WEEK OF JUNE 18. 2025 FLIER INSIDE
Tarpon fishing? FWC offers some best fishing practices for the ‘silver king’
— INSIDE
PINEISLAND-EAGLE.COM
VOLUME 49, NUMBER 6
Celebrating Pine Islanders: Joe Hernandez By PAULETTE LeBLANC
pleblanc@breezenewspapers.com
Joe Hernandez said he would describe himself as a husband, father and grandfather before anything else. He also said he calls his occupation his silver sword, because it is his way of giving back to the community. As a retired EMS chief, who served for 30 years in the fire rescue service, he finished his career with the Task Force FEMA Urban Search and Rescue under the National Response System. “Our Task Force responded to the Oklahoma City bombing, and then I retired shortly after the Haiti earthquake in 2010. The 911 World Trade Center was in between that as a major event and I’ve responded to every hurricane that’s hit the United
States,” Hernandez said. After arriving from Cuba in the early 1960s, he said, he married his high school sweetheart, Laura, and they raised their children on the East Coast. Before ever moving here, Pine Island had become a frequent vacation spot for their family, he said. “After retirement, and the passing of our son, who was a soldier — we had two boys deployed — we were invited to call Pine Island our permanent home, and there is absolutely nothing like Pine Island,” Hernandez said. His love for the island, he said, was most clearly displayed in trying to bring the Kiwanis Children’s
Laura and Joe Hernandez PHOTO PROVIDED
See JOE HERNANDEZ, page 10
LCSO Sgt. Rivera retires from PIE, but says he will still be around By PAULETTE LeBLANC
pleblanc@breezenewspapers.com
Matlacha Hookers award ‘Hooked on Education’ scholarships
Special to The Eagle
pleblanc@breezenewspapers.com
The Matlacha Hookers are proud to announce the recipients of its 2025 scholarships, recognizing the achievements and potential of outstanding students in the island community. This year, 11 students were awarded scholarships to support their pursuit of higher education. The Matlacha Hookers, a nonprofit organization committed to empowering local youth through educational opportunity, evaluates applicants based on academic excellence, community service and leadership. “We are continually inspired by the dedication, resilience and talent of these young people,” said Carolyn Ryzanych, chair of the “Hooked on Education” Committee. “Our scholarship recipients represent the future of our community, and we are honored to support them as they take the next steps in their educational journeys.” The scholarship recipients were honored at a mem-
INSIDETODAY
Lee County Sheriff’s Office Sgt. Willie Rivera came to protect Pine Island in 2009. After being stabbed on the job in Bokeelia in March 2018, he said he went to Pine Island Elementary School to serve as a resource officer. “It wasn’t by choice. They told me it was for my safety,” Rivera said. Rivera also said at the time he took the role he would keep until retirement at the school, he had no idea that it had been his true calling all along. He had noticed there had always been kids from the ages of 18 months to approximately 7 years in the majorSee SGT. RIVERA, page 10
bership meeting on June 9 at the American Legion Post 136. Family members, friends and supporters attended the event to celebrate the students’ achievements and the ongoing mission of the Matlacha Hookers’ “Hooked on Education” scholarship program. The Matlacha Hookers extends its gratitude to the generous donors, volunteers and community partners who make these scholarships possible each year. For more information about the Matlacha Hookers or to contribute to future scholarships, please visit www.matlachahookers.org Matlacha Hookers’ scholarship winners include, from left, Waylon Squires (recipient of the First Responder Scholarship), Armando Perez, Corin Scrudato, Darien Brown, Brooke Schaal, Skyla Stevens, Lily Moreau and Megan Kunkel. Adrielle Costa, Marlon Martin and Leiana Boyd were unavailable.
Dolphin Tales.....................6 Kittens of the Week..........13
PHOTO PROVIDED
Letters to the Editor............4 On the Water......................8
Willie and Kristi Rivera.
SJCCA Update...................9 Worship Directory..............6
PHOTO PROVIDED
Classifieds & Obituaries