WEEK OF JULY 24, 2024 FLIER INSIDE
Who topped the list? Winners announced in Best of Pine Island competition for 2024 — INSIDE PINEISLAND-EAGLE.COM
VOLUME 48, NUMBER 12
Celebrating Pine Islanders: John Cammick By PAULETTE LeBLANC
pleblanc@breezenewspapers.com
Pine Islander and veteran John Cammick is a man who believes in lending his support to all things fundamental and necessary, which is why he has been looking out for both the fire and water departments here on the island for so many years. Cammick currently serves as a fire commissioner and also as board president of the Greater Pine Island Water Association. He said he would describe himself as a friendly islander surrounded by people he genuinely admires. His life in Southwest Florida began early in his childhood, which had a hand at shaping the rest of his life. “I arrived on Fort Myers Beach when I was 10, but the first time I was affiliated with Pine Island was when I was a Boy Scout. We would go camping out on Cayo Costa
and we’d go through Pine Island. That was back in 1963 or 1964,” Cammick said. Knowing Pine Island was his home came years later after he was back from the military and started his first palm tree grove, Pineland Palms, in 1993. He said this was when he really began to embrace being an islander, as he believes palms are probably John Cammick the most basic thing about the island. “That was when I really started getting involved with things, like I was in the Kiwanis and the Chamber and the Bokeelia Civic Association. I have a lot of friends and I
By PAULETTE LeBLANC
pleblanc@breezenewspapers.com
This past Fourth of July marks the third year Frank’s Bobcat Service held its fundraiser for Pine Island Elementary at the Pine Island Moose Lodge. Immediately following the Independence Day parade, folks were invited to gather at the Moose Lodge for a celebratory fundraiser for this year’s school supplies for both teachers and students. Fundraiser executive administrator Ila Valcarcel said
By PAULETTE LeBLANC
pleblanc@breezenewspapers.com
See MANGOMANIA, page 14
See JOHN CAMMICK, page 14
Frank’s Bobcat Services tops record with PIE fundraiser
MangoMania called a giant success Greater Pine Island Chamber of Commerce board member Cynthia Welch said she and the rest of the board are very thankful for another successful MangoMania, adding that the attendance numbers were about the same as last year. “Thank you to everyone who came out. The Greater Pine Island Chamber of Commerce is grateful to all for supporting our island businesses and the festival,” Welch said. The annual festival was held Saturday, July 13, at Our Lady of Miraculous Medal Church. According to Welch, 78 island businesses acted as sponsors and vendors, showcasing what Pine Island has to offer, along with 50 volunteers who made the day possible, and the Matlacha Hookers, who Welch said braved the heat in the parking lot. “A special thank you also to the Pine Island Kiwanis for Mr. MangoHead fun and Chef Craig of Tarpon Lodge and Chef Reid of Street Eatz & Ale for judging the food contests,” Welch said. She also reported that the generous donations at the entrance make a donation to Samaritan Health at the Beacon of Hope possible, so they can continue their service to Pine Islanders. Welch said the weather cooperated, the mangoes ripened, the music played and a fun time was had by all. She said the board would like everyone to make plans to attend StoneCrab Fest in November, IslandFest with Mullet Toss in March and MangoMania next July. “Alone, each of our businesses are great, but
love them all. Islanders are great people,” Cammick said. Although, he said, he’s slowing down a bit these days, Cammick said he can hardly leave the house without running into people he knows, and that the feeling he’s surrounded by so many others of like mind has made it easy to volunteer through the years at island events like MangoMania, Holiday House or the Mullet Toss. Age has nothing to do with being a Pine Islander, he said, explaining that he still has everything he’s always had. “Actually, it just keeps getting better because the older I get, the more people I know and get to meet — there are more things to get involved in and more to know about the island,” Cammick said. Cammick describes Pine Island as a down-to-earth island, that is an easy place for people to come, without
See PIE FUNDRAISER, page 14
Pine Island Cubs Scouts, above, with their Mr. MangoHead creations. At left, Kristin Gustin, who won first place for her mango bread, with her dad, Robert Ahigrim. PHOTOS SUBMITTED BY CYNTHIA WELCH
PHOTO PROVIDED BY ILA VALCARCEL
Pine Island Elementary Principal Michael Galbreath, top, on the Frank’s Bobcat Services float during the Fourth of July parade.
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