WEEK OF AUGUST 13, 2025 FLIER INSIDE
Bridge projects
County to repair Matlacha Drawbridge, conduct routine maintenance on deck
— INSIDE
PINEISLAND-EAGLE.COM
VOLUME 49, NUMBER 14
Celebrating Pine Islanders: Sal Cammilleri By PAULETTE LeBLANC
pleblanc@breezenewspapers.com
If asked, Pine Island Plumbing owner Sal Cammilleri said he might describe himself as a Pine Island plumber. He has lived here since 1996, and began his company in 2011, but he said the story of his life on Pine Island began even sooner. “Basically I was raised up as an Army brat. Dad retired in 1986 and that’s when he moved us to Cape Coral,” Cammilleri said. By the time he was in high school, he said he’d begun interaction with Pine Islanders who even brought him out to the island. He said it was one of his friends from school, who was a family member of Joel from
Sal Cammilleri
Joel’s Plumbing, who’d introduced Cammilleri to the plumbing business to begin with. He began parttime work on Pine Island in 1991 which is how he originally got his start out here. As a young man, he said, it was the hometown feeling of Pine Island that made him want to begin life on the island. “I remember coming out to the island, and whenever
I came over the Matlacha Bridge I’d look back in the rear view mirror and I remember just feeling a breath of fresh air. There was that welcome to Pine Island smell. There’s a camaraderie. It’s the people here that really capture you and it embraces you with open arms,” Cammilleri said. His priority, he said, has always been to take care of his neighbor as though they are his family. This goal has been one of the keys to his life as this has been the way he’s tried to build his business and his family’s life out here, he confessed, admitting that makes it tough as a business owner, although getting ahead by the world’s standards is simply not one of his major goals. See SAL CAMMILLERI, page 17
Island groups discuss hurricane preparedness, and recovery, at GPICA meeting By PAULETTE LeBLANC
pleblanc@breezenewspapers.com
Museum of the Islands features new golf exhibit
The Museum of the Islands has a new exhibit that displays golf artifacts, including antique “Plus fours” (golf knickers) and original vintage postcards of Useppa Island, Boca Grande and Havana Country Club golf courses. Also on display are 100-year-old antique signature golf clubs from Useppa Island golf professionals, including Bill Mehlhorn, Andy Campbell and Earl Dean. Earl Dean was mentored by Walter Fovargue, golf professional at Skokie Country Club in Chicago. On
display are two old Fovargue clubs: a smooth face iron and an anti-shank iron. In the early 1900s, when Dean was the golf pro on Useppa, Fovargue clubs were sold on the island. Other clubs include those from Harry Cowie, Boca See GOLF EXHIBIT, page 13
Some of the golf artifacts on display at MOTI. PHOTO PROVIDED
The Greater Pine Island Civic Association held its monthly general meeting last Tuesday, Aug. 5, at the First Baptist Church of Pine Island. In preparation of any future hurricane activity, members from the Greater Pine Island Alliance as well as the Greater Pine Island Emergency Task Force were in attendance in order to give presentations to the community and members. Retired Lt. Col. Aaron Barreda began the GPIA presentation by saying he was still the post commander of the American Legion during Hurricane Ian, where the organization feed 600-900 hurricane victims per day. Barreda introduced GPIA Executive Director Erin Lollar-Lambert, explaining her experience as a business woman and having raised a family on Pine Island. “Together, we come from very different backgrounds, but that’s what helps bring this organization together,” Barreda said. He went on to explain the intention of founding the GPIA, which is a long-term recovery group. The idea behind it, he said, is to reduce the duplication of services, streamlining all the help needed. His personal training in emergency response has been useful and practical in his ongoing role with the GPIA. “One of the things that was very apparent is that we need to continue to work as a community,” Barreda said. Since its inception, the GPIA has been funded through continual grants and donations, he said. The mission is to provide ongoing leadership and management through the long term recovery process. “I tell people, I’m a professional volunteer now. Our goal is really just to return every survivor home,” Barreda said. See GPICA MEETING, page 16
Tales.....................6 On the Water......................7 Local Tides.......................15 INSIDETODAY Dolphin Kittens of the Week..........13 Opinions............................4 SJCCA Update...................5
Classifieds & Obituaries