WEEK OF MAY 29, 2024 FLIER INSIDE
Be prepared! Breeze Hurricane Guide offers tips to help you get ready for storm season — INSIDE PINEISLAND-EAGLE.COM
VOLUME 48, NUMBER 4
Celebrating Pine Islanders: Jimmy Williamson By PAULETTE LeBLANC
pleblanc@breezenewspapers.com
Jimmy Williamson describes himself as the vice president of Williamson Brothers who was raised on Pine Island, in fact, he said he attended Pine Island Elementary as a youngster and was in the last year of Pine Island Middle School. Williamson’s family originally came to Pine Island in 1967. “They (his family) came from Cairo, Georgia. My grandfather used to run Nott’s Dairy — Nott Road is named after that farm. My grandfather started a separate company — the company he started was Williamson and Sons and my father and uncles worked for my grandfather. In 1996, my brother and I created Williamson Brothers and went off on our own,” Williamson said. Although Williamson Brothers and Williamson and
The Williamson brothers. PROVIDED Sons are both marine contractors, Williamson Brothers includes docks and boat lifts along with seawalls and commercial roofing in their services, he said. It wasn’t until he moved to Cape Coral that
Williamson realized what a unique and extraordinary place Pine Island really is. The solitude found on the island remains unmatched to him, especially in light of the more crowded and restricted life the city of Cape Coral seems to offer. He said his love for Pine Island was most clearly demonstrated in 2022, just after Hurricane Ian, when islanders were most vulnerable. “After the hurricane, our efforts were focused in transporting gasoline and diesel to Lavenders Landing in Bokeelia by barge when the bridge was down, so the residents could power their generators,” Williamson said. He contends the best way to relate the island to someone who is unfamiliar with it is simply to describe it as a place that is picturesque “Old Florida,” with folks who are both genuine and caring. See JIMMY WILLIAMSON, page 6
Chrissy Frahm Scholarship available through island church By PAULETTE LeBLANC
pleblanc@breezenewspapers.com
Pine Island Leaders of Tomorrow program in need of funding By PAULETTE LeBLANC
pleblanc@breezenewspapers.com
The young people of Pine Island have had an afterschool enrichment program for elementary school aged kids, all the way up to the high school youth for more than 10 years now. According to Nichole and Paul Pichon, fundraising to keep the Pine Island Leaders of Tomorrow (PILOT) program going strong is old hat by now and is also the only way this program is funded. “It’s how we fund supplies and any field trips that we take. It basically pays for the whole program,” (Nichole) Pichon said. While the program’s focus for the young children is mostly helping them with homework assignments and mentoring with social skills they’ll need as they get older, the emphasis with the teenagers is more along the
lines of leadership and community involvement. A good example is that they are all required to perform community service. “They have to get 20 hours per year to stay in the program — it’s basically their way of paying for it,” Pichon said. Evidence that the PILOT program does an excellent job at what it sets out to do was shown recently by the progressive leadership of a former PILOT program student who has benefitted from gaining what they needSee FUNDING, page 16 Students in the PILOT program participate in a group activity. PHOTO PROVIDED
Pine Island Community Church officials would like to remind everyone about the Chrissy Frahm Scholarship money available to anyone who would like to attend a trade school or get their GED. Chrissy Frahm, passed away in 2011, and a fund was started, in her name, that might see young people through to where they need to be. Pastor Michelle Browne would like to tell anyone who is seeking a diploma or degree, that this funding may be available to you. “We’ve been passing out these little coins for Chrissy — it’s just these little containers all throughout town. A lot of the local businesses will put them up, so we wanted to raise awareness that, that’s what it’s for. The money stays right here on the island. It’s available,” Browne said. This money is also available for gas or a new interview outfit if Chrissy Frahm necessary, she said. “The scholarship fund will cover that,” Browne said. Chrissy Frahm Scholarship Chrissy was born in 1991 on Pine Island to Chad and Cathy Frahm. Chrissy was 2 years old when she was involved in a car accident and suffered a traumatic brain injury (T.B.I.). Due to this injury, she dealt with academic difficulties but strived very hard to overcome and achieve good grades. See SCHOLARSHIP, page 10
CERT Update.....................5 Mahjongg Scores..............9 SJCCA Schedule...............6 insidetoday Dolphin Tales.....................6 On the Water......................7 Worship Directory.............6 Classifieds & Obituaries