WEEk of may 31, 2023 FLIER INSIDE
Paying tribute Matlacha Civic Association volunteers place flags to remember fallen heroes — INSIDE pINEISlaND-EaglE.com
VolumE 47, NumbEr 4
PICC helps island with food pantry, thrift store By PAULETTE LeBLANC
pleblanc@breezenewspapers.com
Pastor Michelle Browne wants Pine Islanders to know there is a food pantry, as well as the thrift store, at the Pine Island Community Church location. “I’m also a Matlacha Hooker and sometimes when I’m at events, people will mention needing food. I tell them to come to our food pantry, and they don’t know that we have one and we partner with the Catholic Church — they are open Mondays and Thursdays, and we are open Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday. Our motto is 'No one goes hungry on Pine Island,'” Browne said. The food pantry, she said, has everything from grocery store bread to dry canned food and frozen meat. There are even people from the church who make homemade meals that can be heated in the oven. The church has no requirements for recipients to qualify for help,
of space. other than their being Pine Island residents. The church does also help those “I’d like to thank the islanders for from neighboring cities, such as Cape their generosity and patience as we Coral, but, at heart, she said, the miscontinue to process everything, sion is to lend islanders a helping hand. Browne said. “We also give out free medical Pine Island Community Church is equipment. A lot of people come here at 5320 Doug Taylor Circle, St. for wheelchairs, walkers, and we give James City. things like that out in either the food PICC Food Pantry hours are pantry or the thrift store, at no charge. Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and They can go to either place to make a Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. request and we’ll get it for them,” PICC Thrift Store Hours are Browne said. Monday—Saturday, from 9 a.m. to 2 After Hurricane Ian, Browne said, p.m. the church became overloaded with For any additional information donations and reached the maximum, about the thrift store or the food leaving the church no choice but to The entrance to the PICC Thrift pantry, please call the church at 239deny any further donations, for a lack Store. PHOTO PROVIDED 283-9944.
Native Exotics Art Village features cultural ancient art and more
Bear’s Den Apothecary opening June 4 By PAULETTE LeBLANC
pleblanc@breezenewspapers.com
By PAULETTE LeBLANC
pleblanc@breezenewspapers.com
Nicole Williams had a 10-year plan to live on Pine Island while supporting herself with her shop and her handmade items. Because of the COVID pandemic, she said, it happened 3 years early. “Because COVID took my job as the Seminole tribal art director and shut the tribe down for three years,” Williams said. Williams originally opened her shop and moved to Pine Island in 2021, she said, and after Hurricane Ian she lost her store front. “Apparently, I’m the only Calusa descendant out here. I still make our cultural ancient art — our Florida indigenous arts and crafts. I bring other things into the store too — our patchwork skirts, our beadwork, our carvings,” Williams said. She cleverly uses the word “Exotics” in the store’s name to denote the work of other tribes as well. Native Exotics, she said, was originated to fund Florida’s environmental coalition, which she founded. While still in high school, she said, she helped get Florida’s clean water laws implemented for the first time. “Native Exotics was founded and started to educate people on our environment and our human rights,” Williams said. According to Williams, there are seven indigenous tribes which make up the Miccosukee. “You can leave your tribe and join the federally recognized tribe, which is called the Miccosukee, or you can join the federally recognized tribe called the Seminole. The Seminole houses the seven indigenous tribes and the seven tribes that were forced down on the Trail of Tears from outside of Florida. You still have original aboriginal independents, to this day, because
An example of some of the items available at Native Exotics Art Village. Florida is the only unconquered state in the United States,” Williams said. Williams said she is a part of the indigenous independents and is a tri-tribal medicine woman, a position that found its way to her when she was chosen after the former tri-tribal medicine man passed away in 2018. Being a tribal medicine person, she said, covers mental, emotional, physical and spiritual health.
David Delli Paleo has wanted to open the Bear’s Den Apothecary, or something like it, since he was 13. A friend, he said, who’s been trying to get him to seize the opportunity of opening a local shop selling cannabis and infused products for years. After surveying several locations for his shop, another friend, Nicole Williams, owner of Native Exotics Art Village, stepped in to help Delli Paleo find just the right place. Having had several ties to the island already, he felt right at home in Bokeelia. “Pine Island always held a special place in my heart,” Delli Paleo said. Deciding Williams would share the space with him seemed a mutually beneficial arrangement for the friends. So far, Delli Paleo said it’s been a fun new venture, as owning a brick and mortar retail shop is something he hasn’t done, although he has had other businesses. The idea of using cannabis has taken off and is completely legal, offering people another option for managing pain and even to relax. “We have amazing pain creams and topical solutions. This stuff is absolutely fantastic,” Delli Paleo said. There was a time marijuana was not legal, and he admits it’s the only thing for which he’s ever been in trouble. He said it’s come full circle and he finds it ironic that now, 30 years later, he’s allowed to sell it legally and pay taxes on it. The opening of the Bear’s Den is being planned much like an event, complete with live music.
See NATIVE EXOTICS ART VILLAGE, page 17
See BEAR’S DEN APOTHECARY, page 17
PHOTO PROVIDED
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