WEEK MARCH 26, 2025 FLIER INSIDE
Welcome
Three new firefighters join the team at the Matlacha/Pine Island Fire Control District — INSIDE PINEISLAND-EAGLE.COM
VOLUME 48, NUMBER 47
Celebrating Pine Islanders: John Lynch By PAULETTE LeBLANC
pleblanc@breezenewspapers.com
Blue Dog Bar and Grill owner John Lynch said the most honest description of himself would likely be to say that he’s persistent. “I feel like, even through hurricanes and life issues, I’m going to win in the long run. It might take some years, but I’ll get there—whatever it is, we’ll make it happen,” Lynch said. He said 27 years ago he was hired by the Cape Coral Fire Department and it didn’t take him long to discover Pine Island. On a fishing trip to Bokeelia, Lynch said he drove through Matlacha. All the brightly colored buildings combined with the commercial fishing vibe felt very familiar to him, he said.
“Between all the agriculture, the fishing and little fish cottages—I was thinking, this is how I grew up. Even though I hadn’t met a single person on Pine Island, I felt like I knew this place and I knew this was where I needed to be,” Lynch said. After 20 years as a firefighter and then retiring from the Cape Fire Department as a lieutenant, (6 years ago), he said he jumped John Lynch at the chance to move here from Florida’s east coast. Because he knew he’d be retiring, he explained that he’d opened the restaurant a couple of years
With judges and fans looking on, a competitor in the annual island Mullet Toss winds up to let his “flying fish” take off.
See JOHN LYNCH, page 15
Great American Cleanup this weekend across Southwest Florida
By MEGHAN BRADBURY
news@breezenewspapers.com
PHOTO PROVIDED BY GPICC
IslandFest with Mullet Toss brightens day for many islanders By PAULETTE LeBLANC
T
before he was officially finished at the fire department. Feeling as though this island was the one he’d call home happened right away for him. “There was a familiarity. You can drive through whatever other island or neighborhood you want and you’re never gonna get the unique mix that we have of agriculture and commercial fishing—true blue collar roots—that’s hard to find anywhere in Florida,” Lynch said. When it comes to making his contribution to Pine Island, Lynch said, it’s pretty easily going to be found both quietly and loudly at the Blue Dog. Like most islanders, Lynch prefers to assist friends or neighbors in the most unobtrusive way, if possible. When it comes to bells and
pleblanc@breezenewspapers.com
he annual IslandFest with Mullet Toss has become a rich Pine Island tradition over the years, and this year’s event held Saturday, March 15, was especially lovely, due to the amazing weather, said Greater Pine Island Chamber board member Cynthia Welch. “We were thrilled, as the turnout was amazing. Even with one lane going on and off the island, we had plenty of people at our festival and we are delighted about that. The sun was shining and the fish were flying. It’s
just a fun event,” Welch said. In an event she describes as, a quirky little island festival, Welch said she found the number of folks who signed up to toss mullet quite impressive, as this was admittedly the first time she’d ever counted the mullet toss contestants — 172 in all. “People like watching it, they like taking part in it and we have a lot of fun doing it. We had 65 chamber member businesses represented. We had a day of just plain old ordinary fun, but that plain old ordinary fun we had, is in its own rite, the resiliency that Pine See ISLANDFEST WITH MULLET TOSS, page 15
Volunteers are being sought for the annual Great American Cleanup to take place this weekend at multiple locations throughout Lee County. “We believe that people and places are profoundly interconnected,” said Trish Fancher, Keep Lee County Beautiful executive director. “The Great American Cleanup is a shining example of how lasting, positive change happens when people work together. When you volunteer for the Great American Cleanup, you’re not just picking up trash – you’re igniting a community spirit and leading by example.” Keep America Beautiful Great American Cleanup is the nation’s largest community improvement program taking place annually in thousands of communities nationwide. “Since launching the Great American Cleanup in 1988, Keep America Beautiful estimates that 500,000 volunteers have taken part in 15,000 community events nationwide through local affiliates and partner organizations,” Fancher said. Keep Lee County Beautiful is just that – a local organization that hosts the annual cleanup, which includes 22 sites across Lee County with some additional locations that still may be added. The cleanup will be held Saturday, March 29, from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. Scheduled locations include: Matlacha n Matlacha Community Park, 4577 Pine Island Road Cape Coral n Four Mile Cove Ecological Preserve, 2500 S.E. 24th St. n Joe Coviello Park, 3514 Oasis Woods Lane n Sirenia Vista, 3916 Ceitus Parkway Fort Myers Beach n Fort Myers Beach Elementary School, 2751 Oak St. See GREAT AMERICAN CLEANUP, page 15
INSIDETODAY Bridge Beat.......................11 Dolphin Tales.....................6 On the Water.......................9 Classifieds & Obituaries Athlete of the Week.........16
Cat of the Week................10
Mahjongg Scores.............10