WEEk of JaNuarY 22, 2025 FLIER INSIDE
FISH donation Island organization says ‘thank you’ to Matlacha Hookers for contribution — INSIDE pINEISlaND-EaglE.com
VolumE 48, NumbEr 38
Celebrating Pine Islanders: Erin Lollar-Lambert By PAULETTE LeBLANC
pleblanc@breezenewspapers.com
Pine Islander Erin Lollar-Lambert said she would describe herself as an islander who has both a love and a passion for this community and the things that make Pine Island so special. “Those of us on Pine Island that have a passion for this community are able to ban together and when we do, it’s amazing how many miraculous things can happen,” Lollar-Lambert said. Although she admits the community of Pine Island is one of diversity, she said she also sees an attitude of like-mindedness among fellow islanders that cannot be denied and often generates a collaborative spirit necessary to solve collective issues — a spirit which also fos-
For the love of cats Helping Paws Animal Sanctuary celebrates 15 years By PAULETTE LeBLANC
pleblanc@breezenewspapers.com
his month marks the 15th year since owner and founder Marnie Sawicki opened the doors of Helping Paws Animal Sanctuary in St. James City. “Fifteen years — that’s a lot of fur. It started out with my money - I cashed in my retirement and pretty much everything I had — I put it into the shelter. It took years but we finally got to the point where we could make it. We get overlooked a lot. This year, I want to remind people about our anniversary, so they’ll remember that we’re out here,” Sawicki said. Survival of the shelter, and in many cases, the animals in the shelter, depends entirely on donations. What began as a lay-off from her job, started an entirely new career for Sawicki, as she describes the experience as a dream fulfilled, likening the opening of the shelter to a dream along the lines of winning the lottery. While not receiving a paycheck can, at times, be difficult, she is living proof that money isn’t everything to all people, as she said she has been paid in purrs and cuddles over the years. “I don’t get paid personally — no one at the shelter does, we are all volunteers. It’s a lot of work for no pay, but it’s my passion. Obviously, we’re not in a position to pay me but even if we were, I can’t justify
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ters the unique qualities that personify the island and all it has to bring. In her particular family, Lambert said that it was her father, Kevin Lollar, who first came to live on Pine Island, she surmises in the late 1980s. “My father came here to work as the senior environmental reporter for the (Fort Myers) News-Press — he grew up in Siesta Key and this was the closest he could find that was affordable. My grand- Erin Lollar-Lambert
mother moved here shortly after and I came about 14 years ago,” Lollar-Lambert said. After a Canadian blizzard hit her while working and left her temporarily unable to travel, she had to make some big decisions. Having no desire to raise her son in a big city like Chicago, Lollar-Lambert was thrilled to bring him to Pine Island so he could be raised similarly to her own upbringing, on the water and with a sense of community, she said. “I quit my past life and came to the island and was a Realtor for a while. I started a property management company and I did that prior to the storm,” LollarLambert said about Hurricane Ian. See ERIN LOLLAR-LAMBERT, page 13
Stone Crab Fest this Sunday at Winn-Dixie Plaza By PAULETTE LeBLANC
pleblanc@breezenewspapers.com
The Greater Pine Island Chamber of Commerce will present this year’s Stone Crab Fest from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., this Sunday, Jan. 26, at the Winn-Dixie shopping plaza. According to GPICC Board Member Cynthia Welch, a $5 donation will be requested at the entrance to help support our island businesses. “The Chamber of Commerce is delighted to be able to host Stone Crab Fest, having had to delay it since the hurricanes and we’re thrilled to be able to gather our businesses together to showcase them and everything we have to offer. This event will be a fun-filled day with live music, stone crabs, island businesses and crafters, local seafood, food vendors and adult beverages,” Welch said. Live music will go on all day, she said, starting with Madison Morris at 11:30 a.m. Pipe Dream follows about 12:30 p.m. with Matt Lee Crew coming on stage around 3:30 p.m. Over 70 island businesses and organizations will be represented at the festival with a great range of crafts, arts and business information, Welch explained, certain this event will do a great deal toward the promotion of Pine Island businesses. “There will be plenty of food for everyone — stone crabs are the main feature on the menu with fresh claws, See STONE CRAB FEST, page 9
See HELPING PAWS, page 13 One of the adoptable cats at Helping Paws Animal Sanctuary, right, and the sign on the door of the facility, top. PHOTOS PROVIDED BY MARNIE SAWICKI
PHOTO PROVIDED
A tub full of stone crab claws.
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