Week of June 5, 2024 FLIER INSIDE
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Volume 48, number 5
Fundraiser for Hall set for Saturday Island locations to participate in benefit By PAULETTE LeBLANC
pleblanc@breezenewspapers.com
A benefit for accident victim Nichole Hall organized by islander Jim Frock will be held this Saturday, June 8, in various locations. Hall lost her leg in a boating accident in north Matlacha Pass after leaving a fundraiser April 20 honoring Mary Lou Sharp, who died in a car accident on April 13 in Matlacha. Jug Creek Marina site manager Julia Gaylor said she was there when Hall was loaded into the ambulance. “That near-death experience for this
young woman is a testament to her soul, her personality and her perseverance in overcoming this,” Gaylor said. According to Gaylor, Hall’s friends, in combination with EMS and all first responders on duty, saved her life that night. Although Gaylor admitted she would never want to see something along the lines of that accident again, she said in the midst of the tragedy the Pine Island community came together in support, once again. Frock, who said he began organizing this benefit to help the family with med-
Delli Paoli creates Santa Life Foundation charity By PAULETTE LeBLANC pleblanc@breezenewspapers.com
After an extremely trying time in his life, Bear’s Den Apothecary owner David Delli Paoli found help in an interesting and unusual place and decided to pay it forward. “I had gone through a bad breakup just after losing my father to cancer and my dog of 15 years. It was my first holiday season without them and at that point I had nothing. It was a struggle financially and mentally. My mind went to some really dark places and I thought about hurting myself,” Delli Paoli said. After taking a friend’s request to play Santa Claus that Christmas season, Delli Paoli ended up doing two appearances -- a move he now admits saved his life. As an entertainer who has experience both as a musician and a stand-up comedian, he said it was then he decided to add "Neighborhood Santa" to his repertoire and filed to become See SANTA LIFE FOUNDATION, page 12 David Delli Paoli as Santa Claus. PHOTO PROVIDED
ical expenses, reports that Hall lost her leg at the hip and will need house renovations, including wheelchair accessibility, to get around her own home after finally leaving the hospital. “They’ve got to redo their house so she can live in it, and get a different vehicle so she can get in and out of it — just everything,” Frock said. All of the participating venues are donating part of their profits from the benefit to the Hall family, including Blue Dog Bar and Grill Island locations providing music for the special benefit include: Nichole Hall
See FUNDRAISER, page 16
Story Roofing replaces roof on Matlacha veteran's home Staff Report
news@breezenewspapers.com
Last Tuesday, May 28, Janette Fraissinet, a U.S. Army veteran of Matlacha, received a new roof from Story Roofing, an Owens Corning Platinum Roofing Contractor, as part of the Owens Corning Roof Deployment Project. Through a partnership with Purple Heart Homes, Fraissinet was selected and approved as the recipient for the roof replacement. The Owens Corning Roof Deployment Project is a nationwide effort to show gratitude and honor the veterans who served our country and the families who support them. Since the inception of this program in 2016, more than 550 military members have received new roofs. The Owens Corning Foundation donated roofing materials and Story Roofing donated the labor. Story Roofing provides a range of roofing services for residential and commercial properties. Its team of experienced professionals has the expertise, equipment and materials necessary to tackle roofing projects of any size - no matter how complicated they may be. From the tip of Michigan's mitt to the coast of Florida's gulf, Story Roofing installs roof systems for the roughest weather, specializing in all types of roofing, including asphalt shingles, metal See ROOF, page 12
Cat of the Week...............11 Mahjongg Scores............10 Web Poll.............................4 insidetoday Local Tides......................16 On the Water......................9 Worship Directory.............6 Classifieds & Obituaries