance companies, HVAC, plumbers and electricians – people that are going to serve the population that continues to grow in the area,” Tasman said.

He said with all the activity and density in residential growth in North Fort Myers they are anticipating many more projects like this coming out of the ground in the next couple of years.

City attorney ‘optimistic’ about meeting Boathouse contract negotiation deadline

By MEGHAN BRADBURY news@breezenewspapers.com

Discussions with the Kearns Restaurant Group to reach a new concessionaire agreement for the Boathouse Tiki Bar & Grill continue as the deal deadline nears.

City Attorney Aleksandr Boksner said Wednesday discussions for a finalized agreement that would keep the Boathouse Tiki Bar & Grill at the Cape Coral Yacht Club are continuing and that he is cautiously optimistic the parties will meet by the deadline of Sept. 6.

A replacement agreement for the existing lease which has nine years left to run — the new city-preferred concessionaire contract — has been in the works with the Kearns Group for a while now.

Cape Coral City Council voted on Aug. 6 to give the city attorney seven days to finalize the lease settlement agreement with the Kearns Group by Aug. 13, and 30 days

to finalize the concessionaire agreement, Sept. 6.

After city staff and the Kearns Group, which has a lease with the city for food and other operations at the riverfront city park, failed to settle the existing agreement, the city moved on without it and began the procurement process for demolition of the Boathouse. The restaurant was heavily damaged in Hurricane Ian, rebuilt, and then destroyed in a fire last October shortly after re-opening.

The Kearns Group has said it will not sign a settlement agreement on the lease without a replacement agreement in hand. The city rejected a compromise offer under which the business would sign the settlement agreement and take down the damaged building if a codicil to reinstate the lease if the parties can’t come to terms on the concessionaire agreement was included.

CEO Dominic Nicosia with one of the Bayliner boats Galahad Marine Sales offers for boating enthusiasts. Galahad recently expanded into Cape Coral where it plans to build a 4,000-square-foot sales center with 6,000-square-foot service center by next summer.

Galahad Marine Sales opens in Cape Coral

First dealership in Florida plans to serve boaters from Sarasota to Collier County

By ED ZUMAR news@breezenewspapers.com

One of the perks of living in Southwest Florida is the opportunity to enjoy the warm weather year round. With easy access to lakes, rivers and beaches, that means boating is the activity of choice for many.

With the expansion of Galahad Marine Services, boaters in Southwest Florida have another option to choose the type of watercraft they want to enjoy the outdoors.

After 10 plus years establishing a successful boat dealership in Maryland, Galahad Marine has expanded to Cape Coral with its first dealership in Florida. While corporate headquarters will be in Cape Coral, Galahad is looking to serve an area that stretches from Sarasota to Collier County.

As an authorized dealer for Crownline, Bayliner, Trophy Series and Starcraft, Galahad Marine offers a diverse selection of fishing and recreational boats. Marketing Director Jessica Ginarte said easy access to the water was a main reason for Galahad to locate its corporate headquarters to the Cape.

“One of the greatest areas to expand for boating and the boating industry is Cape Coral,” said Ginarte. “We’re going to be a full dealership where we have our showroom and service area at this location as well as our company headquarters.”

Dominic Nicosia is the CEO of Galahad Marine.

A 20-year resident of Cape Coral, he ventured into the recreation business when he dove into the marina real estate industry in 2013.

That led to additional real estate deals up and down the east coast. In 2020 however he and his partners decided to sell that business and focus instead on the sales aspect of boating.

“Along the way we realized we were much better at boat sales and service than marina management,” Nicosia said.

After focusing on the Maryland and Virginia areas, it was the opportunity to partner with two of the more popular boating lines in the industry that led to expansion to Cape Coral.

“The chance to pick up Bayliner and Trophy dropped in our lap last fall so we signed up. We’ve since picked up two more lines, Crownline and Starcraft Pontoon, with two other brands coming,” said Nicosia. “This will give our customers the chance to select the perfect boat for their needs.”

In January, Nicosia bought the site on Del Prado Boulevard where he will construct a state-of-the-art sales and service location.

“We’ll be building a 4,000-squarefoot sales center and 6,000-square-foot service center,” Nicosia said. “We’re hoping to have it completed by next summer.”

The expansion will also bring job opportunities to Cape Coral. Nicosia said he is currently looking to add additional sales and service technicians to the already employed staff of five.

Long-time Cape Coral resident Chris Whited, senior salesman for Galahad, brings his 25 years experience in boat sales in Southwest Florida to Galahad. He said customers can expect to experience the Galahad Difference when they shop for the ultimate boating adventure.

“The Galahad Difference simply means their experience will be the most positive experience when purchasing their boat,” Whiting said. “From sales to service the Galahad Difference means something.”

Galahad Marine Sales is at 410 Del Prado Blvd N. about a quarter of a mile south of Pine Island Road.

ED ZUMAR

Rental fees: City looks to make annual registration a requirement

From page 1

codes, follow the rules, I think the first year make it $350. The second year (there are) no code calls, no police calls, no problems and they register, give them a 50% discount. They are not following the rules in the third year it goes back up to $350,” she said.

Reaction among property owners and management was, at first, hotly opposed.

Councilmember Jennifer NelsonLastra put together a stakeholder group, mostly comprised or Realtors, for input.

Roelens Vacations founder and Owner Koen Roelens was part of that stakeholder’s group, which recommended a $100 per year registration fee.

“It was a little increase from a yearly basis, and I think it is fair,” he said of the $100 fee. “I am all for regulation.”

Roelens takes care of more than 400 rentals in the community. He said when there was discussion about possibly raising the one-time $35 rental fee to $600 a year, he was a little outraged.

“It would anger many owners, and it would make it impossible for some owners to come ahead financially,” Roelens said. “Cape Coral is not on the beach. The income that these vacation rentals make is no where near the income of a property right on the beach.”

If the registration fee goes higher than the recommended $100, he believes it will upset many owners.

“The owners are affected by the increase in electricity, insurance, property taxes – it’s very difficult to sell a property these years. Major hurricanes have been

Ordinance 52-25 calls for an annual registration fee for long-term residential properties of $35, and $350 for annual short term residential properties. The ordinance also includes a 30-day grace period for renewals, and a $50 late fee after the period ends. There are three separate circumstances where fines would be imposed — misrepresenting the type of rental a property owner is doing, not renewing in time, and failure to identify.

there. Many owners were impacted by that and some are still recovering from it.

Owners from the last couple of years have to come up with so many increases – a lot of expenses to renovate their properties and now the city on top of this does an unrealistic fee that would really not be fair,” Roelens said.

The short-term rental market is slowing down, which has been the case since COVID, he said.

Properties that are doing well have more activities to attract the renters.

Now, is the time when the rentals decrease historically – until November and December and into the new year.

“The pool is not enough anymore,” Roelens said, adding that renters want Gulf access. “On top of that, you have to make an effort, probably, financially to get the income.”

Short-term rentals have a positive impact on the economy as guests spend their dollars in the community – restaurants, bars, attractions, he added.

“We have 20 properties in the Yacht

Club area – there is a steep decline in occupancy and daily rates in the area,” Roelens said, as the Boathouse is not open, nor the marina.

He proposed a shorter length of stay during the slower months from six nights, seven days, to five nights, which would bring more tourism to the vacation homes.

“Some families cannot support seven-night stays. Four or five nights they would come in and leave a greater economic impact to the city,” Roelens said.

“High season people want to stay sometimes for a month, multiple weeks. Once you pass Easter – May through October – those are the weak months. Shorter lengths of stay, that would really help.”

His business has also opened a contact platform on his website – a place where neighbors may have complaints about garbage, noise and cars.

“Neighbors can communicate with us in case there are problems with the neighborhood,” Roelens said. “I am all for making our guests behave. That is very important for us. That is why we have a special tab on our website.”

Breyan Lallas, who owns and operates short-term rentals in Cape Coral, and Fort Myers, said she purchased her first in 2021.

“That kind of just took off for me helping cohost and manage a few other properties,” she said. “Right now, I do them for friends and family.”

Now she has five properties in Cape Coral and three in Fort Myers.

When she first started with rental properties, she was not aware of any fees, as it was not easy information to find. She eventually found that there was a one-time rental fee of $35 in Cape Coral, which she paid and sent in with the PDF form.

“I ended up having some issues with a

neighbor that was unhappy with having an Airbnb in the neighborhood,” Lallas said. “Code compliance reached out to me and said I wasn’t registered.”

Unfortunately, she had to pay another $35 a few years later because she said the city did not have record of her first payment.

The proposed $350 annual fee, she said, is kind of a bummer because Cape Coral has already been very difficult for her for short-term rentals.

“The competition is fierce. The hurricanes have been scaring people off. The economy has been changing drastically,” Lallas said. “The first thing they can’t afford is vacations. Business has taken a heavy hit for our short-term rentals.”

In addition to the fee, she said she is also dealing with higher property taxes, homeowner’s insurance, and the cost of general services drastically rising.

After Hurricane Ian hit, her property taxes and homeowner’s insurance caused her mortgage to raise nearly $1,000 a month.

“If it wasn’t a rental property, I don’t know who could sustain a hit like that,” Lallas said, adding that with everything increasing it has resulted in operating at a loss. “Last year I operated at a loss for the entire year. I expect it to be similar this year. It has been tough in general. Proposed fees is a frustrating addition that we are facing.”

One of her frustrations, as an owner is she truly believes she is helping the community – through tourism and jobs. She said every other day they are calling electricians, HVAC companies, or cleaning companies.

“We are contributing to the economy in the area and driving tourism. It’s difficult when we are taking these big hits financially,” Lallas said. “The $350 is added on to every other thing that is increasing for us.”

Due to the fierce competition, she said she has had to drop prices. If she raises the prices no one will stay at her property, as there are Airbnb’s on every corner.

“We haven’t been able to pass those costs off without our business suffering, or occupancy suffering,” Lallas said.

How to create a comic book: Marvel artist Jerry DeCaire will tell you how

By MEGHAN BRADBURY news@breezenewspapers.com

Marvel Artist Jerry DeCaire is making a stop in Southwest Florida at many Lee County Public Library locations to give presentations on how to create a comic book.

DeCaire will provide a 90-minute presentation at Cape Coral-Lee County Public Library, 921 S.W. 39th Terrace, from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. today, Sept. 5, and Tuesday, Sept. 9, from 4-5:30 p.m., at North Fort Myers Public Library, 2001 N. Tamiami Trail. The presentations will provide patrons with the ability to learn how to create a comic book from start to finish — writing, penciling, inking, and coloring.

“They’ll also see a live drawing performance with original sketches given away to select audience members, and a semi-animated slide presentation showing the connections between mathematics and drawing a superhero,” he said.

The spark of drawing drew him in at a very young age.

“When I was only 7 or 8, I recall looking at a drawing of a German shepherd hanging on my mother’s living room wall,” DeCaire said. “I thought to myself, more than anything, I want to do this. The first serious drawing that I did was of a Halloween mask of a clown.”

That passion of drawing began in the 1960s.

DeCaire became fascinated by the Marvel publications – Spiderman, Hulk, Avengers, Thor, and especially The Fantastic Four and The Silver Surfer.

“It was John Buscema’s wonderful illustrations that mostly compelled me to pick up their monthly mags. Stan Lee called Big John ‘The Michelangelo of the Comics,’ and indeed he was,” DeCaire said. “Coincidentally, my original goal was to be the next Michelangelo or daVinci, before getting into comics. Whether it’s John, Michelangelo, or Leonardo daVinci, they were all masters of the human form.”

The artist is currently writing and illustrating his own

If You Go:

What:

Marvel Artist Jerry DeCaire to give presentations on how to create a comic book

When:

Today, Sept. 5, at the Cape Coral Public Library, from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and Tuesday, Sept. 9, at the North Fort Myers Public Library, from 4-5:30 p.m.

Where:

Cape Coral-Lee County Public Library, 921 S.W. 39th Terrace and North Fort Myers Public Library, 2001 N. Tamiami Trail

here-line production, the time-traveling Which-When Man. His other brainchild is an esoteric take on consciousness for a coffee-table form book, “The Other YOU,” which can be viewed at www.superheroworkshop.org.

DeCaire is one of the artists for Wolverine and Deadpool. His Deadpool was featured in Marvel’s Secret

City to hold Art Business & Industry Roundtable on Sept. 19 at City Hall

The city of Cape Coral will host an Art Business and Industry Roundtable designed to bring together key voices in our creative community Friday, Sept. 19, at City Hall. Coffee and light refreshments will be served.

This roundtable is part of the city’s ongoing Business and Industry Roundtable Series and is designed to foster open dialogue with the Art industry. Attendees will have the opportunity to share insights, voice concerns, and explore ways the City can better support small businesses.

The goals of the roundtable include:

Allow industry leaders to connect and discuss challenges specific to Cape Coral.

Exploring economic trends and opportunities within the local arts industry.

Identifying future programs and initiatives to support business retention and growth.

To attend, please register by contacting Andreana Petersen in the Economic and Business Development Office at apetersen@capecoral.gov.

Please be sure to RSVP no later than Monday, Sept. 15.

Defenders series. In 1991 he was assigned an illustrative job for “X-Men Annual #15,” his first professional assignment. From there, he was offered “Wolverine #47, which turned into “The Essential Wolverine Volume #2,” “Wolverine Weapon X Unbound” and finally “Wolverine Omnibus Volume 3” in 2023.

• 239 NAPLES, THE

• A TABLE APART

• KABAB SPOT

• KEEWAYDIN’S ON FIFTH

STEP THREE

• ALICE SWEETWATER’S BAR & GRILLE

• AMBER COVE

• ANGELINA’S RISTORANTE

• AQUA BONITA

• AQUA ON FIFTH

• ARTISAN EATERY

• BACKWATER JACKS @ BONITA BAY MARINA

• BALEEN @ LAPLAYA BEACH & GOLF RESORT

• BARBATELLA

• BAY HOUSE, THE

• BELLINI’S FORT MYERS

• BHA BHA! PERSIAN BISTRO

• BICYCLETTE COOKSHOP

• BISTRO 821

• BISTRO LA BAGUETTE

• BLACK FOREST GERMAN RESTAURANT

• BLACKBIRD MODERN ASIAN

• BLANC

• BLEU PROVENCE

• BOATHOUSE ON NAPLES BAY, THE

• BONE HOOK BREWERY AND CRAFT KITCHEN

• C LEVEL BAR & RESTAURANT

• CABOS CANTINA TACO & TEQUILA BAR

• CAFE NORMANDIE

• CAFFÈ MILANO

• CAMPIELLO

• CAPONE’S COAL FIRED PIZZA

• CHEZ GUY PARISIAN BISTRO

• CHOPS CITY GRILL - ALL LOC.

• CIBAO GRILLE

• CJ’S ON THE BAY

• CLAW BAR, THE @ BELLASERA RESORT

• COAST @ EDGEWATER BEACH HOTEL

• CONTINENTAL, THE

• COTE D’AZUR

• DEEP LAGOON SEAFOOD - ALL LOC.

• DEL MAR

• DISTRICT

• EL GAUCHO TRATTORIA

• ENZO’S ITALIAN RESTAURANT

• ESTIA

• FATHOMS

• FIRESTONE GRILL ROOM, THE

• FLACO’S MEXICAN RESTAURANT

• FLEMING’S PRIME STEAKHOUSE

• FRESH CATCH BISTRO

• FRESH CATCH INLAND

• GATHER

• GRAPPINO & THE BAKERY AT GRAPPINO

• HAMPTON SOCIAL, THE

• HANGOUT BY TWO GUYS, THE

• HOGFISH HARRY’S @ PARK SHORE RESORT

• ITALIAN DELI AND MARKET

• IZZY’S FISH & OYSTER

• JUNKANOO BELOW DECK

• JWB GRILL @ MARGARITAVILLE

• LA FONTANELLA RISTORANTE - BONITA

• LA FONTANELLA RISTORANTE - FORT MYERS

• LAKEHOUSE KITCHEN & BAR, THE

• LATITUDE 26 @ THE HYATT NAPLES

• LIMÓN ROOFTOP BAR

• LIMONCELLO

• LOCAL, THE

• LODGE, THE

• LOLA 41

• LOWBROW PIZZA & BEER

• LULU’S KITCHEN

• M & M’S CAFE @ TIN CITY

• M WATERFRONT GRILLE

• M’XUMA TACOS MEXICAN GRILL

• MARTIN FIERRO ARGENTINEAN STEAKHOUSE

• MEDITERRANO

• MELTING POT, THE

• MINI BAR, THE

• NAPLES COASTAL KITCHEN

• NEXT DOOR

• NOSH ON NAPLES BAY

• OAR & IRON RAW BAR & GRILL - FORT MYERS

• OAR & IRON RAW BAR & GRILL - NAPLES

• OASIS THE KITCHEN LOUNGE - AVE MARIA

• OLD VINES NAPLES AT MERCATO

• OLDE FLORIDA CHOP HOUSE @ TRIANON HOTEL

• PAELLA’S MEDITERRANEAN FUSION

• PAZZO! CUCINA ITALIANA

• PEZZO PIZZA + BAR

• PHUZZY’S BOAT SHACK - ST. JAMES CITY

• PINCHERS - ALL LOC.

• PJK NEIGHBORHOOD CHINESE - NAPLES

• PJK NEIGHBORHOOD CHINESE - ESTERO

• REAL SEAFOOD COMPANY

• ROOSTER FOOD+DRINK, THE

• ROY’S RESTAURANT

• RUTH’S CHRIS STEAK HOUSE

• SAGE ON 47TH

• SAM SNEAD’S TAVERN

• SAN MATTEO ITALIAN RESTAURANT & BAR

• SAVOUR RESTAURANT

• SEA SALT

• SEASONS 52

• SHULA’S STEAK HOUSE @ HILTON NAPLES

• STONES THROW

• SYDNEY’S PUB @ TIBURÓN GOLF CLUB

• TABERNA OLE

• TAP 42 CRAFT KITCHEN + BAR - NAPLES

• TARPON BAY @ HYATT REGENCY RESORT

• TEXAS TONY’S

• TWO MEATBALLS IN THE KITCHEN - ALL LOC.

• U.S.S. NEMO

• UNIDOS

• WARREN AMERICAN WHISKEY KITCHEN

• WATERMARK GRILLE

• ZAZA MEXICAN RESTAURANT

Weekly B reeze Recap

Lee County Commissioners this week approved an agreement authorizing Climavision to install weather radar equipment on the roof of the county’s Public Safety Center. Pictured above and below is equipment from a previous installations.

Lee County enters partnership to improve weather radar coverage and monitoring of severe storms

Equipment

will be placed on the roof of the Lee County Public Safety Center

A weather-watching partnership may make Lee County safer as storms approach.

Lee County on Tuesday entered into a public-private partnership that officials say will help fill in the gap in National Weather Service radar coverage in Lee County and allow improved monitoring of severe weather.

The Lee Board of County Commissioners voted to approve a site license agreement that authorizes Kentucky-based Climavision to install weather radar equipment on the roof of Lee County’s recently opened Public Safety Center.

“This public-private partnership will fill a known gap in radar coverage for the National Weather Service and will improve access to data and the ability to predict and forecast severe weather in the region,” officials said.

Lee County sits in a gap between weather radars located in Tampa, Key West, Miami and Melbourne. This gap means that the National Weather Service cannot see certain weather phenomena below 6,000 feet, including waterspouts and tornadoes. This issue was illustrated in a 2020 report – “Gaps in NEXRAD Radar Coverage” – from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Climavision will reimburse the county $27,813 for the cost of constructing the platform and will pay $2,400 annually for the estimated cost of electricity consumed by its equipment. The initial term of the agreement is for three years, with a three-year renewal period. In lieu of base rent under the agreement, Climavision will share weather data with Lee County at no cost.

Climavision has an agreement with the National Weather Service to provide data from these devices to their Weather Forecast Offices. The systems are integrated to allow rapid access to the data during weather emergencies. This X-Band weather radar is a proprietary system that covers 60 miles from the radar site and is licensed by the Federal Communications Commission.

The county has constructed a platform on the roof

of the Public Safety Center to support Climavision’s weather radar tower and equipment. The county’s Public Safety Center officially opened in May; it’s a 36,873 square-foot, $38.5 million two-story addition to the Emergency Operations Center.

During blue-sky normal operations, the expanded building houses Public Safety Administration, Emergency Medical Services, and the new Emergency Communications Center, with space for Public Safety’s Division of Emergency Communications, Lee County Sheriff’s Office Communications and the Lee County Department of Transportation’s Traffic Operations Center. Lee County Emergency Management remains in its existing location.

Teen in hospital after two-vessel crash near Captiva Pass

By TIFFANY REPECKI trepecki@breezenewspapers.com

A local teen remains hospitalized following a boat-personal watercraft collision Saturday that also resulted in fatal injuries to another girl.

At approximately 3:45 p.m., Aug. 30, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and other area agencies responded to the two-vessel incident near the Captiva Pass.

“Preliminary information indicates that a personal watercraft (PWC) with two occupants and a 28-foot vessel with four occupants were traveling in the channel in the Pine Island Sound near Captiva Pass when a collision occurred,” the FWC said. “One of the occupants of the PWC was airlifted to a nearby hospital, while the second occupant was tragically pronounced deceased as a result of the incident.”

It added that the occupants of the boat were uninjured.

“The FWC extends its deepest condolences to the family and loved ones of the individual who lost their life in this accident. Our thoughts are with them during this difficult time,” the FWC said.

FWC Public Information Officer Bradley Johnson confirmed that both occupants of the personal watercraft were 17-year-old females from the Lee County area. The boaters were also local.

He reported that the teen trauma-alerted to the hospital was stable as of Sept. 2. Neither her identity, nor that of the deceased victim, has been released.

Johnson reported that the incident remains under investigation and the FWC is the lead agency.

Multiple agencies responded to the fatal collision, including the Cape Coral Fire Department, Iona-McGregor Fire District, Lee County Sheriff’s Office, Lee County EMS, Matlacha-Pine Island Fire Control District, Sanibel Fire and Rescue District, U.S. Coast Guard, Upper Captiva Fire Protection & Rescue Service District and Useppa Island Fire Rescue.

Useppa Island Fire Chief Marc Mascarelli reported that the LCSO was the first on scene, followed by himself and another crew member. The boaters had pulled the teens from the water before they arrived.

“They were already on the boat that they came in contact with,” he said.

“They had life jackets on still,” Mascarelli added.

His crew joined a LCSO deputy who was providing CPR and they began to work on both victims. He reported that they replaced a makeshift tourniquet that the boaters had put on one of the teen’s legs.

“She had been cut open really bad with the propeller. She had a broken arm,” Mascarelli said. “She was still alive, but in and out of consciousness.”

“No one on the boat was injured, so they were helping out where they could,” he added.

As the additional agencies arrived, attempts continued to revive the second teen. Upper Captiva Fire Chief Jesse Cottrell’s crew was one of the first to show up and begin treating both of the victims.

“Each victim had extensive injuries,” he said.

“A good, reasonable amount of time and effort went into reviving the other girl,” Mascarelli added, explaining that the teen had sustained multiple injuries throughout her body, including her head.

The victims and responders rode about a half-mile to Upper Captiva on the boat.

“It was easier not to move them at that point,” Mascarelli said of the teens.

On shore, one was pronounced dead and the other was transported to the Gulf Coast Medical Center.

“We continued treatment until the AeroMed (helicopter) landed, then we transferred care to the flight

See TEEN IN HOSPITAL, page 31

PHOTO COURTESY CLIMAVISION

September 5, 2025

An introduction to the vanilla orchid

By CATHY DUNN news@breezenewspapers.com

When something is described as “vanilla,” it is usually meant to denote a plain item without a lot of pizzazz. That descriptor, however, is very misleading! The vanilla orchid, or Vanilla planifolia, is the plant that provides natural vanilla flavor, and the vanilla bean is the only edible fruit in the orchid family.

Garden Club of Cape Coral

This exotic plant produces the world’s most popular flavor, with demand increasing every year for natural vanilla. Vanilla is not only popular, but also quite valuable; only saffron is more expensive. As consumers demand natural vanilla over vanillin, the synthetic version of vanilla, many food companies are moving to reduce the use of vanillin in their products. And vanilla extract has uses beyond the food industry; it is used medically as a natural anti-microbial remedy and is being evaluated as a treatment for sickle cell anemia. Perfumers also use vanilla to impart a sweet fragrance to their signature scents.

The vanilla orchid is native to Mexico, and the Spanish explorer Hernan Cortes first took vanilla plants to Europe in 1519. Without a suitable tropical climate and bees to pollinate the flowers, vanilla orchids could not be cultivated successfully in Europe for almost 300 years. Once greenhouses became available to support the plants and manual pollination techniques were developed, it was finally possible in the mid-19th century to propagate the plants in Europe.

While Europe struggled to produce vanilla orchids, the plants first spread from their native range to the Caribbean Islands and other tropical climates around the globe, particularly in European colonies in Africa and Asia. Since the early 1900s, vanilla orchids have been cultivated in Puerto Rico, Hawaii and Florida. The vanilla industry grew in Puerto Rico throughout the 1950s but declined as the post-war economy favored industrial development over agriculture. Hawaii faced a similar decline in vanilla production, as tourism rapidly grew to be the state’s major economic sector.

Today Madagascar produces more than half of the world’s vanilla, with Indonesia, Mexico, Papua New Guinea and China supplying most of the remaining product. The U.S. is the largest importer of vanilla beans, with most of those beans processed as vanilla extract.

The vanilla orchid is a thick, fleshy perennial vine that lives for many years, and can reach lengths of over 200 feet. The orchid is considered “semi-epiphytic,” which means that the stem can be planted in soil forming terrestrial roots and can also grow on other plants as

See VANILLA ORCHID, page 35

Kimmie’s Recovery Zone’s 4th annual ‘Party in the Park’ Sept. 13

Southwest Florida’s recovery community is coming together for Kimmie’s Recovery Zone’s 4th annual “Party in the Park” Saturday, Sept. 13, from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., at Collaboratory in Fort Myers.

The free, family-friendly celebration coincides with National Recovery Month and features speakers, community resources, and the Circle of Love remembrance — where names of loved ones lost are spoken aloud in a moving ceremony of unity and healing.

“This year marks our 4th annual Party in the Park to support National Recovery Month, and we’re thrilled to host it at a new location. There’s

so much to be excited about — especially the incredible collaboration from leaders and organizations who are coming together to support those in need. … One very meaningful part of our event is our Circle of Remembrance, where we speak the names of loved ones we’ve lost and lift them up in a special prayer. It’s a sacred moment for our community,” said Al Kinkle, the founder of Kimmie’s Recovery Zone

“Each year this event grows stronger for our community, and I could not be more excited about what we’ve created together. This is a movement of hope, healing, and unity. We are honored to stand with

our community to shine a light on both remembrance and recovery,” said Heidi Webb, a board member of Kimmie’s Recovery Zone

The celebration will include remarks from Fort Myers Mayor Kevin B. Anderson and a presentation by keynote speaker Florida State Sen. Darryl Rouson.

Also featured will be community speakers, peer support and resource partners, along with food, family-friendly activities and interviews for a forthcoming documentary on recovery in SWFL Collaboratory is at 2031 Jackson St., Fort Myers

CCFW to meet Tuesday at Rotary Park

The Cape Coral Friends of Wildlife invites the public to its next meeting Tuesday, Sept. 9, at Rotary Park at 5505 Rose Garden Road in Cape Coral.

The featured speaker is Katherine Rose, Florida Sea Grant Extension Agent with the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS).

Rose will share insights into the critical role of seagrass in Florida’s marine ecosystems. Her presentation will cover the ecological and economic importance of seagrass, the causes behind its alarming decline and

Veterinary Assisting Dog Wash Sept. 13 at CCTC

A Veterinary Assisting Dog Wash will be held Saturday, Sept. 13, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., at the Cape Coral Technical College campus at 360 Santa Barbara Blvd., N., Cape Coral. Follow signs on campus.

The cost for small and medium dogs is $20, and for dogs 40 pounds and over, $30. Cash only please Ear cleaning and toe nail trims are included with the bath!

Questions? Call 724-984-8734.

Friends of Cape Coral Library to meet Sept. 20

The Cape Coral Friends of the Cape Coral Library will hold its next general meeting Saturday, Sept. 20. The public is invited to join the Friends in the large meeting room of the library at 921 S.W. 39th Terrace.

Light refreshments and social time start at 9:30 a.m., followed by brief business meeting and the program “SWFL Weather & Hurricane Preparedness,” featuring Greg Rule, WINK News meteorologist, who will again address the Friends with an informative and entertaining presentation.

For more about Friends of the Cape Coral Library, visit www.capefriends. org and follow us on Facebook.

a two-pronged strategy to help reverse the trend.

Seagrasses are vital to Florida’s coastal health. They provide food and shelter for many commercially and recreationally important fish species, improve water clarity, stabilize shorelines and sequester carbon and nitrogen. Unfortunately, seagrass meadows are diminishing worldwide — largely due to rising nutrient levels in coastal waters.

This event is free and open to the public Doors open at 6:30 p.m. for networking. The presentation begins at 7 p.m., followed by the regular

Community Calendar

Blue Mass Sept. 20 at St. Andrew Catholic Church

St. Andrew Catholic Church will hold a special Blue Mass to honor and pray for local emergency responders Saturday, Sept. 20, at 9 a.m.

The mass is sponsored by the Knights of Columbus and those emergency responders attending are encouraged to wear their uniforms.

St. Andrew Catholic Church is at 2628 Del Prado Blvd., S., just south of the Veterans Memorial overpass, in Cape Coral.

For additional information about the mass, please visit the St. Andrew website at www.standrewrcc.org.

Epiphany Episcopal Church to hold Italian Night Sept. 24

The Epiphany Episcopal Church will hold Italian Night at Epiphany Wednesday, Sept. 24, at 6 p.m.

The church is at 2507 Del Prado Blvd., S., Cape Coral.

There will be a three-course dinner featuring Insulata, Beef Bolognese and Dessert.

The cost is $20 per person, and $10 for kids under 10.

For reservations, call (239) 2187556. Tickets are now on sale until Sept. 17.

For additional information, please contact the church at (239) 574-3200

CCFW business meeting

About Cape Coral Friends of Wildlife

Cape Coral Friends of Wildlife is a volunteer-led organization dedicated to preserving and enhancing habitats for protected wildlife in Cape Coral. Through education, advocacy, and community outreach, CCFW promotes awareness and appreciation of the area’s unique wildlife and ecosystems. To learn more, donate, or explore membership and volunteer opportunities, visit ccfriendsofwildlife.org or call 239-980-2593.

or visit its website at https://www. epiphanyepiscopalchurch.org/.

Cape Cafe Dessert Theatre to present ‘The Spirit of Bay Manor’

The Cape Cafe Dessert Theatre will present “The Spirit of Bay Manor,” Joe Simonelli’s stage thriller, opening Friday, Oct. 3.

The play tells the story of five people who gather in an alleged haunted manor house to try to prove whether the house either is, or isn’t, haunted. Among them is a paranormal investigator, a real estate agent, the manor’s owner, a psychic and the niece of the woman who died mysteriously in the same house during a ghost hunting experiment 30 years prior.

Tickets for all performances are on sale now -- general admission is $28. The price of admission includes complimentary coffee and dessert.

Doors open 1/2 hour prior to performance.

Purchase tickets directly on the website at https://www.capecafetheatre.com/

The Cape Cafe Dessert Theatre is at 110 N.E. 2nd Place, #401, Cape Coral.

For additional information about the current production of “Men Are Dogs,” which concludes this weekend, or upcoming shows, please call (239) 363-0848.

UF/IFAS PHOTO

A vanilla orchid blossom.

the breeze health

September 5, 2025

HealtH Briefs

Free autism screening for young children to be held Sept. 19 in Fort Myers

Golisano Children’s Hospital of Southwest Florida, in partnership with Ronald McDonald House Charities of Southwest Florida, offers a free monthly autism spectrum disorder screening for toddlers 18 months to five years of age.

The next screening will be held Friday, Sept. 19, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Pediatric Specialist Office, 15901 Bass Road, Suite 102, Fort Myers.

It is estimated that one in every 44 children is diagnosed with some form of Autism Spectrum Disorder, making it more common than childhood cancer, juvenile diabetes and pediatric AIDS combined.

Medical consultants for the project stress that an early diagnosis can make a vast difference for toddlers and their families. They say early intensive behavioral intervention can make an immense difference not just in the development of the child, but in their families as well.

The ASD screening is conducted by the Golisano Children’s Hospital of Southwest Florida. The screenings are administered by an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse, who has extensive training and experience in typical child development and developmental disorders.

A physician referral is not required. To schedule a screening, please call 239-343-6838.

Golisano Children’s Hospital & MarineMax Fort Myers announce 10th Annual Gala

Golisano Children’s Hospital and MarineMax Fort Myers have announced that the 10th Annual MarineMax Yacht Gala will take place Friday, Feb. 20, at MarineMax Fort Myers. This year’s theme, “A Night Under a Million Stars,” promises a magical waterfront evening benefiting the hospital’s SEA STAR Program (Safety Education Awareness, Sensory Training, Autism Readiness).

The SEA STAR Program provides sensory-friendly care for children with neurological and developmental disorders, including autism spectrum disorder, ADHD, sensory processing disorders and more. Since its launch in April 2024, nearly 100% of Golisano team members have been trained in sensory-friendly practices.

SEA STAR also introduced Florida’s first sensory-friendly ambulance and established 10 sensory rooms throughout Southwest Florida, complete with dimmable lighting, bubble tubes, tactile therapy tools, and fiber optics, all designed to create a safe, calming environment for patients and their families.

Guests can look forward to an unforgettable night filled with luxury yachts, gourmet dining, dancing, live entertainment, and inspiring stories of impact.

Sponsorship opportunities are now available at the Title Sponsor ($25,000), Presenting Sponsor ($15,000), Platinum Sponsor ($10,000), Diamond Sponsor ($5,000), and Captains Sponsor ($3,000) levels. Individual tickets are $300 each.

For more about sponsorships and to get tickets, please visit LeeHealthFoundation.org/MarineMax.

Understanding gynecological cancers and knowing your risk

Each year, approximately 110,000 new cases of gynecologic cancers are diagnosed in the United States.

In recognition of Gynecological Cancer Awareness Month in September and as part of our ongoing effort to help reduce these numbers, we want to use this opportunity to educate and inform the community about prevention and early detection.

Regular checkups, cancer screenings and maintaining a healthy lifestyle are important steps to reducing risk. Being informed about gynecological cancers, knowing your body and noticing any changes early can also make a big difference.

What are gynecological cancers?

Gynecological cancers are types of cancers that affect a woman’s reproductive system. There are five types: Cervical, Ovarian, Uterine, Vaginal and Vulvar.

Cherrie Morris, MD Guest

Column

Treatment for these cancers depends on the type and how far the disease has progressed. Early detection is the key to successful treatment and survival.

Gynecological cancers can develop in various parts of the female reproductive system. Cervical cancer starts in the cervix, the narrow lower part of the uterus.

Ovarian cancer originates in the ovaries, located on either side of the uterus, and can also begin in the fallopian tubes or peritoneum.

Uterine cancer begins in the uterus, the pear-shaped organ where a baby grows during pregnancy.

Vaginal cancer develops in the vagina, the tube-like passage connecting the uterus to the outside of the body.

Vulvar cancer is a rare cancer that forms in the external female genital organs called the vulva.

Cervical cancer

Cervical cancer usually develops slowly over time. Early detection through a Pap smear screening test can reveal abnormal cells in the cervical tissue. Your gynecologist will determine if the abnormal cells need to be treated. In rare situations, untreated cells may eventually become cancer cells.

Most of these cervical cancers are caused by various high-risk strains of the human papillomavirus (HPV), which is spread through sexual contact. When the body is exposed to HPV, the immune system recognizes the virus as a foreign invader and produces an immune response to destroy the virus. However, in some individuals, the virus can persist and eventually lead to the development of cervical cancer cells.

The risk of cervical cancer can be reduced through regular screening tests and by getting the HPV vaccine, which helps protect against HPV infection.

Ovarian cancer

The ovaries are almond-shaped organs in the female reproductive system that produce eggs and certain hormones.

Ovarian cancer can be caused in three ways:

n Ovarian epithelial cancer forms in the tissue covering the ovary; in the thin, smooth tissue membrane that lines the abdominal cavity and covers most of the organs in the abdomen, called the peritoneum, or in the lining of the fallopian tube, which delivers eggs from the ovaries to the uterus

n Ovarian germ cell tumors begin in the eggs, which are also known as germ cells or reproductive cells that develop into eggs in females and sperm in males

n Ovarian low-malignant potential tumors can start in the tissues covering and within the ovary

Ovarian cancer can cause nonspecific symptoms, such as abdominal swelling or pain, but for some patients, no symptoms at all are experienced. Since it can be difficult to diagnose and symptoms can seem vague or like common issues, it’s vital to see a physician for regular checkups or if anything in the body feels abnormal. It is better to get checked than to brush off persistent symptoms.

Five to 10% of cancers are related to disease-causing gene mutations passed down through family members. It’s also important to know your family history and whether you carry any of these mutations. The BRCA 1 or 2 mutation can significantly increase the risk of developing breast, ovarian and other cancers.

If you’re concerned about the risk of developing hereditary cancer, experts with the Cancer Genetic Risk Assessment Program at the Lee Health Cancer Institute can help you understand your options. Pre-test counseling is available free of charge.

For more information on genetic counseling at Lee Health, please call 239-343-9512.

Uterine cancer

Uterine cancer can refer to endometrial cancer or uterine sarcoma. Endometrial cancer develops in the endometrium, the inner lining of the uterus. It is one of the most common gynecologic cancers and normally develops in women after menopause.

Uterine sarcoma forms in the myometrium, the muscle wall of the uterus, and is very rare.

Risk factors for uterine cancer include:

n Having obesity

n Having diabetes

n Having untreated polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS)

n Taking estrogen without progesterone. If the uterus is still present, birth control pills have both estrogen and progesterone.

n Having Lynch syndrome (a genetic predisposition to

See KNOWING YOUR RISK, page 31

Premier Mobile Health Services’ September mobile medical clinics

Premier Mobile Health Services, a nonprofit health clinic that brings essential medical care to those in need across Southwest Florida, has announced its mobile medical clinic schedule for the month of September.

The mobile medical clinic welcomes walk-ins. The schedule for September is as follows:

n Monday, Sept. 8 - Community Cooperative, 3429 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. #4403, Fort Myers, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

n Saturday, Sept. 9 and 23 - Café of Life, 26724 Nomad Drive, Bonita Springs, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

n Wednesday, Sept. 10 - FMB Strong, 820 Buttonwood Drive, Fort Myers Beach, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

n Thursday, Sept. 11 - Pine Manor Community Center, 5547 10th Ave., Fort Myers, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

n Saturday, Sept. 13 - Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church, 207 South 9th St., Immokalee, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

n Wednesday, Sept. 17 - Gladiolus Food Pantry, 0511

Gladiolus Drive, Fort Myers, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

n Friday, Sept. 19 - Mahanaim SDA Church, 318 Sabal Palm Road, Naples, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The mobile medical clinic is also open several days each week at Mount Hermon Ministries on 2856 Douglas Ave. in Fort Myers. Appointments can be made by calling 239-222-1829.

Patients without insurance and those who provide proof of income below 200% of the federal poverty guidelines are provided care at no costs; others in need pay on a sliding scale based on income.

To learn more or schedule an appointment, call 239288-7949. About Premier Mobile Health Services

The mission of Premier Mobile Health Services is to provide quality health care services to the medically vulnerable and those most at risk of developing and experiencing long-term illnesses and hospitalization.

Available services include early-detection health screenings, blood pressure and diabetes checks, drug screenings, basic metabolic profiles, nutrition counseling, basic vaccinations, health education, school and sports physicals for children, as well as acute and chronic disease management.

Premier Mobile Health Services holds a 2025 Gold Rating from the National Association of Free and Charitable Clinics’ Quality Standards Program, highlighting the organization’s commitment to quality patient care. It also holds the 2025 Platinum Seal of Transparency on Candid, the highest level of recognition for nonprofit organizations demonstrating exceptional transparency and accountability.

The mobile clinic includes an onsite pharmacy and point-in-care laboratory for immediate analysis of test results. To learn more or schedule an appointment, call 239-288-7949 or visit PremierMobileHealth.org.

LCEC CEO Denise Vidal named among state’s most influential business leaders

Florida Trend recognizes those who drive progress & innovation in their field

By CJ HADDAD cjhaddad@breezenewspapers.com

A local CEO has garnered state-wide recognition for her impact as part of an exclusive list of leaders in the Sunshine State.

Denise Vidal, executive vice president and CEO of Lee County Electric Cooperative, was recently named among Florida’s most influential business leaders as part of Florida Trend’s “Florida 500.”

The annual publication, developed through a year-long research initiative by Florida Trend editors, highlights the most impactful executives across key industries who are helping shape Florida’s economic future.

“It was truly an honor, I have to say,” Vidal said of being named to the Florida 500 in the energy category. “I was grateful and humbled by the recognition. It’s just an honor to be named among so many of Florida’s most talented and accomplished leaders. To me, the recognition, it’s not just personal, it reflects the work of our entire LCEC team, from the dedicated employees to the support of the board of trustees, we’re just very fortunate to have a dedicated board.”

The Florida 500 selection process includes months of research, interviews, and input from industry experts, economic development leaders, and community stakeholders throughout the state, according to floridatrend500.com/. The result is a highly selective, biographical look at Florida’s top business leaders who are driving progress and innovation in their fields.

“I hope it serves as an example to others — especially younger professionals coming up in the industry, or just business in general — that if they have focus, flexibility, perseverance, that they can achieve their goals no matter how big they seem,” Vidal said. “The experience just reminds me that leadership is not just about titles, it’s about service and impact, and just inspiring confidence in others so that they can also reach their potential.”

Vidal, 60, was appointed CEO of LCEC in late 2019 after serving in a wide range of leadership roles over her 20-plus-year career at the cooperative. She was nominated for the Florida 500 by an anonymous individual. She said making the list wasn’t something that she was thinking about, and that she doesn’t perform her duties for recognition.

“I do what I do to serve the company, the employees, the board, the members,” Vidal said. “Somebody out there is seeing some good. Especially when I scroll through all of those people on (the Florida 500), some of them are also in my industry and have inspired me. They’re my peers. I’ve learned from them and work with them on all of our challenges. It’s great to feel like people are recognizing the good work that I do on behalf of LCEC. They’re recognizing the organization as well.”

Vidal’s experience with LCEC spans customer service, finance, accounting, and marketing. Prior to, she had a career in telecommunications.

“I just always knew at a young age I wanted to be in the corporate business world,” she said. “I just wanted to continually grow. I wanted to learn. I wanted to add value wherever I worked.”

Education has always been a top priority for Vidal as well. She made it a focus

to earn an undergraduate, graduate, and Masters of Business Administration in accounting.

She reached the executive level at her telecommunications job before the company changed course, which in turn brought Vidal to Southwest Florida.

A year after arriving, she joined LCEC as a marketing supervisor. Her past experience quickly allowed Vidal to take on other leadership roles within the company.

She managed the call center, moved into accounting, and eventually had an executive position where she oversaw a variety of support areas of LCEC. Eventually, she was asked to take on the role of CFO which she held for 11 years until the board appointed her (after a long interview process) as CEO.

“It was a little bit surreal to move into (the CFO) role,” Vidal said. “It was a really good match. I really enjoyed that role a lot and it positioned me well to be considered for the CEO role. As CFO you learn even more about the company and you expand on your relationships and your industry experience. It just really ballooned from there.”

Under her leadership, LCEC has successfully navigated historic challenges, in-

cluding the global COVID-19 pandemic, supply chain challenges, rapid community growth and devastating hurricanes like the catastrophic impact of Hurricane Ian.

Just months after taking on the title of CFO was when the COVID-19 pandemic swept across the globe.

Vidal said LCEC had to work in a different way while keeping things transparent to customers. Like most employers, working together and side-by-side was not viable at the time, which Vidal said was one of the biggest challenges for the company, which she said really thrives on employees physically working together. Office employees went to remote work, while those out in the field either worked solo or practiced social distancing.

“I can’t not recognize the team,” Vidal said of how LCEC navigated that time. “It was another just proud and humbling experience because the team just came together so well. We had to be very flexible and just adapt very quickly (and) make it as transparent to our members as possible and I think the team really succeeded. When you get through something like that, it’s almost like you can do anything. All of that experience made us really successful when Ian hit and when other hurricanes hit a couple

years after that. We plan for hurricanes. We update that plan every year, we practice it, we train with it — everybody knows what their role is. We just moved into Hurricane Ian restoration without skipping a beat.”

With Hurricane Ian being one of, if not the most devastating storm in the region’s history, LCEC was all-hands-on-deck in restoring power to a grid that was completely in the dark.

Vidal describes the experience as almost exhilarating, which she admits could sound odd.

“It’s a moment where team LCEC is at its best,” she said. “We’re all focused on one goal, and that is to get power restored as safely and quickly as humanly possible. Part of the exhilaration was stretching ourselves so much because that was such widespread damage. Our entire service area was really ground zero. Added to that was about 25 to 30% of our team members had direct damage. That was new in terms of trying to help people emotionally through that when they also had to stay focused on their role in the restoration.”

Vidal said Ian required LCEC to bring on more resources than they’ve ever had to in its 85-year history due to the magnitude of damage. There were thousands of other industry professionals that came in to work alongside LCEC employees.

“It was amazing how well we worked together and how quickly everyone melded together, and how safely we worked,” she said. “We had no safety incidents in that whole restoration.”

Vidal said it being a state-wide effort, LCEC was able to conjoin with state officials and departments with which they wouldn’t otherwise interact.

“I was super proud of my team,” she said. “I can’t even express how proud I was to work alongside the team through that.”

LCEC headquarters are in North Fort Myers, in the same location where the cooperative originated in 1940. Approximately 450 skilled employees are positioned throughout the six-county service territory, including Immokalee, Cape Coral, North Fort Myers, Sanibel/Captiva, Pine Island, Ussepa, Cabbage Key, Marco Island, Everglades City, Ave Maria, and parts of Lehigh Acres.

LCEC is a member-owned cooperative, which Vidal said gives the team a very clear focus.

“We don’t have that balance that a forprofit company has to do between what’s best for shareholders and what’s best for customers,” she said. “We get to focus just on members — they’re one in the same. It really drives our focus to what’s important. Every decision we make, we think about the members first.

“When the financial position allows, the board will approve some of the equity to be returned back, whether it’s a credit on the bill or, possibly, if the member is inactive they might get a small check, so we’re able to operate in that manner through the equity ownership.

“We are also living in the communities we serve, so with us being really focused in our service territories, the employees all live in those communities. That gives us just an added benefit of understanding the membership needs.”

PHOTO PROVIDED

Denise Vidal, executive vice president and CEO of Lee County Electric Cooperative, was recently named among Florida’s most influential business leaders as part of Florida Trend’s “Florida 500.”

LCEC: Utility CEO credits her team for electric co-op’s success

From page 20

From a small power plant with just 15 miles of power lines and 158 members, to now serving 240,000 customers across six counties, LCEC has had a front-row seat to the growth in the region while playing a major role in utility service. Vidal said while areas are different in the way they’re served, growth across the board is on a level playing field.

“We’re always looking forward,” Vidal said of LCEC’s handling of growth. “We do 10-year forecasts, so the growth is not a surprise when it hits. We understand then what that growth needs, and we can manage it in a disciplined manner to make sure that we’ve got the plant and the infrastructure in place when it’s needed. It’s planning the work and working the plan. We also have great guidance from our board who represent the members from all of the different areas and they’ve got such a diverse experience amongst them that really helps us as well.”

Vidal said it’s also vital to have strong relationships with suppliers, that LCEC is negotiating the best terms for costs, and that they have the best talent possible to be as effective and efficient as possible.

“All of those things are going to help manage your costs,” she said. “We’re very cost-conscious for sure. That translates into things being affordable. It’s a constant balancing act and it takes all of us working together to be successful at that.”

Being named as a top business leader in Florida, Vidal said she would describe her leadership style as servant leadership.

“When I say servant leadership — I’m here for the employees and I’m here for the members. I’m not here for personal gain or recognition, I’m here to enable affordable and reliable power to members and enable the employees to make that happen for members.”

— Denise Vidal, LCEC executive vice president and CEO, on her management philosophy

“When I say servant leadership — I’m here for the employees and I’m here for the members,” she said. “I’m not here for personal gain or recognition, I’m here to enable affordable and reliable power to members and enable the employees to make that happen for members.

“I’m also fortunate to have found in LCEC, an organization that matches my values where I put service at a high level, I put integrity at a high importance, so that makes it easier to come to work every day and help team LCEC through whatever the latest challenge is.”

Being part of the community beyond just keeping the lights on is something that is paramount for LCEC and Vidal. The cooperative can be seen throughout the region sponsoring events and playing a role in charitable causes.

“It’s one of our core principles and values,” Vidal said. “It’s very, very important that we support the communities in which we work and live. We do sponsor as many events as we can, and we have employees volunteering in the community as well.”

LCEC offers volunteer programs, such

as its “Power of Us” program, which sees each of LCEC’s 450 employees be able to take a work day volunteering and giving back.

The “Pay if Forward” program is for LCEC employees who volunteer and give back on their own time — they track their hours and when they reach 50 hours, LCEC will donate $50 to the charity of that employee’s choice up to $100.

There’s also the LCEC “500 club,” where employees who volunteer 500 hours of their time are recognized and put into a drawing, where $500 is given to a charity.

Of course, the team at LCEC is exceptionally proud of the honor bestowed to Vidal by being named to the Florida 500.

“We could not be more proud to have her as our representative,” said LCEC spokesperson Shannon Williamson. “We’re not surprised, either. We have gone through so much with her as CEO (with COVID and Hurricane Ian, as well as supply chain challenges). It’s just kind of been one test after another, and she just keeps getting us through it.”

Williamson describes Vidal as “hum-

ble” and “personable.”

“She’s a fighter,” she said. “She makes sure that the members get the same opportunities others do, and makes sure that everyone else is thought of first.”

Williamson said with Vidal being a female in a prominent leadership role, that she’s someone she looks up to.

“Seeing that she is who she is in doing all of this, it makes me feel empowered,” Williamson said.

In her six years at LCEC, Williamson said Vidal showed the utmost resolve and perseverance through Hurricane Ian.

“Denise lost a lot during Hurricane Ian,” Williamson said. “She could have stepped away or stepped back, but she stepped forward because she knew that the organization and all of the members needed her. She put everyone else in front of her needs. That’s a leader. Everyone here was all-hands-on-deck, and that was because of her.”

Vidal is a mother, grandmother, and a wife, and is the fifth CEO in LCEC’s history (second woman).

Vidal has an adventurous side as well. She enjoys riding dirt bikes, four-wheelers, sailing, skiing, and the outdoors in general.

As for her future with LCEC, she said, “I hope that I can make a lasting impact that acts as a springboard for the team that carries on after me to just keep doing the right things and good things for the community in terms of not just being reliable and affordable power, which is our mission of course, but all of the ways LCEC contributes to the community.”

Clear contract key to a closing without surprises

Dear Mr. Feichthaler,

After receiving a telephone call by someone wanting to purchase my home, we agreed on a price of $350,000 and they sent a contract. The contract price is $350,000, and the boxes are checked saying the buyer will pay for title insurance, and choose the closing agent. After reading the contract, I am not sure I am going to actually receive the $350,000 promised. Should I be concerned?

— Joel E.

Real Estate Law

Dear Joel,

Although every real estate transaction is unique, there is one constant: The contract is everything! The more specific it is relating to the expectations of the parties, the greater chance of avoid disagreements and a successful sale. In the standard Florida real estate contract, there is language that states who is paying for what costs. The standard contract provides the seller pays for the documentary stamp tax. This tax on the transfer of real property is assessed at .7 percent, which would equate to $2,450.00. There could be other costs, including closing costs from the closing agent, items to clear title, and other costs.

My advice to clients is to be as clear as possible in the contract. The standard contract has room at the end to add additional clauses or conditions. This is where the following clause, as an example, could be included: “Notwithstanding anything to the contrary above, the Parties agree that the buyer shall receive a net payment of $350,000 at closing, with Buyer paying all costs relating to this transaction, including but not limited to title search, title examination, closing costs, documentary stamps, and recording fees”. By adding specific clauses that apply to this transaction, these will be viewed as superseding the boilerplate clauses in the standard contract. Using language like this makes clear to everyone what is expected, and should provide you peace of mind as you proceed to the closing date.

This column was previously published November 8th 2024.

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

YERA

Market opinions are scattered as buyers keep looking

One thing that is for sure, is that there are a number of differing opinions about the state of the current real estate market. There are tons of “expert” videos everywhere one looks on the Internet predicting the real estate bubble is about to burst, and that the Florida market, along with others, is in the process of crashing. The local and national media are pointing out all of the problems in the real estate market on a daily basis, often featuring interviews with home-sellers who are at their wits end with no buyers in sight, even after making multiple price reductions on their homes.

In the meantime, the “insider experts” in the real estate industry are trying to assure everyone that this is just a normal correction and as soon as the Federal Reserve starts lowering interest rates, a flood of buyers will return to the market and all will be well again. In addition, a longtime big name Florida broker has recently declared that he optimistically thinks a “stabilization is underway” in the Gulf Coast real estate market. Time will tell who is reading the market tea leaves correctly, but it appears that there is a good chance that someone ends up wildly wrong in their predictions.

As we have been saying for the past several years, Cape Coral homes are still being sold at a decent, albeit a somewhat slower clip, every month and qualified buyers are still present in our market. If a seller has their home priced correctly to the current market they will have showing appointments scheduled with potential buyers and they are likely to receive an offer. Most offers will be below the list price and buyers are generally open to some negotiating.

Everything is about the price. Homes listed at $450,000 and under, and especially homes priced below $400,000, will draw from the biggest pool of potential buyers. For example, we had a recent listing for a dry lot pool home in the Southwest Cape that was priced below $400,000 and it attracted significant buyer activity before going under contract. Another home we sold recently was initially priced at $695,000 and the showing activity trickled in, but it had enough looks to attract a buyer. Whereas, if a seller has their home overpriced, there will be little to no showing activity until they lower their price to get it in line with the market.

In general, home values and sales prices are down, but they are still a long way from “crashing.” We tend to think that we are probably not at a bottom in prices yet, which is the number one question we are receiving from the buyers who contact us. We can tell a buyer with confidence that if they decide to buy something now, they are clearly not buying at a market top. We can also show them examples of how much sellers are reducing their asking prices and we can show them what a seller paid for their home near the peak of the market two to three years ago, along with showing them what these homes are selling for today. This lets a buyer see how much prices have declined so they can see where things stand now and help them make a better determination of the reasonable market values.

$8.9 million for a new construction riverfront home built in 2023 that has yet to find a buyer. This home first came onto the market for $11.9 million in October 2023. The current median list price for single-family homes in the Cape continues to hover at $465,000. A total of 1,236 of our active listings, or almost half of our market, are priced at $450,000 and under, including 201 homes priced under $300,000. We currently have 238 luxury homes listed for sale at $1 million and above. Back on July 15, there were 289 luxury homes available as a growing number of frustrated sellers are following a national trend of taking their homes off of the market.

As of Sept. 1, the preliminary number of closed home sales in the Cape for the month of August was at 411 sales. This number will rise when the final numbers for August are tallied and it is likely to challenge the 432 home sales in July, but it will be well below the 484 closed sales posted in August of last year. The initial preliminary median sales price for August came in at $366,750 or slightly higher than the monthly low so far in 2025, which was $365,000 in July.

Looking back a year ago on Sept. 9, 2024, there were 2,559 active listings in the MLS for Cape Coral for “regular” single-family homes at list prices ranging from $224,900 to $5.5 million. At that time there were also four partially built spec homes listed for $120,000 to $130,000 where the builder was looking for someone to take over those homes and finish building them. The median list price was $479,000 a year ago.

Current pending home sales

Sellers of “older” existing homes are definitely receiving stiff competition from new and newer construction homes, as home builders are reducing their prices and offering buyers a lot of incentives. One of the buyers we have been working with was looking at homes in various gated communities in Fort Myers and Estero. They really liked a few of the existing homes we showed them, but in many cases the prices seemed high based on the improvements that would be needed. Ultimately, they settled on a slightly higher priced new construction home in Estero because they could just move in and not have to deal with any remodeling or improvements. Plus, the builder offered some additional incentive packages, including an attractive 4.99% mortgage rate with a sizable credit towards their closing costs.

One of the existing homes we looked at with this buyer was actually owned and lived in by a Naples area Realtor. When we scheduled the showing appointment in May of this year, the home was listed for $524,900 and shortly after we let the agent/owner know our buyer was not interested in the home, he dropped his price to $489,900 on May 22. The home went under contract with a different buyer at that price on June 16, with the sale ultimately closing for $455,000 on July 20, for a discount of 13.3% from when we showed the home to our buyer. However, this home was originally listed for sale back on Oct. 25, 2023, at $701,500. So this home sold for a discount of $246,500 or 35.1% less than its initial list price.

Current active home listings

As of Tuesday, Sept. 2, there were 2,545 active listings for Cape Coral ingle-family homes through the MLS at list prices ranging from $169,900 for a wood frame home in the Northeast Cape that was built in 1986 to a high of

As of Tuesday, Sept. 2, there were 563 Cape Coral single-family homes under contract with buyers as pending sales at prices ranging from $175,000 to $3.895 million, with the median pending sales price coming in at $379,900. We did see a brief flurry of additional pending sales activity in August when we reached 614 homes under contract on Aug. 26, but the daily pending home sales numbers have since dropped back into their slower seasonal pattern. A total of 380 of the current 563 pending sales, or 67.5% of our market, were priced at $450,000 and under, including 87 homes priced below $300,000. There are only 12 luxury homes under contract in the Cape at prices of $1 million and above, which is down from 20 pending sales back on July 15 of this year. One year ago on Sept. 9, 2024, there were 634 pending sales in the pipeline with the median pending sales price at $394,950.

In closing, a quiet hurricane season would go a long way in providing some market stability.

(The sales data for this article was obtained from the Florida Realtors Multiple Listing Service Matrix for Lee County, Fla., as of Sept. 2, 2025, unless otherwise noted. It was compiled by Bob and Geri Quinn and it includes information specifically for Cape Coral single-family homes, and does not include condominiums, short sales or foreclosures. The data and statistics are believed to be reliable, however, they could be updated and revised periodically, and are subject to change without notice. The Quinns are a husband and wife real estate team with the RE/MAX Realty Team office in Cape Coral. They have lived in Cape Coral for over 45 years. Geri has been a full-time Realtor since 2005, and Bob joined Geri as a full-time Realtor in 2014. Their real estate practice is mainly focused on Cape Coral residential property and vacant lots.)

Day(s) Date Hours Address

Price Agent Brokerage

Friday 9/5/2025 11am-2pm 13 SW 34th Pl, Cape Coral, FL 33991

$420,000 Hailey Baptista Coldwell Banker Realty

Friday 9/5/2025 11am-1pm 1008 SE 25th Ter, Cape Coral, FL 33904

$425,000 Kristin Hall ViiBE Realty

Friday 9/5/2025 12pm-2pm 3517 SE 18th Ave, Cape Coral, FL 33904

$969,000 Jennifer Morrow Coldwell Banker Realty

Friday 9/5/2025 12pm-4pm 511 NW 6th St, Cape Coral, FL 33993

$374,000 Rachel Rodriguez Builders Land Associates

Friday 9/5/2025 1pm-4pm 1406 SW 13th St, Cape Coral, FL 33991

$595,000 Kevin O’reilly Premiere Plus Realty Company

Saturday 9/6/2025 11am-2pm 3313 Acapulco Cir, Cape Coral, FL 33909

$337,500 Chelsea Robinson Keller Williams Realty Fort Myers

Saturday 9/6/2025 11am-1pm 1333 SW 8th Pl, Cape Coral, FL 33991

$420,000 Sandra Llenza EXP Realty, LLC

Saturday 9/6/2025 11am-1pm 211 SW 21st Ln, Cape Coral, FL 33991

$537,500 Candice Beyea Sinclair Realty

Saturday 9/6/2025 12pm-3pm 3034 SW 10th Pl, Cape Coral, FL 33914

$685,000

Marceleen Wurst Royal Shell Real Estate - Cape Coral

Saturday 9/6/2025 12pm-3pm 1200 SW 38th St, Cape Coral, FL 33914

$699,900 Kevin O’reilly Premiere Plus Realty Company

Saturday 9/6/2025 12pm-1pm 2810 SW 42nd Ln, Cape Coral, FL 33914

$539,170 Anita Krohn PA Realty One Group MVP

Saturday 9/6/2025 1pm-3pm 3617 Embers Pkwy W, Cape Coral, FL 33993

$1,275,000 Roxana Torres Esquire Real Estate Services

Sunday 9/7/2025 10am-4pm 2729 SW 4th Ter, Cape Coral, FL 33991

$443,800 Rachel Rogriguez Builders Land Associates

Sunday 9/7/2025 11am-1pm 5332 SW 21st Pl, Cape Coral, FL 33914

$779,000 Kelly Hammer CENTURY 21 Selling Paradise

Sunday 9/7/2025 11am-2pm 3401 Embers Pkwy W, Cape Coral, FL 33993

$999,900 Kevin Ziess-lawrence Cornerstone Coastal Properties

Sunday 9/7/2025 1pm-3pm 118 SW 21st Ter, Cape Coral, FL 33991

$545,000 Chris Grant Grant Team Real Estate, LLC

Sunday 9/7/2025 1pm-2:30pm 5143 SW 3rd Ave, Cape Coral, FL 33914

$540,000 Devon Hofer RE/MAX Realty Team

Mobility fee: Council’s split vote hailed by business community

From page 1

tion-related infrastructure in the city.

“I do believe the growth should pay for growth. I don’t think growth should pay for 100% of the deficiencies that we have outlined in the mobility plan,” he said. “We are partly to blame why we are here today.”

Before council voted, Jonathan Paul, principal with Nue Urban Concepts, presented the final version of the mobility plan and fee. The overall mobility plan for the city included a road and infrastructure plan, multimodal plan, transit plan and mobility programs.

“It’s made up of roadway and intersection improvements identified throughout the city,” Paul said.

He said that the city fee on new construction was broken down into assessment areas and is linked to the city’s zoning and land use. The plan also had two proposed benefit districts, where the funds could be expended in the city, as well as an ordinance that provides provisions for cross spending between the districts.

“They all have a uniform schedule for each assessment area,” Paul said.

The presentation included fees for the South Cape Core, which were different fees for the South Cape, Central Cape, and

North Cape mobility fee schedule.

For attainable housing in the South Cape Coral for a home valued at $350,000 or less would have a mobility fee of $2,774 per dwelling in year one. A single-family detached home would range from $4,228 in 2026 to $6,420 in 2029.

For the other three areas it would be $3,197 for attainable housing in 2026 and $4,024 by year 2029. For a single-family detached home it would go from $5,120 per dwelling in 2026 to $9,989 in year 2029 per dwelling.

The mobility fee would have replaced the city’s road impact fee, which was last updated in 2006.

Many individuals from the community spoke in opposition to the fee structure proposed, but not the concept of a mobility fee itself.

Phillip Ford with Lee Building Industry Association told Council the perpetual increase of fees and codes are driving the working man and woman out of Cape Coral and Florida.

“We see what the policies are continuing to make worse,” he said. “It’s not just about $1,600 a year. It is more than that. For every $1,000 increase, we have about 116,000 people that can’t afford a home nationwide. We can’t continue to go down

this road of building a layer of fees and regulations. The working man and woman cannot afford to live.”

Council members shared that it was a tough decision to make.

Councilmember Bill Steinke said the cost of everything has risen in the past 19 years and the cost of the infrastructure and improvements to accommodate those 27,000 new homes in the last five years has a price.

For context, Steinke said the median cost of a new construction home in Cape Coral went from $227,730 in 2015 to $236,223 in 2020.

“That represents a 3.7% increase over five years,” he said. “From 2020 to 2025 that $236,223 went to $339,000. That is a 69% increase in just the cost of the home.”

Steinke said the shift was caused in the cost of material.

“That $1,600, $1,700 that would go into effect year one would take $399,000 home and move it to $400,662. That is an increase of .4% in the cost of the home,” he said.

If there was not a markup, in 2029 that price would go from $399,000 to $405,649, a 1.7% increase.

“While I am certainly not in favor of increasing the cost of housing, I am inter-

ested in infrastructure necessary that our city is demanding and having a portion of the dollars available to provide that infrastructure,” Steinke said.

Gunter shared some data on assessed values from 2015 to present to identify the growth each year for new construction alone. From 2015 to 2021, that growth was about 8.5%. In 2022 the growth sat at 10.88%, 23.55% in 2023 and 15.63% in 2024.

He also shared data on the closings that took place over the last five years for residential. In 2019 there were 6,174 closings, 6,995 closings in 2020, 7,991 closings in 2021, 6,456 closings in 2022, 5,681 closings in 2023 and 5,667 closings in 2024.

“We are declining each and every year with our closings,” Gunter said.

He said the population will continue to come to the city.

“We have needs today. Even if not one more person comes to the city, there are identified needs that we have,” Gunter said. He said rather than putting it on the next 180,000 people that come to the city, he thinks it should be a shared responsibility for the 220,000 people already here.

Scholarship Ball: Program provides for educational opportunities

From page 1

hour and time to review silent auction items, such as a stay at The Westin. Dinner and dancing are also on the docket with a live band. The theme this year is “Bridging Dreams and Opportunities.”

“It’s fun to kick this off (at the begging of the school year) and let this be one of our first fundraisers that allows us to determine how many scholarships we’ll be able to fund,” Hayden said. “We get great support through sponsorships. It’s great to see how the community comes together and participates in the event and really has a good time.”

A former scholarship recipient, Makayla Ashley, will be a guest speaker to talk about her college experience and how the scholarship has helped her advance. Ashley attends Florida Gulf Coast University studying education, and was a graduate of North Fort Myers High School.

For 43 years, the volunteer, non-profit citizen’s action group has helped pave the way for local youth, some of whom have gone on to become doctors, nurses, engi-

neers, psychologists, teachers, and difference makers.

Established in 1982, the Cape Coral Mayor’s Scholarship Fund has now awarded nearly $1 million in scholarships to more than 600 recipients. Each year, the fund awards 15 scholarships to 10 high school seniors from Cape Coral, two each from Cape Coral and Fort Myers technical colleges, and for Southwest Florida Public Service Academy. High school seniors receive a four-year, $4,000 scholarship, while the technical school and academy scholarship recipients receive a one-time $1,500 scholarship.

“It’s really satisfying (to see the impact these scholarships make) and nice to be part of a group that we’re an all-volunteer board,” Hayden said. “The efforts we put forth and the connections we have in the community — it’s nice to see the little bit that we do, how much it impacts the students and helps them. We get to hear that every time we present a scholarship. You feel like you’re really making a difference in their future. We’re excited for them.”

Scholarship applications will be avail-

able to submit in November, with an awards dinner in May to announce the winners. Applications are processed through Collaboratory and must meet their submission requirements. Those that apply must be a high school senior heading to post secondary education the following school year, and a resident of Cape Coral, even if their school is not in the city. Technical college and academy students are selected through their own scholarship award process.

Hayden said the board looks for: “Good academics, but also, community involvement. A lot of times some of the applicants share with us some of the challenges they’ve had to get them to the point where they are. There have been a few where it’s like, ‘Wow, these kids have really come through a lot and worked hard.’ It’s pretty amazing. We have some amazing students that have received scholarships. It’s pretty impressive and encouraging that young people who are raised and going to school in Cape Coral and Southwest Florida are going on to make such huge impacts.”

The Mayor’s Scholarship Fund all started in September of 1982, when a meeting was held for the express purpose of forming an organization to raise funds for scholarships to be awarded to deserving Cape Coral students. As a result, articles of incorporation were drawn for the Cape Coral Mayor’s Youth Fund. The first two

scholarships of $125 each were awarded in 1983.

Hayden said it’s amazing to see where the fund has gone over 40-plus years, especially as they approach $1 million in provided scholarships.

“It’s pretty amazing that it’s something that started so long ago, and has had so many different people in Cape Coral involved in it, and it is still going strong,” she said. “It’s really helping a lot of kids go to school.

“It hopefully helps them reduce or eliminate school debt. It makes a difference. If we can raise more money, we can certainly do more. There’s a lot of deserving kids in our school system.”

Hayden said whether through attending an event or making a donation, the fund has low overhead costs so that as much money as possible is going right to the students.

“We’re all volunteers and don’t spend a lot of administrative money,” she said. “It’s a pretty lean budget, so your dollars really are going to help kids finish school.”

Tickets for individuals or tables of eight are available online at www. CapeCoralMayorScholarship.com. There is still time to be a sponsor or donate items to the silent auction by sending an email to Hayden at: joanne@capecoralmayorscholarship.com.

The Westin Cape Coral Resort is at 5951 Silver King Blvd.

NOTICE TO THE PUBLIC

The City of Cape Coral Charter School Authority Governing Board will hold a CHAPTER 26 WORKSHOP on Tuesday, September 9, 2025, at 3:00p.m., at Oasis High School – Cafeteria, 3519 Oasis Blvd., Cape Coral, FL 33914

Remembrance: Public invited to 9/11ceremony at Cape City Hall

From page 4

the world 24 years ago.

The ceremony will include the presentation of colors by the Cape Coral Fire and Police Honor Guards; a moment of silence at 8:46 a.m., when the first plane hit the North Tower; an invocation, and remarks from city leaders reflecting on the significance of the tragic day in the nation’s history.

“This day is about unity, remembrance, and respect,” said CCFD Chief Mike Russell. “Coming together, showing that we will never forget the lives lost and the resilience that carried us forward is what makes a community strong.”

The ceremony will end with attendees staking 2,977 American flags, each with a name of a victim of the attacks, in the front lawn of City Hall to honor their memory and reaffirming that “We Will Never Forget.”

“Coming together as a community to honor 9/11 is about remembering the lives lost and the heroes who made the ultimate sacrifice,” said CCPD Public Affairs Office officials. “It’s also about reaffirming our commitment to unity, resilience, and compassion. The ceremony is not only for law enforcement or first responders—it’s for every member of our community to stand together, reflect, and ensure that future generations understand the importance of never forgetting.”

The terrorist attack on the United States reshaped the path of the nation moving forward, and tragically, nearly 3,000 people lost their lives and still many feel after-effects today.

Of the nearly 3,000 who perished, 343 were FDNY firefighters and 72 were law enforcement officers.

“Firefighters hold 9/11 very close to their hearts,” Russell said. “It’s a day that forever changed the fire service, and we honor the 343 firefighters who gave their lives in the line of duty.”

If You Go

What: 9/11 Remembrance Ceremony

When: Thursday, Sept. 11, at 8:30 a.m.

Where:

Cape Coral City City Hall, 1015 Cultural Park Blvd.

CCPD’s Public Affairs Office stated,“September 11th is a day that is deeply ingrained in the hearts of police officers everywhere. We will never forget the courage and sacrifice of the first responders who ran toward

danger when others were running away. For many in law enforcement, this day is personal—it represents both the highest call of duty and the heavy cost of service.”

For first reconsiders around the county, the brother and sisterhood of their line of work is at the forefront of their minds on this day each year, and year-round.

Russell said, “The fire service is a family, and that bond means we never forget our brothers and sisters who have made the ultimate sacrifice, including our own who have fallen in the line of duty. We remember them not only on the anniversary of their passing but everyday through our service.”

CCPD PAO officials added, “The bond within the law enforcement profession is one of unity and shared purpose. On 9/11, 72 law enforcement officers gave their lives alongside firefighters and other first responders. Every year, we honor them as brothers and sisters in service, remembering their bravery and ensuring their legacy lives on. That sense of family keeps their sacrifice alive in our hearts and mission.”

For those who would like to pay their respects to the fallen now, 92.5 FOX News invites the community to visit the “Field of Flags” at Bernice Braden Park near the Cape Coral Bridge. The remembrance began on Labor Day with a traditional planting of American which will remain standing through Sept. 11, creating a powerful visual memorial for all to visit and experience as they drive west along Cape Coral Parkway.

City Hall is at 1015 Cultural Park Blvd.

“This tradition is one of the most heartfelt and important events we hold each year,” said Jim Schwartzel, owner of 92.5 FOX News, in a prepared statement. “It’s not about politics. It’s about patriotism. It’s about honoring those we lost, and remembering the day that changed us all forever.”

Around dawn

If your schedule only permits tarpon hunting during the oven-hot daylight hours or you don’t like the shear excitement of challenging a silver king at night, then pull out your trusty binoculars and scan the Gulf for rolling fish starting a mile or so off the coast right after dawn. You shouldn’t be arriving to your chosen hunting grounds around dawn, rather you should already be on station organized, quiet and ready to scan for fish for best results.

I’ve had multiple reports of these fish rolling off the coast but I’m also been informed it’s a small bite window shutting down rather quickly after the sun gets up.

Capt. George Tunison

An alternative is to stay inshore and work the deep holes in Charlotte Harbor with a combo approach floating a pair of ladies off the stern while casting ahead with a variety of soft plastics. Mix it up using smaller lures like DOA Baitbusters; modified nose-rigged, single circle hook MirrOlures; and smaller Hogy or NLBN paddle tails. Other rods should be rigged with large Hogy eels and large Hogy paddle tails. These larger baits represent full size ladyfish prevalent in the harbor each summer. Just for fun, toss out a DOA Baitbuster a couple feet under a float. Just leave it alone in a rod holder and let the waves and current impart subtle action to the lure while you fish other methods. Another overlooked lure is DOA’s swimming mullet reeled straight in with no action given to the lure.

While moving slowly along with the electric set on low, keep the live bait rods in the back of the boat in rod holders and resist the temptation to fool with them or add extra action. Let the bait do its thing naturally and don’t touch the rod, even if you see line jumping, rod tips jerking or even your ladyfish being chased into the air. Only pick up the rod after it’s bent over and the drag is screaming otherwise you probably will not get a good hook-up which equals wasted time and money.

Large dead baits can also be fished on bottom for these deep-hole tarpon, but be prepared to spend your time fighting harbor sharks instead.

The Burnt Store Bar from the marina down to Two Pines is always worth an early morning look.

See DAWN, page 31

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September 5, 2025

Jones dazzles in Mighty Mussels’ win, 2025 season to end Sunday

FORT MYERS — Eli Jones tossed 5.2 shutout innings and Quentin Young drove in two runs, as the Fort Myers Mighty Mussels walked off the St. Lucie Mets 3-2 Wednesday night at Hammond Stadium.

Jones started on the mound for Fort Myers (50-72, 23-35), and held St. Lucie (76-51, 42-20) scoreless across 5.2 innings of work. By recording two outs in the top of the sixth inning, Jones reached 100 complete innings of work on the year.

He became the first Mussels’ era player to throw 100 innings in a season and first Fort Myers pitcher to do so since Tyler Watson in 2019 with the Miracle. He reached the mark by throwing a season-high 94 pitches with 63 strikes.

In the bottom of the ninth inning, Daniel Pena reached on an infield single and advanced to second on a throwing error on the play. He was replaced by Ryan Sprock, who entered to pinch run.

Bryan Acuna and Bruin Agbayani drew back-to-back walks to load the bases for Quentin Young.

Young then broke his bat on a ground ball to St. Lucie second baseman Mitch Voit, who bobbled the ball

before throwing home to try and retire the baserunner Sprock. The throw beat Sprock to the plate, but St. Lucie catcher Chase Meggers pulled his foot off home. That allowed Sprock to score and gave the Mussels a 3-2 victory.

The walk-off was the eighth of the season for the Mussels and it also came on the birthday of manager Seth Feldman. Fort Myers is now 11-6 in games that are tied after eight innings.

For the second straight night, Fort Myers opened the scoring with a run in the home half of the first inning.

Emmanuel Rodriguez led off the frame with a single to right field at 105.4 mph, before stealing second and moving to third on a throwing error by Meggers.

Rodriguez touched home on a sacrifice fly by Young, which gave the Mussels a 1-0 lead. It was the first professional RBI for Young.

In the bottom of the third inning, Fort Myers added on. Rodriguez reached on a walk to start the frame and advanced to second on a groundout by Agbayani.

Rodriguez then moved to third on a flyout from Enrique Jimenez, before scoring on an RBI single by Dameury

PreP rePorT

MARK CLIFFORD

Island Coast’s Ana Sosa, left, makes a backcourt save in the Gators match last week with North Fort Myers. The Red Knights won the match, 25-14, 25-12 and 25-7. Red Knights’ middle blocker Abigail Fitzgerald, right, goes for the kill attempt in the match.

Tuesday Volleyball

Bishop Verot 3, Babcock 1: Verot is 9-2 after a 25-18, 1525, 25-14, 25-7 at Babcock.

Evangelical Christian 3, Ida Baker 0: ECS swept the Bulldogs (2-2) by scores of 25-21, 25-11, 25-19.

Pena to extend the Mussel lead to 2-0. Jonathan Stevens recorded the final out of the top of the sixth inning, closing the line for Jones.

Stevens struck out the first two batters in the top of the eighth inning before running into trouble. Randy Guzman reached on a bloop double, ahead of an error by Young, which allowed AJ Salgado to reach.

With runners on the corners and two outs, Simon Juan tied the game 2-2 with a two-run double. Both runs were unearned against Stevens.

Stevens recorded the first two outs of the top of the ninth inning, but was replaced by Will Armbruester (1-1), who retired the final batter of the frame.

The final series of the season was set to continue Thursday night at Hammond Stadium.

The series continues tonight, Friday, Sept. 5, with a 7:05 p.m. start and then the 2025 campaign comes to a close with games scheduled for Saturday at 6:05 p.m. and Sunday at 12:05 p.m.

Coverage for all of the games is on the Mighty Mussels Baseball Network.

Ida Baker graduate Thibodeaux a member of Kutztown University women’s volleyball team

KUTZTOWN, PA -- Kutztown University will have 19 student-athletes representing its women’s volleyball program for the 2025 season, including Saige Thibodeaux of Cape Coral. She graduated from Ida Baker High School where she was also a standout on the track and field team and weightlifting team.

Kutztown University women’s volleyball is set to begin a new season under the guidance of a new head coach in 2025. Jason Barshinger takes over the helm and is looking to inject a new and positive energy into the Golden Bears program, one that has had just one winning season since 2011.

Kutztown’s 2025 regular season opens up at home today, Sept. 5, with a non-conference match against Chestnut Hill in Keystone Arena.

About Kutztown University of Pennsylvania

Estero 3, North Fort Myers 0: The Red Knights slipped to 2-2 after dropping three close sets, 25-22, 25-20, 27-25 at Estero.

Marco Island Academy 3, Oasis 2: Oasis suffered its first loss (4-1) un a 4-0 Marco Island side, 25-11, 26-24, 25-9, 23-25, 15-8 marathon.

Founded in 1866, Kutztown University of Pennsylvania is a member of the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education located on 289 acres nestled in the beautiful East Penn Valley in Berks County, between Reading and Allentown, Pennsylvania. KU students select from more than 130 areas of study within four colleges in a diverse liberal arts academic environment. For more information, please visit us at www.kutztown.edu.

Knowing your risk: Understanding gynecological cancer, symptoms

From page 19

certain groups of cancers)

n Being over 50 years old

If there is unusual pain or irregular vaginal bleeding, it’s important to discuss these symptoms with your provider. Abnormal uterine bleeding and any postmenopausal bleeding is a reason to see your gynecologist.

Vaginal cancer

This is a rare cancer that forms in the vaginal lining. Those who are older than 60 years old, smokers or individuals who have HPV are at a higher risk of developing vaginal cancer.

Like ovarian cancer, vaginal cancer does not always show symptoms, making regular Pap smears and pelvic exams crucial for early detection.

It is rare for cancer to begin in the vagina. Most often, cancer will form in other areas of the reproductive system, like the cervix or uterus, and then spread to the vagina if it is not caught early enough.

Vulvar cancer

Vulvar cancer starts as a growth of cells on the vulva, the area of skin that surrounds the urethra and vagina.

This type of cancer is often presented as

an itchy lump or sore and is usually diagnosed in older adults.

Some types of vulvar cancer include:

n Vulvar squamous cell carcinoma of the skin, which is associated with an HPV infection

n Vulvar melanoma that starts in the pigment-producing cells called melanocytes

n Extramammary Paget’s disease of the vulva, which begins near sweat glands in the skin. Sometimes, it happens at the same time as another kind of cancer, like cancer in the breast, colon, urinary system, or other parts of the reproductive system.

Gynecological cancer symptoms

This list includes symptoms for all types of gynecological cancers:

n Vaginal bleeding after sex

n Vaginal bleeding or spotting after menopause

n Vaginal bleeding between periods or periods that are heavier or longer than normal, especially if older than 40 years old

n Watery vaginal discharge that has a strong odor or contains blood

n Pelvic pain or pain during sex

n Lower abdominal pain or cramping in the pelvis

n A noticeable mass in the vagina

n A lump or sore on the vulva, especially if it is an open sore or wart-like

n Itching of the skin of the vulva that does not go away

n Changes in the skin or thickening of the skin of the vulva

n Pain and tenderness of the skin of the vulva

n Painful urination or feeling like you frequently need to urinate

n Black-colored stools or constipation

n Feeling the urge to poop even though your bowels are empty

n Feeling a pelvic mass when pressure is put on the pelvic area

If you experience any of these symptoms, please promptly discuss them with your physician and follow their recommended next steps.

Trusting your instincts and following up when something feels off is essential—because we are our first line of defense. When it comes to our health, peace of mind is powerful, and early action can make all the difference.

Cancer care available close to home

If you or a loved one receives a cancer diagnosis, state-of-the-art care is available close to home at the Lee Health Cancer Institute in Fort Myers and Bonita Springs.

A compassionate team of medical professionals will guide you through the process, explain the next steps, and ensure you receive the treatment and support you need.

Nurse Navigation starts as soon as a diagnosis is made. Nurse navigators meet with patients to educate them about their disease and treatment options, while also connecting them to vital emotional, medical, spiritual and financial resources.

“My job is to make sure patients have everything they need to navigate their cancer journey,” said nurse navigator Frances Hutchinson. “A diagnosis can be overwhelming, so we work to simplify the process and make sure no one feels alone. We’re part of their team, fighting alongside them. It truly makes a difference when patients feel supported and can access care close to home.”

If you or someone you know is facing a cancer diagnosis, help is available nearby. For more information on gynecological cancers or to schedule an appointment with a physician, please visit www.leehealth. org.

Dr. Cherrie Morris is Chief Physician Executive at the Lee Health Women’s Health Institute

Dawn: Get out early for the best chances to catch a late-season tarpon

From page 30

If you’re like me, you’ll be on the night shift with cooler nights and few other boats to bother you. I’m definitely a bridge jockey this time of year. Use a twopronged attack which means pick an outgoing tide and anchor up on the east side of the Cape or Midpoint bridges and drift live ladyfish back to the shadow line and

another as far in and around the pilings as you dare. I’m already set up and fishing as the tide starts to go out.

When fishing two rods out the back of the boat invariably the two floats come together and often tangle as the water funnels through the pilings. A few years back I started experimenting with homemade PVC outriggers sticking out 8 feet on either side of the hull with offshore grade

Vanilla orchid: An introduction

From page 18

an epiphyte, or air plant, using aerial roots to support its climbing habit. The flowers are large and fragrant, and depending on the variety, range in color from a creamy green to light green with purple accents. Flowers form in clusters 2-3 years after planting when the vines reach a thickness of .25 to .50 inches; usually a single flower will open early in the morning, but up to 3 flowers can bloom at once.

The bloom on the Vanilla planifolia lasts only one day, but blooms on other vanilla species may remain viable longer. Once the orchid begins to bloom, it will continue to flower for about 2 months. When the bloom is pollinated, it produces a “bean” or seed capsule that can reach 8 inches in length which takes between 8 to 9 months to ripen. This bean is then “cured” for 3-4 weeks in a 4-step process before shipping.

You can grow vanilla orchids in your home garden by purchasing a potted plant or obtaining a cutting of Vanilla planifolia; a large cutting (24- 36 inches in length) can root and flower in 2-3 years. Smaller cuttings will take longer, approximately

3-4 years. The vine should be planted at the base of a support structure such as a tree or trellis; vanilla orchids prefer good air flow and bright, indirect light. I have successfully planted vanilla orchids using the same method of tying the vine to a tree with green plastic stretch tape that I use with other orchids; this will train the orchid to produce aerial roots that will secure it to the tree in several months.

Vanilla orchids require little care – once they are established you won’t need to water, prune or fertilize your plant!

My next column will discuss the value of vanilla as an exotic crop, and the efforts underway here in South Florida by the University of Florida/IFAS Tropical Research and Education Center (TREC) to establish vanilla as a successful crop for commercial growers.

Cathy Dunn is a Lee County Master Gardener Volunteer, Garden Club of Cape Coral Member and President of the James E. Hendry Hibiscus Chapter. Visit www. gardenclubofcapecoral.com. Like us on our Facebook page!

Teen in hospital: Boating accident

From page 17

crew,” Cottrell said. “After the AeroMed lifted off, the scene was then released to the FWC.”

As of Tuesday, Cottrell heard that she was still being treated for her injuries.

“They said she did not lose her leg,” Mascarelli added.

Many of the agencies that responded are members of the Lee County Marine

Emergency Response Team (MERT), which is led by Mascarelli. He reported that the LCSO and his crew arrived within 15 minutes and eight or nine assets arrived in 30 minutes — a reasonable time for a water-based call.

“We have a very good emergency response team,” Mascarelli said. “The MERT did its job.”

He noted that they may have lost the second teen without such collaboration.

line releases on the ends which helps keep the floats apart and doesn’t seem to bother the hook-up ratio at all. You can even add a third line in the middle over the motor. When the tide really starts to move, so do I. Now I relocate to the down current or west side of the bridges just like the fish have. Instead of fighting the strong current flow they will often position in the semi-slack water behind the pilings to save energy then jump out to nail passing opportunities.

Now you should be throwing your soft plastic swimbaits up tide, past the outer pilings into the darkness under the bridge and swimming them back at different depths and speeds very close to the pilings.

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

Cape Coral animal Shelter

Looking for a loving home

Alfonso is a 1 to 3-year-old male. He is a small, scruffy bundle of happiness with a big personality and an even bigger heart! Life is an adventure, and he greets every day with a wagging tail and a big smile. He’s super friendly, loves making new human and dog friends and he brings a little extra bounce wherever he goes. Whether it’s a walk in the park, a romp in the yard or a cozy cuddle on the couch, he’s all in.

Jinda is a 1 to 3-year-old male. He is a gentle lilac-point boy with soft colors and even softer eyes. He’s on the shy

side and likes to take things slow, but he’s curious about the world and learning to be brave. A calm home — and maybe a friendly cat buddy — would help him feel safe and come out of his shell. With a little patience, he’ll be a sweet, loyal companion.

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.

Alfonso Jinda

Cape Coral Breeze

Athletes of the Week

(A tribute to last year’s Breeze Athletes of the Year)

Religious

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Intro Prayer

O Jesus, who filled Blessed Faustina with profound veneration for Your boundless Mercy, deign, if it be your Holy will, to grant me, through her intercession, the grace for which I fervently pray (mention your request here)

My sins render me unworthy of Your Mercy, but be mindful of Sister Faustina’s spirit of sacrifice and selfdenial, and reward her virtue by granting the petition which, with childlike trust, I present to You through her intercession.

Concluding Prayer

Our Father Hail Mary Glory Be St Faustina pray for us! St Andrews Chapel has relic of St Faustina

Help Wanted

Staff Physician, Pediatrics (Cape Coral, Florida) - Provide comprehensive medically licensed services to pediatric patients (age 0- 18 years); analyzing test results; diagnosing and treating human diseases and abnormal physical conditions. Participate in scheduled medical care coverage, including office and phone coverage, required staff meetings and evening and weekend clinics, as may be required. (Multiple Openings) Email your resume re: job title and Ad# 3292-94 to employer Family Health Centers of Southwest Florida, Inc., to dkoester@fhcswf.org

Wanted: Yellow lab puppy. Please call Nancy at 239-789-7238.

Houses & Real Estate Any Condition Probate - Foreclosure Vacant - As Is I Also Buy Notes - Mortgages Settlements - Annunities Ken 239-295-3820 KenBuysEverything.com

SUDOKU SHEFFER CROSSWORD

Specializesin:

Obituaries

Cape Coral Death Notices

Cape Coral

Philip Malinowski

Philip Malinowski, 71, of Cape Coral, FL, passed away peacefully on August 5, 2025, after a courageous battle with cancer.

Born on March 3, 1954, in Detroit, Michigan, Phil was a proud graduate of Holy Redeemer High School in Southwest Detroit, Class of 1972. On May 6, 1977 — the best day of his life — he married his high school sweetheart and best friend, Jayne Broniman. Together, they shared a loving marriage that lasted over 48 years.

Phil served his city with pride as a Detroit Police Officer, stationed at the 4th Precinct. After retirement, he moved to Johannesburg MI, where he enjoyed life on Little Bass Lake, next door to his best friends – the Pongracz family – and with his faithful canine companions - Buddy and Lucky. His garage man cave there was legendary — the envy of all who visited.

He later found his true paradise in Cape Coral, Florida, spending the last two decades of his life in his happiest place – in his home overlooking the peaceful Rubicon Canal. His favorite perch was his lanai, affectionately referred to as his “command post.” With his loyal dog - Windy — at his side, Motown music playing in the background, and a crossword puzzle always within reach, he was in his element. Phil was also a gentle guardian to the birds that made their nests in his mango trees. Phil was a regular at the Cape Clubhouse — his second home — where everyone knew his name.

At his core, he was a kind and joyful soul who loved the simple and beautiful things in life. A man of deep faith, a fiercely loyal friend, a loving family man, and an unrelenting comedian, he could light up any room. Phil was a proud second father to his nephews Erik and Logan after their father died.

He is survived by his devoted wife, Jayne Broniman Malinowski; his brothers Steve (Pat), Brian (Cheryl), his sister-in-laws Jane (Tony), Donna (Don) and many nieces and nephews whom he adored: Tony, Carrie, Peter, David, Amanda, Lauren, Steve, Alex, Stacey, Erik, Logan, as well as numerous grandnieces, grandnephews, aunts, uncles, cousins, and treasured lifelong friends and neighbors — angels in disguise.

Phil was preceded in death by his beloved parents, Edwin and Lucille Malinowski; his baby brother, David; his sister and brother-in-law, Claudia and Jim Graef; and his older brother, Tony (Jane).

While we mourn his passing, we celebrate his legacy. And in true Phil fashion, he’s already getting the party started at his new address . . . Heaven.

Michigan Celebration of Life 9-27-2025

A Funeral Mass will be held at 10:00 am on Saturday, September 27, 2025, at Holy Redeemer Church, 1721 Junction, Detroit, MI 48209 followed by a luncheon at The Park Place Catering and Banquet Hall, 23400 Park Street, Dearborn, MI 48124, from 11:15 am to 4:00 pm. Florida Celebration of Life 10-25-2025

A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, October 25, 2025, from Noon to 5:00 pm, at The Double Tree by Hilton, located 13051 Bell Tower Drive, Fort Myers, FL 33907.

Ramon Caban Negron, 90 of Cape Coral, passed away on August 23, 2025. Arrangements are by Coral Ridge Funeral Home, Cemetery and Cremation Services, Cape Coral. Please visit www.coralridgefuneralhome.com for additional information.

Dorothy Ellen Jolly, 84, of Cape Coral, FL passed away on September 2, 2025. Arrangements entrusted to Fuller Metz Cremation and Funeral Service. www.fullermetz. com

Donald Walter Probst, 81 of Cape Coral, passed away on August 22, 2025. Arrangements are by Coral Ridge Funeral Home, Cemetery and Cremation Services, Cape Coral. Please visit www.coralridgefuneralhome.com for additional information.

Marek Ciezadlo, 75 of Cape Coral, passed away on August 24, 2025. Arrangements are by Coral Ridge Funeral Home, Cemetery and Cremation Services, Cape Coral. Please visit www.coralridgefuneralhome.com for additional information.

Christopher G. Flemke, 53, of Fort Myers, Florida passed away August 26, 2025. Arrangements entrusted to Lee County Cremation Services-Fort Myers.

Christi C. Calbot, 66, of Fort Myers FL, passed away August 30, 2025. Arrangements entrusted to Harvey Engelhardt Funeral Home.

Rosemarie Ferrante, 90 of Cape Coral, passed away on August 25, 2025. Arrangements are by Coral Ridge Funeral Home, Cemetery and Cremation Services, Cape Coral. Please visit www.coralridgefuneralhome.com for additional information.

Doris Elizabeth Cucchiara, 98 of Cape Coral, passed away on August 21, 2025. Arrangements are by Coral Ridge Funeral Home, Cemetery and Cremation Services, Cape Coral. Please visit www.coralridgefuneralhome.com for additional information.

Linda Lee Heberling, 84, of Cape Coral, Florida passed away August 20, 2025. Arrangements entrusted to Lee County Cremation Services-Cape Coral.

Mildred Kathryn Farmer, 78 of Cape Coral, passed away on August 23, 2025. Arrangements are by Coral Ridge Funeral Home, Cemetery and Cremation Services, Cape Coral. Please visit www.coralridgefuneralhome.com for additional information.

Thalia Daly, 86 of Cape Coral, passed away on August 27, 2025. Arrangements are by Coral Ridge Funeral Home, Cemetery and Cremation Services, Cape Coral. Please visit www.coralridgefuneralhome.com for additional information.

Bradley T. Cochran, 61, of Cape Coral, FL passed away on August 29, 2025. Arrangements entrusted to Fuller Metz Cremation and Funeral Service. www.fullermetz.com

Deborah Ann Willis, 71 of Cape Coral, passed away on August 22, 2025. Arrangements are by Coral Ridge Funeral Home, Cemetery and Cremation Services, Cape Coral. Please visit www.coralridgefuneralhome.com for additional information.

Charles Kent Brodbeck, 66 of Cape Coral, passed away on August 20, 2025. Arrangements are by Coral Ridge Funeral Home, Cemetery and Cremation Services, Cape Coral. Please visit www.coralridgefuneralhome.com for additional information.

Eleonora Anna Plath, 79, of Cape Coral, Florida passed away August 31, 2025. Arrangements entrusted to Fuller Metz Cremation and Funeral Services. www.fullermetz. com

Nancy Gonzalez, 48 of Cape Coral, passed away on August 28, 2025. Arrangements are by Coral Ridge Funeral Home, Cemetery and Cremation Services, Cape Coral. Please visit www.coralridgefuneralhome.com for additional information.

Timothy John Szczur, 57 of Cape Coral, passed away on August 17, 2025. Arrangements are by Coral Ridge Funeral Home, Cemetery and Cremation Services, Cape Coral. Please visit www.coralridgefuneralhome.com for additional information.

County Cremation Services-Cape Coral.

Marilyn Jo Brodbeck, 90 of Cape Coral, passed away on August 13, 2025. Arrangements are by Coral Ridge Funeral Home, Cemetery and Cremation Services, Cape Coral. Please visit www.coralridgefuneralhome.com for additional information.

Fort Myers

Angela Caroline LaMarch, 60, of Fort Myers, Florida passed away August 28, 2025. Arrangements entrusted to Lee County Cremation Services-Fort Myers.

Keith E. Ellsworth, 80, of Fort Myers, Florida passed away August 26, 2025. Arrangements entrusted to Lee County Cremation Services-Fort Myers.

Cape Coral

James Scyphers, 64, of Cape Coral, Florida passed away August 28, 2025. Arrangements entrusted to Lee