WEEK OF JULY 16, 2025 FLIER INSIDE
Generous gift
Music for Minors group makes donation to Beacon’s Music Mondays
— INSIDE
PINEISLAND-EAGLE.COM
VOLUME 49, NUMBER 10
Young islander sets his sights on lifetime of care, concern
of his community is Squires looking to become part everything, he said. Having on Pine Island his EMT, earn Fire 2 Certificate been whole life has had a great By PAULETTE LeBLANC
pleblanc@breezenewspapers.com
Waylon Squires is aiming to put his recent scholarship from the Bobby Holloway Memorial Foundation to good use, not just for his life, but good use to the entire Pine Island community. “I plan on completing my EMT course and getting my Fire 2 Certificate. Hopefully being a first responder will lead to a bigger better future,” Squires said. Trying to get all of his school work done as soon as he can is also in his sights, since being a high functioning
influence on his idea of what a community should and indeed, for Squires, does look like. “Community is just a big part of everything for me. I feel like it just makes everyone come together and help everyone else out — I’m just all about that,” Squires said.
Volunteer work is something in which he’s heavily invested his time, whenever possible, describing the experience of being there for others as amazing. As far as having received the scholarship, for help in the pursuit of higher education, he said he’s honored, and that this will help him get him where he’s looking to go. Squires said he’s currently working as a food runner and a busser, since he’s taken a job at Tarpon Lodge in Bokeelia. “I love it there,” Squires said. His genuine concern for the community of Pine Island he largely credits to Pine Islanders he’s witnessed acting on behalf of one another in emergency situations, such as
Waylon Squires
Hookers’ PIE Back to School Supply Drive underway Special to The Eagle
news@breezenewspapers.com
The Matlacha Hookers’ Pine Island Elementary Back to School Supply Drive is in full swing and runs through July 26. The Wish List for PIE teachers and staff includes copy paper (a much needed item), notebook paper, spiral notebooks, headphones and earbuds, #2 pencils, erasers (large pink rectangle and cap), electric pencil sharpeners, Expo dry erase markers, glue sticks, red ink pens (for peer and self-correction), White-Out correction tape, pocket folders with brads/prongs (green, yellow, blue, red, purple), Crayola markers (washable), Crayola crayons, Crayola colored pencils, scotch tape, highlighters, staples, scissors (student and teacher sizes), 9V and AA batteries (for microphones and computer accessories), facial tissue with aloe/lotion, stickers, Post-It notes, bandages (large and small), disinfectant wipes, paper towels and hand sanitizer. School supplies may be dropped off at the following participating businesses through July 26: in Matlacha at the Post Office, The Perfect Cup, Blue Dog Restaurant, Trader’s Hitching Post, Island Flair, CW Fudge Factory, Yucatan Waterfront Bar & Grill, and Miceli’s Restaurant; at The Center, bring supplies to Ace Hardware, Island Bikeworks, Street Eatz & Ale, Pine Island First Baptist Church and Pine Island United Methodist Church; in Bokeelia, donate items at Salty Girls Island Cafe, Spots Ice Cream and Crepes, Cosita’s and Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal Catholic Church; and in St. James City, donation bins can be found at the Moose Lodge, Winn-Dixie, Centennial Bank, Fishers of Men Lutheran Church, Century 21, Dollar General, Beacon of Hope, Saint James General Store, Pine Island Community Church, Pine Island Auto Care, and First Baptist Church of St. James City. See SCHOOL SUPPLY DRIVE, page 10
See YOUNG ISLANDER, page 14
Social Services Center renovations create welcoming atmosphere By PAULETTE LeBLANC
pleblanc@breezenewspapers.com
According to Beacon of HOPE Executive Director Nancy Cote, many organizations worked together and worked hard to renovate the Social Services Center at the Beacon of Hope. The United Way counts the Beacon of HOPE as its non-profit organization on Pine Island and Cote said the Social Services office needed some serious consideration. The space hadn’t been updated since approximately 2008, she said. “We had a lot of older desks and chairs. We worked See RENOVATIONS, page 15
PHOTO SUBMITTED BY CHRISTINA RAU
Nicole Dence from Salty Girls, left, and Joyce Boyer of the Matlacha Hookers with one of the school supply collection bins.
PHOTOS SUBMITTED BY NANCY COTE
Beacon of Hope Executive Director Nancy Cote, right, with her arms around Irina Mirabales.
Tales.....................6 Kittens of the Week..........13 SJCCA Update.................10 INSIDETODAY Dolphin Fishing Column.................8 Local Tides.......................16 Worship Directory..............6
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