WEEk of JulY 10, 2024 FLIER INSIDE
Summer school District’s expanded learning program helping thousands of students — INSIDE pINEISlaND-EaglE.com
VolumE 48, NumbEr 10
Celebrating Pine Islanders: Darcy Conner By PAULETTE LeBLANC
pleblanc@breezenewspapers.com
Pine Islander Darcy Conner said while she considers her husband, Dave, to be her partner in crime, she would describe herself as a mom, and a grandma. “I’m a travel agent but that doesn’t define who I am,” Conner said. Having grown up on Fort Myers Beach, Conner wasn’t far from Pine Island, but explains that she didn’t have a formal visit here until she and Dave came to Matlacha for a weekend getaway around 2009. It was during this trip that the Conners fell in love with the island, saying it was just an amazing place. After the global pandemic hit in 2020, Conner said
Darcy Conner
she and Dave were afraid they might get stuck where they were living in Ft. Lauderdale. It was then the couple began to search for a new neighborhood and remembered Matlacha, were they had the fantastic getaway, years before. “We came over here Father’s Day weekend and did a drive-by of this house and the area. The next weekend they were having an open house, we came to the open house, we made an offer
and that was it. We sold our house that weekend,” Conner said. When it comes to showing her devotion to Pine Island, Conner said it’s in her love for giving back to the community through groups such as the Pine Island Kiwanis Club and the Matlacha Hookers, both of which are organizations where Conner serves on the board of directors. In addition to these, Conner is a member of FISH (Fellow Islanders Sending Help) for the Basket Brigade and regularly helps the Pine Island Food Pantry. She said, even if there were no organizations on the island that needed her, she would find a way somehow to See DARCY CONNER, page 13
2024 MangoMania Saturday County code Island tropical fruit fair to regulations topic be held at Our Lady of Miraculous Medal Church of discussion at GPICA meeting
Special to The Eagle
news@breezenewspapers.com
The Greater Pine Island Chamber of Commerce is gearing up for MangoMania 2024, Pine Island's tropical fruit fair, which will be held this Saturday, July 13, at Our Lady of Miraculous Medal Church from noon to 4 p.m. According to Chamber Board Member Cynthia Welch, it’s high time for summer fun and MangoMania is just that fun and family friendly event that attracts both locals and tourists who enjoy tropical fruits and want to experience the vibrant culture of our island. The festival features various activities, such as tropical plants, trees and fruit for sale, a recipe contest, biggest mango contest, Creative mango games for kids of all ages, live music, mango and tropical fruit food and beverages, planting seminars, arts, crafts and island businesses. While this is a free event, Welch said, a $5 donation is appreciated at the gate to benefit island business recovery and Samaritan Health and Wellness at the Beacon of Hope. This event will showcase local entertainment starting at 9 a.m. “The music begins with DJ Isaac and will be playing some great tunes to get the day started. At 12:45 p.m., folks can catch one of our island favorites, Rudy Cox, live on stage,” Welch said. She also reminds everyone to join in the mangothemed event fun, such as the recipe contest. Sign in between 9-11 a.m. Make sure you sign in and drop off your mango bread, dessert, jams, salsa or condiments at the food contest tent. More fun abounds in the Mango Maniac Contest. If you have Pine Island’s biggest mango, you could win a prize. Weigh in starts at noon at the seminar tent. Winners will be announced at 12:30 p.m. See the chamber website for a full list of contest categories. Create your own Mr. Mango head before the contest or create your own at the festival between 9-11:30 a.m. There will also be seminars where you are invited to join island experts in the seminar tent to learn more
By PAULETTE LeBLANC
pleblanc@breezenewspapers.com
LEE COUNTY VISITOR AND CONVENTION BUREAU
Some of the items previously featured at the MangoMania festival on Pine Island. about the mango, such as Steve Cucura of FruitScapes Fruit Market, who will share some history of the Pine Island mango. Har Madeem will teach the art of grafting your mango tree and Matt Reece will speak on mango cultivars. Jay Reynolds of Treehouse Permaculture Farm will give a seminar. Tim Watkins shares mango pruning for tree size control and fruit production. Erica Klopf will teach perennial gardening with mangoes and Donna Schneider of Pine Island Tropicals will educate on canning and cooking with mangoes and tropical fruit. To check activities and schedules, visit https://www.pineislandchamber.org/ See MANGOMANIA, page 13
Last Tuesday, July 2, at its monthly meeting, the Greater Pine Island Civic Association invited William Diaz, code enforcement manager from the Lee County Department of Community Development, to answer questions about zoning enforcement on Pine Island/Matlacha, including updates on code enforcement activities related to Hurricane Ian. An islander inquired as to what, if anything, can be done about island homes that have been seemingly abandoned since Hurricane Ian. Diaz said his department is currently functioning at normal operation. While he admits as a lifelong Southwest Floridian, he’s seen the many storms that have hit this area, and in his opinion, Ian was the worst of them. Diaz asked that everyone send concerns or contact the county if their property is still in need of surveying. Diaz explained a false assumption held by many and made evident after Hurricane Ian was that the county could step in and condemn property. “We do not condemn structures,” Diaz said. Neither does the county padlock businesses, he said. A member asked if there was a way to reach the coding office if an assumed violation was in question. Diaz encouraged anyone with a potential violation to send an email to the county, as the preferred way of communication. The office email address is CodeEnforcement@leegov.com. You can also call 239-533-8895. To see more of this meeting, please visit the GPICA See GPICA, page 13
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