WEEk of maY 8, 2024 FLIER INSIDE
Fighting fires Island crews, backed by other local squads, battle simultaneous blazes — INSIDE pINEISlaND-EaglE.com
VolumE 48, NumbEr 1
Celebrating Pine Islanders: Nichole Pichon By PAULETTE LeBLANC
pleblanc@breezenewspapers.com
Regardless of her role as a teacher at Pine Island Elementary, a mentor and coordinator of an afterschool program, co-leader of the PILOT (Pine Island leaders of Tomorrow) Program, founder and president of Pine Island Playhouse, Kiwanian Nichole Pichon says she simply has a heart for Pine Island kids. Her family moved to Pine Island in the 1970s, before she was even born, although she moved out with her husband Paul in 2012. While visiting for Christmas one year, Pichon explained, she was having a conversation with her cousin, late, beloved artist, Mel Meo, and she had gone on in some detail about the frustrations of her
Nichole Pichon
job in Indianapolis. “Mel said, ‘Just move down here and start a community theatre.’ So, I did that. It was December. I went back and made the decision to leave in January or February,” Pichon said. Due to having come here so often throughout her childhood, Pichon said, she always loved Pine Island and thought it was a very unique place, where
she was able to enjoy the freedom to explore being an artist along with her cousin, as they often painted together. “It always felt like the place that I wanted to be — based on Mel really. She was the reason I came here and started Pine Island Playhouse. I knew if I had her behind me I would be able to pull this off,” Pichon said. In Pichon’s opinion, there are not many places like Pine Island left in the country. Defining it for someone who has never heard of it, she said, would be summed up as a close-knit community where everyone still looks out for one another. She said she can’t help but think of See NICHOLE PICHON, page 14
PIE ‘taste testers’ pick new ice cream flavor for Spots Ice Cream, Crepes and Sauces By PAULETTE LeBLANC
pleblanc@breezenewspapers.com
Spots Ice Cream, Crepes and Sauces owner Sarah Crawford said she and partner Aimee Gantt wanted to throw an event that included the community, so they decided Pine Island Elementary School students would make great candidates for a taste test to decide on the creation of an ice cream treat named after the school. “We wanted to have them help create a specialty dish inspired by them,” Gantt said. Including the community is an important part of running the store, she explained. Getting students from PIE to weigh in on their favorite ice cream and then create a special dessert to call their own was their aim and it worked out great. “They can be excited that they got to help create and choose and be a part of that,” Gantt said. PIE has a school store where students can shop who have earned points through good behavior, such as good attendance or grades. “Taste tester” for Spots Ice Cream Crepes and Sauces became an option for approximately 30 students to choose it as an item from the school store. See ‘TASTE TESTERS,’ page 18
Back from Ian Yucatan Waterfront Bar & Grill re-opens in Matlacha By CRAIG GARRETT
news@breezenewspapers.com
ommy Kolar looks at life as a glass half full. Considering what the Matlacha business owner had endured in recent times — his multi-generational finances at stake, three small kids at home and staff looking to him for answers — optimism should have been in short supply. Kolar, who is 40 and co-owner of the Yucatan Waterfront Bar & Grill in Matlacha and a restaurant
T
and hotel properties on Fort Myers Beach with his father Tom, had spent millions to hold the line, first with COVID, then in September 2022 when Hurricane Ian stormed across Southwest Florida with See BACK FROM IAN, page 14 Severely damaged by Hurricane Ian, the Yucatan Waterfront Bar & Grill has reopened. CRAIG GARRETT
PHOTOS SUBMITTED BY SARAH CRAWFORD AND AIMEE GANTT
Student “taste testers” sample the ice cream.
Athlete of the Week.........19 Local Tides......................16 On the Water......................7 insidetoday Cat of the Week...............16 Mahjongg Scores............16 SJCCA Schedule...............8 Classifieds & Obituaries