WEEk of auguST 7, 2024 FLIER INSIDE
Special honor Matlacha Hookers and island Kiwanis Club award scholarships — INSIDE pINEISlaND-EaglE.com
VolumE 48, NumbEr 14
Beacon formulates emergency task force on island By PAULETTE LeBLANC
pleblanc@breezenewspapers.com
According to Beacon of Hope board members Elsie Stearns and Joanne Lembo, the Lee County Board of Commissioners has authorized the Beacon of Hope to lead a new volunteer emergency task force for Greater Pine Island. “The Lee County Board of Commissioners has authorized the Beacon of Hope to work in conjunction with the Lee County Emergency Operations Center for a disaster and preparedness mitigation response and provide coordinated leadership for other groups and volunteers engaged in local recovery efforts through the creation of the Greater Pine Island Emergency Task Force,”
“We needed a task force of Pine Island leaders who would come up with some way to handle this and be efficient at supporting the community. These business owners and community members will work in coordination under the umbrella of the Beacon to serve as the area operations Center.” — Beacon of Hope’s Elsie Stearns Stearns said. Directly after Hurricane Ian, Stearns explained, she became aware of a group of concerned Pine Island leaders who met to discuss immediate action that could be
taken to support and assist Pine Island through the emergency. She said the first and most important subject affecting the island was the volume of fuel necessary to keep things running. Possible barging was also a topic of discussion, in case a future event caused another road outage. Many at these post-hurricane meeting will now counted as part of the Pine Island Emergency Task Force. Among the group are representatives from Matlacha/Pine Island Fire Control District, the Pine Island Water Association, locally owned Dynamic South, Stearns Custom Home Builders, LCEC, Lee See EMERGENCY TASK FORCE, page 16
Celebrated Pine Islanders: Donna Schneider By PAULETTE LeBLANC
pleblanc@breezenewspapers.com
Donna Schneider of Pine Island Tropicals said she identifies as one who loves to help beautify her surroundings. Although she and her husband Gary have been on Pine Island since 1980, most days you will find her among bromeliads, orchids and hibiscus at her own place of business, the aptly named Pine Island Tropicals. Evidence that Schneider has found her calling is that she confesses a certain joy she gains in sharing the wealth of information she has learned over the years. “I believe in sharing knowledge,” Schneider said. “I enjoy people coming back and saying thank you for that information. With the Pine Island Garden Club, I like to encourage people to join our society and get involved with other things here on Pine Island as well.” Schneider and her husband came to Bokeelia full time shortly after her fatherin-law suffered some health issues. Pine Island had been a place he always loved so the move was something the couple thought was simply in his best interest. “He always loved Pine Island, so we thought for his well-being we’d just move to Pine Island and this would be the place he’d live out the last of his years,” Schneider said. Schneider’s love for Pine Island, she said, is in the horticultural education she and Gary have offered regarding things which grow here in particular as well as a game bird farm the couple owned for 20 years. The birds along with fresh eggs from this farm were supplied for families, espe-
PHOTOS PROVIDED
See DONNA SCHNEIDER, page 13
Donna Schneider with her husband Gary Schneider at their Pine Island Tropicals.
Nichole Hall
Community support ‘such a good feeling’ Boating accident survivor focuses on recovery; hopes her groundbreaking surgery can help save lives By CJ HADDAD
cjhaddad@breezenewspapers.com
With her unrelenting spirit, Nichole Hall continues to fight back after a harrowing boating accident earlier this year resulted in the loss of her leg. Multiple fundraising events to support Hall in her recovery journey have taken place around the county, including this past weekend in St. James City. Hall said the response from the region has been overwhelming and has helped lift her spirits in the most difficult times. “It’s been amazing to see the support from the community,” Hall said. “I’m going through something that’s really hard, but the support of my friends and family and the community has definitely made it easier. I think it’s overwhelming to see. It helped me when I was in the hospital— looking at videos and pictures, it’s been really great.”
See COMMUNITY SUPPORT, page 9
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