WEEk of maY 1, 2024 FLIER INSIDE
Word Wizards Pine Island Elementary presents special awards at Vocabulary Parade — INSIDE pINEISlaND-EaglE.com
VolumE 47, NumbEr 52
Sweet Floret Cakery in Matlacha striving to find the pulse of the island community By PAULETTE LeBLANC
pleblanc@breezenewspapers.com
Jodi Trusty began making beautiful desert creations 7 years ago, when her children were grown. After focusing on being a stay-at-home mom through the years, she explored her own talents after a friend told her she was getting married and Trusty suggested she make her friend’s wedding cake. Success from that experience brought about another commitment to yet another friend and it wasn’t long before Trusty conceded to the fact that elegant pastry creation was, in fact, in her wheelhouse. Although she progressively grew her clientele as a licensed home baker,
Trusty would need a commercial kitchen in order to sell to coffee shops and other retailers. “I wanted to get a commercial kitchen so I could sell in different stores,” said Trusty, owner of Sweet Floret Cakery in Matlacha. Her son had also just opened his own coffee shop (Good Ground Coffee) in downtown Fort Myers and Trusty wanted to be able to add her product to his inventory. Retail sales in Matlacha were always a part of her plan, she said, because she always wanted to cater to this particular area. “When he opened his shop, that really pushed me to take another drive out to Matlacha and when I did, and I
Celebrating Pine Islanders: Chuck Koucky By PAULETTE LeBLANC
pleblanc@breezenewspapers.com
Chuck Koucky first lived on Pine Island in 1976 in a tent with his dog inside a grapefruit grove. Although many might call him an artist, Koucky said he considers himself a craftsperson, in that, his work is more functional than abstract. “I’m not creative but I like working with my hands and I like people. I enjoy teaching because I like the students,” Koucky said. When he’s not teaching, or making pottery or string instruments, Koucky said there was a time, pre Hurricane Ian, when you would often find him sailing, until he felt the need to come back home and begin again. He credits wife, Nancy, for her artistic bent, in coming up with original designs they use to laser cut or engrave onto items made of wood, leather or slate. “That’s kind of a new direction we’re playing with in the last year. I’m still making pots, I’m still making guitars — I’m not sailing so much, but now we’ve added the laser stuff so there’s always something going on,” Koucky said. Koucky said his love for Pine Island becomes most obvious by the fact that he simply won’t leave. After previously having lived in Naples for 13 years, Koucky said they waited until their kids were no longer in school and followed some friends over. He admits he and Nancy had never felt the love and joy they were able to find here immediately. “When we were first checking things out, we brought the kids up and while out grocery shopping, my daughter said, ‘You should like it here, they all look like you,’ which in Naples, people did not. After a year here, we had so many friends. I stayed through Charley and I stayed through Ian — I’m more comfortable here during a hurricane than anywhere else and I’m not going to leave,” Koucky said. Koucky explained the helpful nature of islanders, which was brought about in each emergency he’s experienced on Pine Island. Watching locals work together
saw the building that I’m in, I knew that it was the one. It was totally in shambles, but I could envision it, and then I had to convince my husband of that. When he walked in, he said he could see it, too, and so I knew that the time was right and I knew that this was the building,” Trusty said. Going forward, Trusty said, she hopes to continue to serve the Matlacha community regardless of whether anyone walks through the door of her shop. Currently, she is able to take on many different types of events, which is not dependent on a busy store, she said. See SWEET FLORET CAKERY, page 9
FDOT public workshop on Pine Island Road Shared Use Path Feasibility Study May 7
to bring about the best outcome went a long way toward making him feel as though Pine Island was the best place to be during an emergency. He described Pine Island as an island without beaches, saying you’re minutes from being on the water, which is terrific if you
The Florida Department of Transportation invites interested Southwest Florida residents to a public workshop for the Pine Island Road Shared Use Path Feasibility Study along Pine Island Road, from Stringfellow Road to Veterans Memorial Parkway, in Lee County. This study will evaluate the feasibility of connecting the existing shared use path network and providing a connection between Pine Island, Matlacha and Cape Coral. In addition, this project will evaluate potential “Complete Streets” elements to be incorporated into the corridor to help provide a safe and viable travel option for all users. This public workshop is being conducted to present the preliminary concepts and provide the opportunity for the public to express their views about the project. You can participate in two ways: live online or in-person. The same materials will be displayed at both events. In-person option: Tuesday, May 7, anytime between 5-7 p.m., at Pine Island United Methodist Church, 5701 Pine Island Road, N.W., Bokeelia, FL 33922. Project information will be available for review and comment. The project team will be available for discussion. Live online option: Thursday, May 9, 6-7 p.m. Register in advance: https://bitly.ws/3edMq. This event will include a viewing of the project information showed at the in-person workshop. There will also be a live question-and-answer component with the project team. If you are unable to attend the workshop, comments can also be provided through the project webpage https://www.swflroads.com/project/436926-1 or by email Steven.Andrews@dot.state.fl.us or mail (FDOT District One, Attn: Steven A. Andrews, 801 N. Broadway Ave., Bartow, FL 33830). While comments about the project are accepted at any time, they must be received or postmarked by May 17, 2024, to be included in the formal workshop record. Questions can be
See CHUCK KOUCKY, page 2
See PUBLIC WORKSHOP, page 16
PHOTO PROVIDED BY NANCY KOUCKY
Chuck Koucky.
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