WEEK OF JUNE 19, 2024 FLIER INSIDE
Rovaldi honored Elks National Foundation recognizes islander for his generosity, support — INSIDE PINEISLAND-EAGLE.COM
VOLUME 48, NUMBER 7
Black bear explores Bokeelia resident’s yard Animal's activities recorded on home security video By PAULETTE LeBLANC
pleblanc@breezenewspapers.com
Lori Liano of Bokeelia said she didn’t know if bears were even seen on Pine Island until she saw one hanging around her yard. “We were leaving for church Sunday morning and Gianna, our 13 year-old, said a racoon must have knocked down the garbage," Liano said. "We looked at the security video to see the raccoon and we saw that it was a bear and he was at the front door and he was at the back door." Security footage clocked the bear on Liano’s property for at least 10 minutes, she said. She asked some of her neighbors about whether or not they’d ever seen bears and was told to call Florida Fish and Wildlife.
Celebrating Pine Islanders: Mel Meo, beloved artist and friend By PAULETTE LeBLANC pleblanc@breezenewspapers.com If ever asked the question, did you leave the earth in better shape than you found it? Folks would say Mel Meo could answer with a resounding, yes. Meo was a friend to everyone she knew -- from joining forces with Pine Island fisherfolk to fight the net ban, to teaching those to paint who otherwise never would have picked up a brush. It’s no misnomer to say that she adored Pine Island and her love for those who live here was made evident in all that she did, including her artistry, which can be found in each Pine Mel Meo Island community. Nichole Pichon, who is Meo’s younger cousin, described her as someone who always made those around her feel comfortable. “She just had a way of making everyone feel like they were her best friend — like they knew her and she knew them,” Pichon said. Meo’s family originally headed to Pine Island from Indiana in the early 1970s, after Meo’s grandparents moved to Sanibel. Her father searched nearby and found Pine Island close enough to stay near famSee MEL MEO, page 14 A tower on the island painted by Mel Meo. PAULETTE LEBLANC
“I didn’t even think about seeing a bear here, because we never saw one. I reached out to FWC and they put me through to a biologist who said he was probably dispersed from his family and probably swam here,” Liano said. While Liano said the last thing she wants is for anyone to hurt an animal, she does want locals to be aware of the bear’s presence. She said her husband estimated the bear’s weight at about 200 pounds. “At the pool this morning I asked, ‘Has anyone seen a bear on Pine Island?’ Everyone said, There’s no such thing as bear on Pine Island,’” Liano said with a laugh. A photo from the security video showing the PROVIDED black bear in Lori Liano’s yard.
New dentist joins the staff at Pine Island Riverdale Dental By PAULETTE LeBLANC
pleblanc@breezenewspapers.com
Doctor Emerson J Boogaard, DMD, has been a dentist for five years. He said the reason he pursued dentistry to begin with was because his wife needed some moderately extensive dental work done, which exposed him to many practical dental exercises. “At the time I was looking for a new career path and it inspired me to want to do it. I went back to school for a couple of years and got the pre-requisites that I needed and got into dental school the first time I tried so it ended up working out,” Boogaard said. He recently joined the staff at Pine Island Riverdale Dental. Boogaard said currently he is able to offer full service, with the Dr. Emerson exception of implants, and feels J. Boogaard he can serve the Pine Island community with whatever is needed. According to Boogaard, the importance of guarding against tooth decay cannot be underestimated. “If we have patients developing a lot of decay in different teeth, there is usually a cause and there’s two different ways to go about it,” Boogaard said. He went on to explain that one way to fight this decay is to make sure you have frequent fluoride exposures such as brushing daily with a fluoride toothpaste, as well as using a mouth rinse with fluoride. The main priority, he said, is making sure the PH level of the mouth is high. “You don’t want to go into the acidic range, you want See NEW DENTIST, page 16
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