WEEK OF JANUARY 25, 2023 FLIER INSIDE
New Matlacha Islander proposes a coordinated plan to restore the island — INSIDE PINEISLAND-EAGLE.COM
VOLUME 46, NUMBER 38
Islanders come to the aid of Creative Coast Preschool families Winn-Dixie, firefighters, others pitch in during holidays By PAULETTE LeBLANC
pleblanc@breezenewspapers.com
Whenever Pine Island Winn-Dixie store manager Dan Loughren gets a call for help, he tries to respond. This post-hurricane holiday season made it especially difficult for islanders, so when Loughren got a call from local Creative Coast Preschool owner, VPK teacher and director Maria Ramirez, he did what he always does and came
through for her. “Maria, from Creative Coast, got my name from the food pantry like a week before Christmas and she called me to see if I would help. She said she had five families still living in tents from the hurricane. Three of them were single mothers, so we mustered all the food we could get for them and a cartload of miscellaneous toys,” Loughren said.
Ramirez is, in short, being crushed by the weight of her concern for others. The load, she explained, is largely financial, because she was raised to do right by others and have compassion for those who are less fortunate. She currently sponsors four of her students at Creative Coast, just to be certain they are being fed, educated and cared for. Without her assistance, they would not be able to attend. Although Ramirez said she generally plans to See PRESCHOOL FAMILIES, page 12
Helping Paws recovering with many cats to adopt By PAULETTE LeBLANC
pleblanc@breezenewspapers.com
Marnie Miszewski dedicates her life to Helping Paws Animal Sanctuary in St. James City, which is why she finds it so upsetting that since the hurricane, it seems many animals in the region have gone into liver failure. “We’ve now had four of them. There’s no rhyme or reason, whether they’re old or young. It could be fear, or the water, who knows? It’s not just us, it’s across the board -- dogs, cats, old, young -- everywhere,” Miszewski said. Thankfully, Miszewski reports, there was hardly any hurricane damage at Helping Paws. The cats in the shelter, where they remained through the storm, she said seemed more bothered that their routine was off than anything else. “We didn’t evacuate, in fact, we took on other peoSee HELPING PAWS, page 13
CW Fudge Factory buries time capsule By PAULETTE LeBLANC
pleblanc@breezenewspapers.com
When CW Fudge Factory owners Carlos Gomez and William Tidball had to replace the floors in their candy shop due to Hurricane Ian, a perfect opportunity presented itself. “When I put the drywall back in, I’m going to put a time capsule in the wall with many items that represent what Matlacha was prior to the hurricane,” Tidball said. In addition to burying a small piece of Pine Island
insidetoday
history, Tidball also plans to register the piece with the International Time Capsule Society. “It’s just a fun thing to do — included in there is Bert’s Bar and Bridgewater Inn and things that will defSee TIME CAPSULE, page 13 Time capsule items placed in the walls of CW Fudge Factory. PHOTO PROVIDED BY WILLIAM TIDBALL
Athlete of the Week...........8 Cat of the Week.................7
Guest Commentary...........4 Local Tides......................17
PHOTO PROVIDED BY MARNIE MISZEWSKI
Nancy Benjamin with folks from Compassion Kind Foundation.
Mahjongg Scores............17 Worship Directory.............6 Classifieds and Obituaries