WEEk of aprIl 19, 2023 FLIER INSIDE
Enjoying the holiday A number of special Easter activities were held around the islands — INSIDE pINEISlaND-EaglE.com
VolumE 46, NumbEr 50
Matlacha Hookers — serving the islands for 25 years By PAULETTE LeBLANC
pleblanc@breezenewspapers.com
DJ Ruscik is the Matlacha Hookers Madame; a job she does proudly. This year, the volunteer organization will celebrate 25 years of serving Matlacha, Pine Island and surrounding areas. Over the past two and a half decades, Ruscik said, the Hookers have accumulated quite a history book, demonstrated on record in various laptops and accounts. “It’s hard to come up with an exact number, but, before this year, we’ve already put $227,000 in scholarships back into the community,” Ruscik said. Taking into account every fundraiser, derby, luau and donation, Ruscik estimates well over a million dollars
having come through the Matlacha Hookers back to the island. Although it would be difficult to pinpoint an exact duty for the organization, Ruscik said the best way to say it is that their mission statement is to make a positive difference and take care of what’s in their own backyard. “How do we do that? We are the largest supporter of
our island food pantry. We support education, through our elementary school and scholarships for higher education. We support senior services on the island through the Beacon. We have an outreach program to help individuals and families in need and we help other organizations achieve their goals,” Ruscik said. In addition to leaving fingerprints all over the island in service to others, the Matlacha Hookers organization remains a member in good standing with the Greater Pine Island Chamber of Commerce. The Hookers also host a quarterly blood drive, which is coming up Saturday, May 6, at Miceli’s Restaurant in Matlacha. There is not a busiSee MATLACHA HOOKERS, page 10
Ruane discusses $1.1 billion Hurricane Ian relief funds with GPIA By PAULETTE LeBLANC
pleblanc@breezenewspapers.com
PHOTO PROVIDED BY JAY SANDERSON
Pine Island Tactical owners Jay Sanderson, left, and Stephen Soloway.
Island Tactical to hold grand re-opening at new Stringfellow Road location By PAULETTE LeBLANC
pleblanc@breezenewspapers.com
Island Tactical owner Jay Sanderson is excited to offer guns, ammo and fishing gear at its new location in Bokeelia. The grand re-opening is on Friday, April 29, with musical entertainment and food to celebrate, he said. “We’re super excited about the new location and our growth. We are equally excited about the support we’ve had from islanders, especially since the storm,” Sanderson said. Directly following Hurricane Ian, Sanderson said they began serving meals from their original location.
The final tally of meals served is 4,000, he said. “We were essentially a small mini-mart, as we were running supplies to and from the island, like fuel and water. The relationships that we built after Ian have been invaluable, and while Ian was catastrophic, the unity and community that have come from it, have really excited us, and we want to celebrate that more than anything, not just the reopening of Island Tactical,” Sanderson said. Island Tactical's new location is 10480 Stringfellow Road, Suite 1, St. James City, FL 33956. For additional information, call 239-558-4925.
Greater Pine Island Alliance founder Jay Sanderson reported that Lee County Commissioner Kevin Ruane attended the GPIA meeting Tuesday, April 11, where he talked about funds that have been allotted to targeted areas from the $1.1 billion allocated for Southwest Florida for restoration after Hurricane Ian. “It’s pretty much all of Pine Island,” Sanderson said. The money has been verbally awarded by the U.S. Department of Urban Development, but it can take as much as 60 days, Ruane said. The figure, he said, was established by the unmet need when it comes to housing. “Most of Pine Island is eligible for HUD funding,” Ruane said. HUD requires the submission of an action plan, he said, emphasizing he believes the figure of $1.1 billion to be extremely low. See RELIEF FUNDS, page 10
HUD ACS 2011-2015 Low to Moderate Income Map of Lee County by block group. PROVIDED
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